UESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007

Inside the Line with Ron Stewart



CFL seasons: 12
Games Played: 164
Grey Cup Record: 4 - 3
All Canadian: None

Cushy Post-CFL Government Handout: Prison Ombudsman
Number Of Workdays Loafing At Cottage: 300
Wasted Taxpayers Dollars: $325,000

Favorite Saying: "If there's a prison riot just holler for me across the lake!"

Ron Stewart... truly a great Canadian

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MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2007

Spring is Here!

And if your anything like Timothy Wayne Shepherd, it's time to get the grill out and burn the bodies.

(warning: this story has a "yuck" factor of 11 )

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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2007

Live Through This
Hi John,

this is going to sound stupid, but I am living out in LA and I>am a working actor.....I also in my spare time have applied to be a>police officer in several departments......This is going to sound>stupid, but I have a gift, i can't explain it...i just am able to figure>things out sometimes. i briefly read your article about your sister and>i was wondering.....was there anything religous involved with her>death...be it at the schene or in her life. If so, with your permission,>i was wondering if you would email me a brief sypnosis of what>heppened...I might be able to help. If not, you will be no worse of with>your inquiry then you are today.>>i'm not an investigator, however I have a unique way of seeing and>observing things and I also am able to decifer between fake things and>evidence. While working and trying to start an acting career I have from>personal family incidents become very interested in helping to solve>cold cases and may be involved in that type of work in the next few>years. Perhaps when there is a new administration in our country.>>I don't want to pry into your family tragedy, i just thought I might be>able to help.

>>Regards,>Ryan O'Neil>

ryoneil@fastmail.fm>-- >

Ryan O'Neil> ryoneil@fastmail.fm

--------------------------------------------

Ryan:

No offense, but I get all kinds of these inquiries, and a lot of them are from people who wish to make a name for themselves. Or they want to help, but can't really help.

So here's the deal: show me a case in the past where you were able to help, where you were able to bring some end to a cold case.

Then maybe we can dance. Fair enough?

Thanks you for your interest,

John A

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SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2007

And the Wolverine Task Force's accomplishments were what exactly?


Gang violence in Montreal has jumped in last 2 years

Presse Canadienne
Published: Saturday, March 24, 2007

The number of attempted murders related to street gangs doubled in Montreal between 2004 and 2006, police statistics show.

According to the data, 58 attempted murders were believed to be gang-related last year, compared to 29 in 2004 and 42 in 2005.

So far this year, eight attempted murders have be linked to gangs. Since January, 10 of 12 homicides committed in Montreal are also the result of gang fights.

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A friend in Los Angeles did this mock-up of a poster:



Whadya think?

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THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2007

Titles for Reseach Papers.... (I have yet to write)

1. If You Fund It We Will Come: Canada's National Crime Prevention Strategy and the failure of Program Evaluation

2. Double Wide Determinism: Are Trailer Parks Cultural or Structural Failures?

3. The People in your Neighborhood: Are Quebec's Hells Angels a Gang or a Community?

4. The Red White and Blue Elephant in the Room: Why Canadians Ignore American Criminological Findings

5. 1977 - The Parti Quebecois and the Year the Quiet Revolution Gagged

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"The great advantage of the sociological perspective, in our view, is that it requires that attention be paid to both of the fundamental features of any organized social system: people's beliefs, values, goals - the stuff of culture - and the positions and roles that people occupy in society- what sociologists term "social structure."... The focus on both culture and social structure, and on the interplay between them, has been an invaluable analytical tool for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of influencial explanations of crime..."

Messner and Rosenfeld
Crime and the American Dream, 1997

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. This is the kernal of why 3 murders and 20 - 30 sexual assaults against women in the Eastern Townships circa 1977 - 1980 have gone unanswered for 28 years.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2007

It wouldn't surprise me

More great stuff revealed by Eric Muller over at Is That Legal?,including the discovery of his great-uncle's WWI army medals in a German archive.

This got me thinking. What are the odds that Eric's great uncle Leo who served in the German army and my great-uncle Thomas who died as a Canadian soldier at Vimy Ridge had each other in their sights across the trenches over 90 years ago?

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Upcoming Conference

I snuck in a proposal at the bell for the American Society of Criminology's November conference in Atlanta:


Category Subcategory: Victimization (XVI), Victim-Related Programs and Policies (66)

Title: Criminal Investigative Failures: 
Victims, Law Enforcement and Do-It-Yourself Justice

Abstract: 

This paper takes the form of personal ethnography. My sister, Theresa Allore disappeared from the campus of a small liberal arts college in the southeastern region of Quebec, Canada on Friday, November 3rd, 1978. Five months later her body was found by the side of the road less than a mile from the student residence where she lived. Though a medical-legal cause of death was never determined, it is probable that Theresa had been strangled.

Though police at the time dismissed Theresa’s death as a drug / suicide, current examination of the case has revealed that she was the victim of a serial sexual predator who has possibly been active in the Quebec region for the past 28 years.

This presentation examines the role of the victim as criminal investigator, when families lose faith in the investigative abilities of police agencies. The presentation is from the publication, Criminal Investigative Failures, currently in press with Taylor & Francis,
K. D. Rossmo (Ed.), Oxford, UK.


