Three Vancouver Officers Arrested for Drunk Driving

VANCOUVER

Three police officers arrested for impaired driving in three separate incidents in British Columbia is distressing news for Bob Rorison of MADD's Greater Vancouver chapter.

But Rorison believes others will likely be more upset than him.

"You can bet next time any police officer stops someone for drinking and driving, they'll get a loudmouth drunk, screaming that police have no right to make arrests because they're worse than anyone," said Rorison.

"A few bad apples have destroyed the credibility of all police officers."

Rorison said it took a generation to get out the message that drinking and driving is not acceptable, arguing the arrests of the police officers have reversed all the advances of the past decade.

Late Friday, the RCMP announced a third B.C. police officer had been arrested within the past year for impaired driving.

Cpl. Darren Baker, of the North Vancouver RCMP, is to appear in court in January. He was arrested last December and charged when officers spotted him allegedly driving erratically.

Two weeks ago, a New Westminster police officer was arrested in North Vancouver after allegedly crashing an unmarked police car into a sign. New Westminster Const. Tomi Hamner is to appear in court next month. Like Baker, Hamner is a school liaison officer.

Their involvement with students makes the arrests even worse, said Rorison.

News of the police arrests this week coincided with the Mounties' announcement of the arrest on impaired charges last March of the North Vancouver school board chair, who is up for re-election this month.

The most serious arrest involved an RCMP officer from Richmond after a fatal crash last weekend in the suburb of Delta that claimed the life of 21-year-old motorcyclist Orion Hutchinson.

Delta police are recommending that RCMP Cpl. Benjamin Monty Robinson be charged with impaired driving causing death.

Although he has not been charged formally, Robinson was identified by RCMP as the officer involved.

Robinson was also identified as one of four officers who were called to Vancouver International Airport on Oct. 14, 2007, to confront a Polish would-be immigrant, Robert Dziekanski. Dziekanski died after being hit by a police Taser.

A report on that incident has been forwarded to Crown counsel, who will decide whether to lay charges.

Const. Annie Linteau, spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the officers arrested for impaired driving also face code of conduct investigations.

Cpl. Baker, of North Vancouver RCMP, and Const. Hamner, with the force in New Westminster, are on administrative duties. Const. Robinson is suspended with pay.

"We are certainly concerned and certainly we take these seriously," said Linteau.

"We do have 6,000 members in the division and, as far as we can see, these are isolated incidents."

B.C. Solicitor General John van Dongen said police forces, like all employers, have a responsibility to ensure that assistance is available to their members who may have a substance abuse problem.

"The law will apply to everyone regardless," said van Dongen. "It's absolutely unacceptable that people will drink and drive on a public road."