2, 1998 — North Shore News — 11 ay Ss Auxiliary cops without guns 3 Wednesday, Septem Guy of the Month” for May Food........avthentic Helton pusta plons.....win Sunday’s ‘Molson Indy Voncouver DURACELL BOSCH maxelt rs Oberon, From page 4 tives reviewing the role of aun- iliary police officers meet with es and major RCMP detachments; and Biche district express its disap pointment at the lack of con- sultation and opportunity for input before this decision was made. The UBCM) position ree: ommends that focal govern: ments advise the RCMP that they will not bring in new offi: cers to cover lost manpower or pav additional overtime costs. Wallace suggests that the potential cost of replacing the province’s 175,169 voluateer auxiliary hours could range berween $4.38 million and $7.88 miltion. As previously reported in the News, 2] auxiliary North Vancouver Mounties unant- mously voted to stop working uniformed patrols April 7. The move came just four davs after Attorney General Ujjai Dosanjh, in agreement with the RCMP, suspended the authority for qualified aux- iliaries to carry firearms. The provincial initiative foliowed an October 1995 decision ro place a moratori- um en auxiliary hiring pend- ing a review of their duties. The review was expected to go to the attorney general this month, but North Vancouver RCMP Supt. Jamie Graham has no idea whether the review is complete or when it will be released. Graham = told council Monday that the decision by omplainis dismissed From page 8 tickecs and two traffic infrac- tions in a span of four years. Although Eraut has since retired, his. replacement and the new superintender: of _-motor.vehicles differed in his take.on what constitutes just grounds for issuing a driving prohibition. : “We never re-examine people randomly — there is always a reason such as a police officer or 9 doctor,” Superintendent Mark Medgyesi said last Wednesday.. “Before the superintendent re-examines on the basis of a medical or police report the superinten- dent must consider the credi- bility of the source and what they are saying about the per- son they want re-examined.” Mennie currently has no driver’s licence. He has been doggedly pursuing authorities. he feels are responsible for his unjust treatment. ; His complaint with the local. RCMP detachment was dismissed following an inter- _ nal investigation carried out by. now-retired Norch Vancouver RCMP Supt. Gil Yard. The ombudsman’s office, likewise, found a few irregu- larities but did not step in and act on Mennie’s behalf. Meanwhile, the RCMP public complaints commission has not completed its investiga- tion. But Mennie has had suc- cess in court. In a April 23 judgment, justice of the peace Zahid Makhdoom dismissed charges against Mennie that he had gone through a yellow light and failed to stop for a police officer. . Mennie’s charges of failing to produce a driver’s licence and failing to stop at a stop sign were upheld by the jus- tice of the peace. Meanwhile a charge of obstructing a police officer was not pursued by adminis- trative Crown counsel Sandra Watson. An appeal of the nwo outstanding charges is sched- Name: Audi Aé Avant uled to begin later this month, “Pm not Jooking for sym- pathy here,” said Mennic. “I want people to know where our taxes are going. I just want people to know what’s going on.” In the meantime, he is forced to count on others to drive him around. Colour: Europa Blue Mica Drive: Quattro IV | Likes: : Family outings, heated steering wheels. Tumons: 200 horse power, ambianie interiors. Tunoffs: Overweight, overwrought sport-utility vehicles. Aibitions: To be the #1 AWD luxury wagon on the market and leased from $688/month. “gee dealer for detoils Capilano VolkswagenAudi 985-0694 = T1151 Marine Drive, North Vancouver wwvevwoudicom the province “came as a com- plete shock to me” and that the attorneys general has indi- cated there will be no rearni- ing of the auxiliarie Graham told the News his position with the province was thar any concerns it may have with armed auniliaries have aothing ta do with North Vancouver. “TP wouldn't allow them to be armed unless [was conti- dent an their abilities and I think they do 4 great job.” In response to a question from Coun. Ernie Crist Monday, Graham said he could only reeal! one negative situation in North Vancouver involving auxiliary fircarms “and P wouldn't classify it as alarming.” An internal police investi- gation found an auxiliary North Vancouver Mountie hooting five bullets at a stolen van in 1995 in the Seymouir area. Graham said that as far as he knew his 21] ausiliarics were back on the job and that he had informed them that if they do not complete their required 160 volunteer hours a year they would no longer be CODY ZDEBIAK Picks of the week policemen. Graham admitted he was not sure whether his auxiliaries were back riding along with armed Mounties, but he encouraged them to do so. He told the News that the issue of liability in the event of injury or legal action has a huge bearing on the disarming, of auniliaries. The province pays all but incidental costs for the auxil- iary program. Said Graham, “