Author: John Allore

affiliation/addresses: Graduate student / Justice Administration
North Carolina State.University

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TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007

On Your Radio

So you can tune in tonight on satellite radio to hear me live.

Actually, it's pre-recorded so don't phone in with you questions.

(just kiddin': It's not a call-in show):

www.MissingPieces.info

March 20, 2007

Episode 28:
Guest: John Allore
Brother of murdered Theresa Allore

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MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2007

Theories of Deviance (Criminology)

I have a big mid-term this evening. So I thought I'd try to write what I know down here off the top of my head as a little prep work:

Theories of deviant behavior have there origins in two controversial and conflicting theories: social control and differential association theory. Social control theory - with roots in psychology and Freud - has been championed by Travis Hirschi in two works, Causes of Delinquency and A General Theory of Crime (with Gottfredson). Where most crime theories ask why do people commit crimes?, Hirschi inverts the question and posits, What prevents people from committing criminal acts? Hirschi uses a Hobbesian model of human behavior, wherein all men have deviant wants and desires, but a social contract bonds humans to a consensus belief structure. Man's life would be "solitary, nasty, brutish and short" where it not for strong social bonding that keep men on a straight and narrow path. Thus, normative behavior is maintained through faith in central social structures (the family, social institutions) and a central culture (one unifying believe system derived from laws and conformity).

In contrast Edwin Sutherland's Differential Association Theory (DAT) is much less centered on conforming values and normative behavior. Sutherland was less focused on the cause of criminal behavior and more attuned to the process by which such behavior is acquired and transmitted. Developed through a series of nine statements over many years, Sutherland's central thesis is that crime is learned in the same manner that other learning is acquired, and that it is transmitted within social groups. Unlike social control theory which hints at elements of determinism, DAT considers that humans are open to the possibility of learning criminal behavior depending on four factors; the frequency of exposure to criminal behavior, the duration of that exposure, the priority of it (were such behaviors learned early in life), and the intensity or priority of the learning. These variables work on the individual and thus determine the probability that he or she may turn to social deviance.

These two theories are a sort of nature vs. nurture argument, with Hirschi arguing the determinist, "born bad" position, while Sutherland argued that individuals were born with a blank slate, and through social conditioning could be influenced into criminal acts. Of the two, Hirschi's argument is a a more individual approach to crime; strong bonding, particularly with parents at a young age, will help prevent adolescents from pursuing criminal outcomes. Sutherland's is the more sociological argument; social systems can influence individuals and lead to criminal behavior.

Both theories have much to offer, but also many facets that are problematic for criminological thinking. Social control is more "cause" oriented and thus easier to test through traditional methods of experimentation (samples, control groups, observations). Sutherland's work was developed more through loose questioning of basic assumptions of behavior, and thus less open to classic experimental testing. This has led many critics to question DAT's validity. Yet despite early problems with measurement and operationalizing DAT, many later empirical tests of the theory have improved on these problems and demonstrated evidence that social learning exists.

In later years, Sutherland and his supporters expanded DAT beyond the individual learning process. Differential Group Organization (DGS) attempts to demonstrate how learning can migrate to the macro, aggregate level. DGS has its origins in the industrial revolution, where rapid economic expansion led to massive accumulation of wealth in western societies. This expansion led to an increasingly fractured society wherein an increasing separation between the haves and have nots (the creation of a class structure, and thus cultural strain) was created. DGO leads to the inevitable creation of subcultures, societies that compete and at time contradict with the central, law abiding consensus culture. In subculture theory, groups come to embrace a value system that is different from the central / middle-class value system imagined under control theory. Subcultures that are unable to attain wealth, power and success by legitimate purposes, come to achieve these means through illegitimate, and ultimately deviant measures.

It is through differential group organization that Sutherland falls in most sharp contrast to Hirschi and control theory. For control theorists there can only ever be one structure and culture held as constant; the traditional family structure and its support systems and the central consensus culture derived through law. In contrast, DGO allows for many cultures and structures that are all variable in there influence, and can thus influence each other. Structure can be determined by social class, by race, by family headship (two parent, single headship); culture is the accumulation of shared values of a community, and may be as variant as the imagination will allow.

It is not hard to see how these two approaches have been through the years co-opted for political advantage. At it's worst, control theory - with it's determinism and focus on one, unifying belief systems - becomes a tool of conservative thought There is only one view, one value system - relying heavily on a belief systems that appears moralistic - and society must bend to this structure, this culture's will. In contrast, social learning theory is a liberal position; an inclusive theory that allows for every shade of belief system imaginable. It's theories can't be tested, but they are known to the devout through "testing" by "hippie" ethnographies and cultural acceptance.

Fortunately the truth meets a little more in the middle with these approaches, and over the years much scholarly attention has been devoted to test, augment, and improve these criminological methods.

Beginning with Akers, social learning theory has been added to by introducing elements of individual behavioral science to the Sutherland. Akers - introducing psychological aspects of BF Skinner's work - realised that not only was crime learned, but that learning could be improved / detracted from through positive and negative reinforcement. 

