DECEMBER 2008 2 BLUE LINE MAGAZINE December 2008 Volume 20 Number 10 “You should always look at the past with interest but never stare at it,” a journalist suggested recently. “With very little effort it will consume you and become your only future.” Wise words indeed, but it’s still worth paus- ing to look back on the occasion of our 20th anniversary. We hope setting aside one issue out of 200 will not be considered staring! Features 5 A story to tell 20 years later 30 The latest high retention holster technology 7 Jeers & cheers 34 Holster retention levels 8 Milestones in 20 years of This is what the numbers mean Canadian policing 62 Congratulations Departments Case Law 62 Advertisers Index 58 Court sets high standard for YCJA compliance 46 Deep Blue 37 Dispatches 48 Forensic Science 61 Market Place 45 Odditorials 56 Technology BLUE LINEINE MAGAZINEE 33 DECEMBER 2008 DECEMBER 2008 4 BLUE LINE MAGAZINE A story to tell... 20 years later by Morley Lymburner I pointed an authorita- tive finger at a Plymouth speeding in a school zone. The front end of the mis- creant’s car nose-dived, indicating his initial com- pliance, if not terror. Some- what more relaxed, I low- ered my arm and reflexively concentrated on the plate number. The front end immediately rose back up and there was the tell-tale sound of an accelerating motor as the car headed directly for me, a clear indication the driver did not want to speak to me. I quickly dove into my scout car, dropping it in gear at the same moment the Plymouth came along side. Having many years of expe- rience with motorists trying to run my radar location, I sensed trouble and caught up to the vehicle in no time. Activating my roof lights caused him to veer in front of another vehicle to turn down a side street. This driver obvi- as expected, it was simply a tactic to get me The battered vehicle was now driving on ously was experienced at eluding police and out of my car. He took off again, made a few the brake drum, gouging the road surface. I knew this maneuver would slow me down. His more quick turns, stopped again and then quickly reversed, crashing into the back end. desperation to get away was puzzling, since he veered onto a cul-de-sac. “Okay,” I thought. The driver’s door flung open and the suspect was driving a four-cylinder car. The dispatcher “Now it’s my move.” dashed toward a fence, with me in hot confirmed my suspicion that it was stolen. He exposed the left side of the car as he pursuit. We both cleared it and ran across a We rolled around the circuitous subdivi- spun into the curve of the dead-end street. I back yard. He cleared the next fence, landing sion streets at speeds which maximized the aimed for his front left wheel and the impact hard on some ice and falling. I slipped on Plymouth’s engine but hardly challenged my drove the vehicle onto the boulevard and against the same ice and suddenly felt a sharp pain eight cylinder police car. The vehicle stopped a hydrant. I jumped out with my gun drawn and run up my left hip toward my spine. suddenly in the middle of the street and the ordered him out of the car. His hands dropped I looked up and saw my suspect scram- driver raised his hands in the air. I’d seen this down and he lurched backwards. Surprised, I ble toward the street and realized, to my many times before and opened my car door; darted back to my scout car. horror, that in my haste I had left the scout BLUE LINE MAGAZINE 5 DECEMBER 2008 car door open, keys in the ignition and gun edition landed on the desks of every police on the passenger seat. My adrenalin surged service in southern Ontario, including mine as I realized my fate depended on my ability – and the chief’s. to catch this thief. A senior member called to say the chief My pain became worse as I closed in and, wanted to see me and the meeting that fol- with one last effort, lunged for his legs and lowed was surreal. Bracketed by S/Supt Don tackled him. His head slammed down hard on Banks and Public Affairs Manager Adrienne the sidewalk and I could see blood flow from MacLennon, Marks began speaking to them his face as he squirmed desperately to escape about the concepts behind the magazine and my grasp. I reached for his belt, raised myself the dangers lurking for the department’s image up and fell on top of him as I grabbed for my if it messed up. handcuffs. I suddenly became aware of a man To my relief, both senior members defended grabbing the thief and holding him down for me well, regardless of any reservations they may me. I thanked him as I felt the pain in my back have had. I was ordered to submit an application and hip increase. for secondary employment and have it approved. “Do you know who’s yard that is?” the A half-hour after returning to my desk a smiling helpful neighbour asked with a smirk. “That’s Supt Bob Brown dropped a paper on my desk your chief’s house – Jack Marks; he is away and told me to take it upstairs to the chief. I was on holidays in Florida.” The irony of this astonished to see it had been signed and approved would be magnified over the coming years. up through the chain of command in less than 30 I was diagnosed with a permanent disabil- minutes. I never saw nor heard anything about it ity and the future of my career was in doubt. again. Legend has it that it went into the chief’s Freedom of movement without excessive pain top drawer, to be acknowledged at a later date was to become a life-long limitation. – if I screwed up. The Toronto Police medical bureau ing hand in my life would be a forced will of bogged me down with paperwork, reporting blindness. A reality finally seen processes and medical tests over the next year. We worked hard in our off hours to get it A hunger for the publication developed It first disallowed my claim; after considerable all together. I had the knowledge, background quickly. After the next edition it became clear arguments in my favour from doctors and and connections from my past. Before becom- that it must go national in scope. Every penny specialists, it then handed the case over to the ing a police officer, my chosen career interest of profit for the next four years was pumped provincial compensation system. Alarmed was journalism. I worked briefly with a weekly immediately back into the publication. by an aggressive, adversarial compensation newspaper and absorbed enough ink in my I continued working for the police service, system, I felt my financial security was in veins to decide it would be an ideal retirement engaged in a peculiar dance between vocal peril. The future needs of my wife, two young job. As a training constable I was given the job supporters and secret naysayers. Many saw my children and myself were now at the whim of publishing our district newsletter, working permanent disability as an excuse to publish and pleasure of the chief and police services on the photocopied journal for about four years a magazine. Few held a sympathetic ear to board. The car thief got two years less a day before moving on to other tasks. an injured worker who appears to be taking but I got life. care of his own future. Although all saw the Defining the needs advantages of the publication, both manage- Looming realities We decided on a few concepts for Blue ment and association were torn about what Retirement was suddenly a clear and Line before beginning. Editorially, it had to to do with this potentially dangerous and/or present reality and if I had any ideas about be directed at the front line officer, with the embarrassing lone wolf. another career, they had to be kicked into high goal of encouraging loyalty to the profession I now completely understand their di- gear – there was no time to lose. Thus was the and not necessarily the patch on the sleeve. lemma and finally see why no one was eager genesis of Blue Line Magazine. The need to understand police work was to find me a job which suited my injury. They It was initially only a dream and began as a too important to be left to haphazard agency could not tell nor order me to leave. With hobby just to see if it could work. I was pleas- training courses. Many police officers across almost 23 years service, numerous letters of antly surprised to find that it actually could the country received little or no information commendation, two merit awards and an ex- and consulted with a few confidants within beyond basic training and, for the most part, emplary service medal, the police association the department about applying for secondary the idea of keeping abreast of new industry simply told me to go home. It and management employment. My most trusted adviser, S/Supt developments was absent. were at an impasse about what to do with me. Mike Coulis, advised me to say nothing to The next decision was frequency of pub- For the next two years I received no pay and anyone and simply begin publishing.