So too with Hirschi, who in his second major work, A General Theory of Crime distilled down his control theory to its origins, simply allowing that crime is committed by individuals with low self-control, and that individuals prone to low self control tend to be impulsive risk takers - self-centered, volatile - who prefer physical activity, and that low self control was introduced withing the first 6 - 8 years of life, at which time it was set for life (one wonders why it took Hirschi 30 years to realize what for most of us seems like common sense, but ours is not to contemplate the motivations of academia...)

Hirschi's most devoted champion - some might call her his flying monkey - has been Ruth Kornhauser. Though she only published on work, 1978's Social Sources of Delinquency, Kornhasuer has been a thorn in the side of social learning for the past 30 years. Kornhauser's main contribution seems to have been taking later theories that showed support for social learning and hijacking them to demonstrate support for Hirschi.

Beginning in 1957 with the work of Sykes and Matza who introduced Neutralization or Drift theory to explain how criminals neutralize the effects of shame or guilt on their actions, both Kornhauser and Hirschi have argued that drift theory is actually control theory in drag, and what looks like pre-neutralization for anticipated criminal actions is actually post-justification for deeds already done. Thus attempts by criminals to deny responsibility, injury, a victim, to blame the condemners or appeal to an alternate authority are actually evidences that individuals are weakly socially bonded to a central conforming value system.

Further, Kornhauser has suggested that work by Thrasher, Sampson, Bursik and Grasmick focused on social disorganization and cultural transmission is evidence that social control is the dominant theory in criminological thinking. Key to these theories is the underlying assumption of a dominant, normative belief system that unifies a community. Where Kornhauser would argue that this belief system is Hirschi's social consensus according to law, detractors disagree and say Kornhauser's interpretation is too extreme (communities have a broad interpretation of concensus; "A lifestyle free from threatening crimes").

Many later studies have gone on to demonstrate the validity of social disorganization and cultural transmission as examples of social learning. In two empirical studies Karen Heimer (later with De Coster) demonstrated the interrelation and variability of class and structure on inner-city communities. Heimer showed how community disadvantage, social capital, and criminogenic elements could influence levels of youth violence; where structural elements (family, race, female headship) could reduce disadvantage, social capital (strong community involvement at the private, parochial and public level) could reduce youth violence, and exposure to crime culture could increase youth violence.

Much debate exists over which is the dominate theory in criminal deviance theory, social control or social learning. Such all-or-nothing arguments lead to theoretical short-sightedness, it is better to learn from the contributions of both approaches and apply them as necessary toward a greater understanding of criminal behavior. Hirschi's approaches is more centered on an individual, consensus model, attempting to explain a person's position in a unifying social order. Sutherland argues from a group, learning position wherein social structures compete to influence the motives and behaviors of cultures. One hopes that future research an empirical study will help to clarify the positions and relations of these two theories withing the sociological discipline.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2007

This is Cause for Celebration?

Canada is just now getting a victims ombudsman?

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J'ai une ame solitaire

You bet I'll shed a tear for Brad Delp. Side one of Boston's debut got me through 1976:

More Than A Feelin'
Peace of Mind
Long Time

Mmm... very fine. 

Bon voyage M. Delp.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007

So hologramic, oh my TVC15

I got dumped by my therapist. She had more problems than me and could no longer commit to afternoons. Six months of talking about my past and we never even got to EMDR.

Not that that's her fault. Apparently with EMDR the process involves identifying triggers (images, etc...) that are painful, and then doing some voodoo treatment to neutralize the negative effects. The result is you can keep your memories, but the bad associations are removed.

Ya, there are problems with this, not the least of which is I don't necessarily have images that trouble me (life's not like a movie where you flash on a bunch of psychotic imagery). I remember feelings mostly, and I don't really want that taken away. Also, I have associations with practically everything in my past that are mixed with ennui.

Never was this more apparent than my recent foray into the world of Ebay. It began sort of as a joke. We have so much junk around the house that I decided to test some of it on Ebay before hauling it off to the thrift shop. The joke ended when I earned close to $300 from some old Wacky Packages cards I had when I was a kid. So then for more giggles I put these up:

That's right. It's part of my bottle cap collection and it brought in twenty bucks. My Dad asked for a finders fee since he was the one that drunk these in the 60s and 70s.

Trouble started when I put up for sale old comics and hockey cards. With the cards I couldn't figure out why in many cases there were three sets of everything (hence having extras to sell), until my Mom pointed out that some of the cards were Theresa's (I am the "guardian" of the 2nd set; my brother's). Yesterday I sold a bunch of Casper, Richie Rich and Little Dot comics and then realized that these were most likely Theresa's.

Now I'm paranoid about selling some of the stuff. I noticed that one of the Archie's had Theresa's name scribbled on it and I've started to read through piles of Betty and Me, Laugh and Pep in search of little clues, foot prints to our past.

This is absurd of course, I should just dump the lot of it. I can't keep everything, it's all going to rot away so why not make a little money and clear it out of the house? But I feel so guilty about it. And it brings back memories both good and bad. For instance I remembered that we hated the moralistic Archies - the ones (usually around Christmas) that had some preachy message: Dilton Doily and the Gift of the Magi. Theresa always called them "sucky"; we preferred the straight up jokes with Reggie cracking wise.

I remember when W-Five came to film in Chapel Hill and I pulled out Theresa's old pogo stick and started bouncing 'round the drive-way. It was shortly after that that they departed. I think they thought I slipped a gear. The pogo stick I'll never sell - my last Christmas present to Theresa, thirty bucks at Fairview Mall.

Comics, trading cards, old toys; these things can send me into a tailspin. I don't even see it coming. The stuff brings me great pleasure, it's not until a couple of days later when I've sunk into depression that I realize the damage done.

That's not right. Can't psychology come up with something to take away the side effects of that?

Most addicts say they feed their addictions to satisfy an emptiness, a hole deep inside. You can pretty much guess what's in my hole, and in my life I've used every addiction (save drugs: drugs were taboo - ironically because of a misconception that Theresa died from drugs) you can imagine to plug that hole. The process of recovery is maddening. I just want to be like other people. I want my memories, I want a balanced life. I also want to look at the past without the prospect of being destroyed by it.

Why is something so simple so very hard?

The header for this post is a David Bowie song, TVC15, which goes like this:

One of these nights I may just
Jump down that rainbow way,
Be with my baby,
We'll spend some time together

One of Theresa's favorites, I listened to it on the way in to work this morning. I should be able to listen to it without self-injury.

(with thanks to my good friend Eric who is posting some wonderful stuff about his great uncle Leo over at Is That Legal?)

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MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007

Photo of the Year:



Alley Fight Leaves Winnipeg Man Dead

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FRIDAY, MARCH 09, 2007

As Kate Zernike notes in this morning's New York Times,

take away federal funding, strain SES, ignore the education crisis, and throw in a methamphetamine epidemic in the heartland and this is what you get.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 03, 2007

Crime Victims Radio

The thing I love about Missing Pieces Radio is that host Todd Matthews takes the time to allow his guests to discuss the issues that are important to them. Think NPR's The Story with a concentrated focus on unsolved, missing or murder crime cases (... and Dick Gordon speaking with a southern drawl.)

The program is an hour format, airing Tuesday evening's at 8:00 pm. Past guests have included Wayne Leng and Holly Desimone ( you can listen to archived programs at the website).

I am looking forward to my hour when I will be the guest on March 20th.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2006

2006 Year End Crime Review

Kristian Gravenor's annual year in crime review appears to be no more. Gravenor's column does nt appear in the current Montreal Mirror, but I have decided to to take up the cause.

Here from the archives of Lexis Nexis I give you the 2006 Quebec Year in Crime Review:

1. Those who can't Police, Police the Highways

Norman Proulx: you are head of the Surete du Quebec. Your police technology systems are outdated, you've got an unsolved murder rate like no other province, you've got organized crime on the ropes, but it still needs your attention: what do you do?

Why claim highway safety as your number one priority in 2007 of course!

Watch out Speedy Gonzalez, Proulx has "developed a series of action plans to combat bad driving habits".


"I got you in my sights, tabernac"

It appears Proulx' "tough on wheels" policy has already got Quebecers quaking in their boots. Last week armed gunmen held up a Dollard depanneur then led police on chase across the JC bridge into Longueuil, all the while obeying traffic signals and driving the speed limit.

2. Free Drinks at Blue Bonnets? Oh The Humanity!

The auditor general uncovered $15 million in unaccounted spending for Quebec's horse racing tracks. Describing it as an "open bar" - and apparently unaccustomed to the perils of hyperbole - national assembly auditor general Renaud Lachance referred to the situation as a "history of horrors".


Slow Monday night at the Hippodrome

Liberal leaders were quick to point out that the scandal occurred while the Parti Quebecois was in charge. Finance Minister Michel Audit again passed the buck stating,

"It will now be up to the (Surete du Quebec) to decide what steps to take..."

(sigh)

3. It would make the Hansen Brothers Blush

What's with the Joliette Action junior hockey team? Binge drinking? Sex tape scandals?


Everybody wants a piece of the Action

Granted I never played junior hockey but in my day an initiation spelled w-e-d-g-y, maybe even the dreaded swirly, but even that was considered crossing a line

4. Myriam Bedard Goes Gaga

Myriam? This is the earth calling. You're due back down here soon. I know you think the world is out to get you, but a Canadian conspiracy on that level would require Canadians coming together in a common interest, and we all know that's impossible.

Just what caused the former two-time Olympic gold biatholete to lose her mind? Who Knows? But it's certain, she's gone bat-shit, she's coo-coo for coco puffs, she's skeet shooting in her own private Idaho.

5. Tell us something we didn't know

Stockwell Day announces the Liberals broke rules and mis-spent $4 million between 2003 - 2005 in its botched policing of Kanesatake. 

6. They say it's your birthday

The Hell's Angels celebrate 22 years at the Lennoxville bunker. Party games included the traditional justice minister pinata, bobbing for shivs in a tub of Jack Daniels, and pin the pasty on the stripper. (thank you, I'm here all week.)

7 . Trees Stolen, Officers Hurt 

In Sherbrooke (of course). SQ officers (of course, of course) stops a van load of Christmas trees at 4 am leaving a Christmas tree farm lot. The van driver backs into the police cruiser and drives away. Ever determined the officers are in pursuit and stop the van a second time. AGAIN, the "fool me once" officers stop behind the van and AGAIN the driver backs over the cruiser and makes its getaway. Subjects were not apprehended.

8. Fleet Footed Fuzz in Fraud Frumpus

Algonquin reserve police chief Gordon McGregor tried to have the force pay for $290 worth of salsa dancing lessons for him and his girlfriend. McGregor claimed it was all a misunderstanding and that local criminal elements were trying to make him look bad,

"These individuals in the drug trade will find any opportunity to discredit the police force or myself."

9. Got 'em, got 'em. need 'em

From the file of gut-check desperate measures, the Haute-Yamaska Surete du Quebec detachment announces it will use trading cards with images of police officers rather than sports stars to deter crime. Says the ever optimistic Chief, Lieut. Jocelyn Desrochers,

"[The cards] will allow police officers to get closer to youth and to take advantage of the privileged moment in which they'll hand out a card to create a relationship and to transmit preventive messages whose benefits are inestimable,"


The coveted Polixe the mascot card
Only 160,000 in circulation

Call me a killjoy but carrying around police trading cards at schools seems like a sure fire way of getting your ass kicked. The last check on Ebay showed these babies in the zero-bidders area. Unphased Desrochers further offered,

The program "will serve as a tool to forge links with the community, all the while demystifying the police officer and facilitating communication, as well as the exchange of information among officers, youth, and even their parents,"

10. Nerd Brigade

Wanted: A few good men to serve on the RCMP's white collar SWAT unit, The Integrated Market Enforcement Teams (IMET). Must own calculator and be able to count to ten.

To counter embezzlement and financial scandals the RCMP decides to assemble crack teams of investigators, forensic accountants, and analysts. Problem is, no one in Quebec is qualified. Says the investigator heading up the Montreal unit, Insp. Gaetan Courchesne.

"One has to understand that files that involve major potential frauds take a lot of time because of their complexity, the number of documents that have to be analyzed and the judicial process we have to respect."

So basically you have to read a lot of stuff and be able to follow the law.

-----------------------------

Ok, be safe. Remember to turn the murder clocks back to zero!

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2006

Quebec Police Ethics Report

For those of you who missed it (I certainly did), Jacques Dupuis' annual police ethics report was released at the end of October. Guess what? Complaints are up! Here's the report:

DISTRIBUTION: Attention News Editors
LENGTH: 1006 words
HEADLINE: Tabling of the 2005-2006 Police Ethics Commissioner's Management Report
DATELINE: MONTREAL Oct. 31

On October 31, 2006, Mr. Jacques Dupuis, Minister of Public Security, filed the Police Ethics Commissioner's Management Report before the National Assembly for the period between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006.The Police Ethics Commissioner is a free-standing, independent institution responsible for the civilian oversight of Québec police officers and special constables, and of highway controllers of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec. To this end, the Commissioner receives and investigates complaints from the public and, if appropriate, enforces the Code of ethics of Québec Police officers through the process of conciliation between the parties or citations before the ethics tribunal.

Highlights
- Complaints received
- 1,381 ethics complaints were received this year. This is a record level
of complaints.
- These complaints involved:
- for 37.8% of them, behaviours liable to damage the confidence and
consideration required of police officers in the performance of their
duties: rudeness, arrogance, refusal to produce official
identification, etc.;
- for 33.9% of them, abuse of authority, such as: the use of excessive
force, threats or harassment, etc.;
- for 23.6% of them, behaviours that could be detrimental to the
authority of the law and the courts, such as: failing to obtain the
necessary warrants, or arbitrary arrests and detentions.
- Breakdown of complaints by police force
- 23.5% of the complaints involved members of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ),
36.7%, members of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM -
Montreal Police Department), 37.1%, other municipal police forces, and
2.7%, special constables or highway controllers. However, we should
point out that this year, there was a significant downturn in
complaints involving the Sûreté du Québec. In fact, in 2004-2005, 35.3%
of the complaints concerned members of this police force. This
situation is apparently consistent with the job action affecting the
activities of the police force during the fiscal period.
- Service accessibility
- A 55.2% increase in the use of our Internet site. In order to maintain
interest for the site and make it easier to consult, upgrading was
started.
- A 20% increase in the welcoming, information and assistance activities
provided to citizens. The consolidation of these activities was and
remains a priority, especially the strengthening of the bonds with
cultural communities.
- An unprecedented consequent increase in the number of police ethics
complaints, to 1,381 complaints, i.e., 66% more than in 2004-2005. An
action plan aimed at ensuring a broader release of our information
papers is in the process of achievement.
- Organizational performance
- The absorption of the bulk of the complaints' increase by refining the
initial investigative procedure. Thus, at this stage, the Commissioner
has closed 8.6% more files (802 written and reasoned decisions) within
40 days of their opening (58.5% in 2005-2006 compared with 49.9% in
2004-2005).
- A consistent gain of 10.3 days by the agency on the global complaint
processing time despite a significant increase in activities (75.8 days
in 2005-2006 instead of 86.1 days in 2004-2005).
- Maintenance of a high conciliation success rate (79.8% success rate)
for 428 sessions held, within an average time of 56.6 days, throughout
the Québec territory.
- Filing of 144 ethics investigation reports, including the one produced
in the Marshall case following the mandate entrusted by the Minister of
Public Security.
- Thus, 208 investigated files were the subject of 137 written and
reasoned decisions to close a file and 71 files allowed for citations
to be brought before the Comité de déontologie policière (Police Ethics
Committee) (ethics tribunal).
- The maintenance, since October 2005, of an average processing time of
47 days, which had never been seen in police ethics, for new files
destined to be the subject of decisions after investigation. The
target set for 2006-2007 is 45 days.
- Despite these results bearing witness to our agency's remarkable
performance, the Commissioner succeeded in maintaining a fiscal balance
in a context that forced us to offer more high-quality services for
least-cost.
- Development of a preventive approach
- Making various recommendations to police services to avoid situations
deemed detrimental: use of plastic bullets, identification of police
officers during crowd control operations, conditions of confinement in
certain police stations, confidentiality of polygraph tests, co-
ordination of stakeholders during disappearances, keeping of certain
registers and the exhaustiveness of various police reports.
- Implication in government and police work to fight racial profiling and
other illicit forms of discrimination. A preliminary report by a police
work force in which the Deputy Commissioner actively participated
recently proposed , avenues to explore and concrete actions to address
the problem. Carrying on these activities is not only effective in
terms of prevention but also as a means of strengthening the confidence
of our clienteles (police and related community environment).
- Information and exchange meetings with directors of police services,
their internal affairs officers, as well as the new cohorts of the
École nationale de police and the police technology students.
This management report can be consulted in its entirety on the site:

www.deontologie-policiere.gouv.qc.ca/communiques
Source:
Me Louise Letarte
Telephone: (418) 643-7897

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2006

All I want for Christmas:

A cold case squad (I didn't get it).

My hope for 2007: A cold case squad

My New Years Resolution? Discipline

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2006

December 26, 1978

On December 26th 1978, Robert Beullac submits his first and only written report on the matter of the disappearance of Theresa Allore. As the year is about to come to a close, and the investigation drags on, Beullac has begun to concentrate on Theresa’s actions in the weeks prior to her vanishing - with particular interest in her activities in the City of Montreal, her former home. Beullac has uncovered many new leads, and his insights thus far have been accurate. But he is now about to play a hunch that will cost the investigation dearly:

“Based on the information available to us at this time, we feel that the events surrounding the disappearance of Theresa probably occurred in the following manner:

Theresa left Compton that night and headed for Montreal in the same manner – and for the same reason – as she had the previous weekend.

She may not have made it to Montreal, having encountered someone on her way there who has forced or persuaded her to remain with him/her or who has caused her death.

She may have reached Montreal and contacted Joey Nice who is covering up because of something which happened after she arrived.

We cannot state with any greater degree of certainty the final explanation for Theresa’s disappearance at this point. We feel that our investigation must now focus on her Montreal friends and contacts.”

METROPOL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Robert M. Beullac, Director
December 26, 1978


The investigation into the disappearance of Theresa Allore is about to shift focus from Compton, Quebec to the City of Montreal – seventy-five miles in the wrong direction.

---------------------------------------------------------

Post Script: In blogging this, I cannot believe that my father received such a report the day after Christmas. It seems unbelievable that he would have to carry this burdon and carry on at home as if nothing was different.

I remember that Christmas pretty clearly. It was our first in our big new home in Saint John, which seemed like a mansion compared to the house in suburbs I grew up in. My brother came home from Champlain that Christmas. Christmases were always special, and very family oriented. Normally we all woudn't leave the house for the entire week. We'd just lounge around and play with our gifts. 

That Christmas was just plain empty. We tried our best to act like nothing had changed, but it was diffficult; Theresa was such a large part of driving the festivities. The new house didn't help either. It is a beautiful Victorian home, about 150 years old, once owned by a sea captain. Over the years the place became oppressive and brooding (my mother and I having to do the majority of the living in it).

I remember it snowed that December in Saint John. I remember my mom had gifts under the tree for Theresa. I remember I gave my brother two albums: The Rolling Stones' Some Girls and Bruce Springsteeen's Darkness on the Edge of Town.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2006

Thomas Edward Allard (Allore)

Who Killed Theresa? was one of those persistent mysteries that was nagging at me to explore, and I'm glad I did explore it.

But there are other stories from my family's past that I've always wanted to look at. One of them is the story of Thomas Edward Allore, my great uncle who died in World War I at Vimy Ridge.

I'm glad I had the time this holiday to work on this with my daughters, and I hope you enjoy it too:

The Story of Thomas Edward Allard (Allore)

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2006

Rape Charges Dropped In Duke Lacrosse Case

Victim now says she isn't sure she was raped.

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Canada's entertainment workers ready to strike!!!

Zounds people, do you know what this means?

No 25 Years of Skinnamarink , No Anne Murray: The Music Of My Life? No Coronation Street?...

The 2 hour live prime time broadcast of the The Federal Budget ? Gone.

Kurt Browning: Gotta Skate V ? Outahere.

The Queen's Christmas Message 2006? Nada...

Yer darn tootin' I'm startin' a new petition! And call your MLAs!

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2006

Richard Hovey, Ontario's Resolve Initiative, and why cold case task forces' work

This stuff is really very simple: give police the time and resources they need to do their jobs.

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Graduate School

More than 1/2 way finished with my degree in Justice Administration. I ended the semester with two As in Municipal Law and Performance Management. Also, got my draft turned in to Kim Rossmo for his book on Criminal Investigative Failures. Time for rest.

I was particularly proud of a paper I did on zoning regulations and adult establishments (there's more than a little mischief in my choosing this topic). If you've got insomnia, here it is:

The Regulation of Adult Establishments in North Carolina

Municipal Law

November 15th, 2006

The regulation of adult establishments is a contentious aspect of local government management. Typically, advocates of free speech and expression face-off against opponents who wish to have the commerce of sexual materials and services controlled and limited. At its extreme, the debate is waged between merchants of adult entertainments who use constitutional arguments to justify their businesses, and political factions who use moral reasoning to justify banning these establishments outright. Neither party has been entirely successful in this debate. Laws and regulations have ensured that both sides come together in moderate compromise. Where the U.S. constitution is the primary tool of argument for adult establishments, political leaders have mainly used the General Statutes of North Carolina, as well as local government zoning ordinances to regulate the propagation of adult business. Since the 1970s, their have been many legal challenges to these laws and regulations in the Carolina courts. Adult establishments have attempted to circumvent regulations on the grounds of first amendment rights, and by debating the statutory definition of adult establishments. In general, these challenges have failed to convince the courts that adult entertainments are under threat. Equally unsuccessful are attempts by political groups to ban adult establishments completely from local communities. This paper provides a brief overview of the legal and regulatory landscape governing adult establishments in North Carolina, followed by an examination of specific court cases in the state.

Overview of laws and restrictions

North Carolina Statutes

Two key statutes address the subject of adult establishments in North Carolina. G.S. 14-202.10 covers the definition, restrictions and violation and penalties applied to adult establishments. G.S. 160A-181.1 concerns the regulation of sexually oriented businesses in the state. In G.S. 14-202-10, an adult establishment is defined as any adult bookstore, motion picture theater, live entertainment or massage business. As specified these establishments engage in, or contain materials or entertainments depicting the engagement in, “specified sexual activities” as defined in the statute.[1] Further, an establishment is said to be adult if it either receives a majority of its gross income from sexually graphic materials or activities, or contains a preponderance of materials depicting specified sexual activities.[2]As demonstrated later in the case summaries, this issue of preponderance has dominated many of the legal challenges in North Carolina.

G.S. 14-202.11 offers specific restrictions to adult establishments. These restrictions regulate many aspects of adult enterprise. For instance, under the statute no building can occupy more than one adult establishment. As well, movie or video viewing booths may not be occupied by more than one person. Finally, and most important, nothing in the statute may be seen to preempt “constitutional protection afforded by free speech”.[3] It is on this issue of free speech that many establishments have sought to test the nature of these restrictions in state courts.

Two other statutes give enforcement authority on the regulation of adult business. G.S. 14-202.12 defines the parameters for violations and penalties. The statute specifies that any infraction of the G.S. 14-202-10 and 14-202-11 constitutes guilt of a Class 3 misdemeanor for first time offences, and Class 2 misdemeanor for subsequent violations. Also, G.S. 19-1 addresses the public nuisance factor of adult establishments. G.S. 19-1 can be used against businesses that repeatedly violate local ordinances. The statute allows for injunctions for the continued misuse of properties, and allows for attorney fees and other court costs to be awarded for infractions.

Perhaps the most significant statute in terms of its use and constitutional influence is G.S. 160A-181.1. This statute grants specific authority to cities and towns for the regulation of sexually oriented businesses. As a guiding principle, the statute opens with a lengthy discussion of the secondary impact of sexually oriented businesses, observing that studies have shown increases in crime rates and decreases in property values in communities where adult businesses have located.[4] The focus on secondary impact has its origin in Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976). This Supreme Court case upheld the City of Detroit’s zoning ordinance as a means of defense against the propagation of adult businesses. In this landmark case the city was trying to regulate the location of adult theaters on the grounds that they tended to “attract an undesirable quantity and quality of transients, adversely affect property values, cause increases in crime, especially prostitution, and encourage residents and businesses to move elsewhere.[5]” In Young, Justice Powell created a method for balancing the interests of governments in regulating adult establishments with the counter-interests for freedom of expression called The O’Brien Test[6]. The test involves four determinants to establish the validity of any regulation that attempts to limit adult businesses[7]. First, regulations must be content neutral. That is, they should be non-judgmental about contents or activities of adult establishments. As well, the regulations should serve a substantial government interest. As previously stated that means they should be concerned with the secondary impact to the local economy. Third, regulations should provide reasonable alternative locations for the adult business to establish within the government’s jurisdiction. Finally, the regulations must be narrowly tailored to meet the government interest. They cannot be a broad attempt to restrict activities under first amendment protection. In court challenges concerning adult establishments, the O’Brien test has become the deciding factor in balancing the interests of governments and free speech.

In his paper, Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses, David Owens argues that the key to the Young decision was the issue of content neutrality. The City had no moral objection against the adult theater - against the content displayed. The City’s argument concerned the secondary impact on property values and crime. Owens contents that, “courts will invalidate ordinances where there is no evidence at all in the record to justify a concern of secondary impacts”[8], and as will be demonstrated, legal history has bared this out[9]. Owens further demonstrates that courts are equally weary of governments that attempt to pay lip service to issues of secondary impact, hastily adopting ordinances that have content issues as ulterior motives.[10]

G.S.160A-181.1 also specifically grants local governments the authority to restrict adult businesses through “zoning regulations”, “licensing requirements” or “other appropriate local ordinances”.[11]Thus, local governments may adopted specific and individual measures to their zoning procedures, and may require procedures and regulation through business license ordinances, or any other ordinance that the governments deems appropriate for enforcing controls on adult businesses. Other significant language in the statute gives local governments the right to enact moratoria of reasonable duration on adult establishments, and permits businesses to come into compliance with the ordinances over time (amortization).[12]

Though not singularly particular to issues of zoning locations of adult establishments, it is important to address laws governing obscenity and indecent exposure. Per G.S.14-190.1, the production and dissemination of obscene materials is a criminal offence in North Carolina. Local governments have at times overstepped their authority to include language in zoning ordinances explaining what constitutes obscene materials or actions. Several challenges have been made against these zoning ordinances on the grounds that they are preempted by G.S.14-190.1. A similar problem of preemption has occurred with laws concerning indecent exposure. G.S. 14-190.9 addresses the subject of indecent exposure and courts have ruled against local government ordinances that contain overlapping language which fall within the jurisdiction of this statute.

Local government ordinances

As mentioned above, North Carolina ordinances that remain content neutral and attempt to restrict adult business location on the grounds of secondary impacts have faired better in the courts than those that are either preemptive of state laws and/or argue from a position of moral authority. Most zoning ordinances attempt to restrict adult establishments by permitting them conditionally to specified commercial or industrial zoning district.[13] This process is typically completed through the business’ presentation of a sight plan to a development review board, and permit approval through the government’s board of adjustment. In conditional permitting, government bodies often cite specific limitations of the permit regarding sign restrictions, the obstruction of windows, hours of operation and restrictive access for minors. Raleigh has the highest percentage of districts zoned for conditional adult use (6 of 26 business, thoroughfare or industrial, or 23%) and Greenville has the lowest (1 0f 27 commercial districts or 4%)[14]. Unique in North Carolina is Chapel Hill which does not utilize any special zoning provisions to regulate adult businesses. Also noteworthy is that Chapel Hill only has two adult establishments and has never had a legal challenge regarding adult businesses.[15]

North Carolina zoning ordinances are careful to specify the minimum separation requirements between adult businesses and “sensitive” areas such as churches, schools, parks, day care facilities, and other adult businesses. Some ordinances even cite historic districts, libraries, cemeteries, certain residential communities, and nursing and retirement homes as being restrictively available for adult establishments.[16] Most zoning regulations have a minimum of 500 feet and a maximum of 2,000 feet as separation requirements. The towns of Kannapolis and New Bern are the most restrictive with minimum separations of 2,000 feet for all vulnerable areas. Durham is the least restrictive having no separation requirements for adult business, only limiting them to certain commercial and industrial areas[17].

Case History

Constitutional Challenges

The foundation of court decisions in North Carolina regarding adult establishments and constitutional challenges was first addressed in the 1979 case, Hart Book Stores, Inc. v. Edmisten.[18] This case was a consolidated appeal of several adult book stores against the then Attorney General of North Carolina, Rufus Edmisten. The petitioner argued that G.S. 14-202.11 unconstitutionally limited freedoms of expression and speech because it unlawfully restricted adult businesses from locating under one facility.[19] In Edmisten the court reversed an earlier decision of the district courts siding in favor of the defendant. In a lengthy ruling the Carolina courts referenced the 1976 Supreme Court case, Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976), stating that the earlier case “essentially controls [the] decision here”[20]:

“We find the North Carolina statute to be merely a regulation of the place and manner of expression, without proscription of that expression, of the type not forbidden by the First Ammendment.”[21]

Constitutional issues and adult regulations were again raised in the appeal decision of Fantasy World, Inc. v. Greensboro Board of Adjustment.[22] In 1993, the City of Greensboro amended its zoning ordinance to prohibit the operation of adult establishments within close vicinity of other adult businesses. Prior to the adoption of the ordinance Fantasy World was granted a non conforming use permit allowing it to operate a topless bar and restaurant within one building After the new zoning ordinance was adopted, Fantasy World converted the restaurant to an adult bookstore and mini movie theater. In so doing the plaintiff was now out of compliance with the new zoning ordinance and inspectors notified them to cease and desist all business activities. Upon appeals to the board of adjustment and superior court, both bodies found that the government was within their rights. The matter was thus submitted for judicial review in 1997.

Fantasy World’s initial argument was that the board of adjustment’s ordinance language was “unconstitutionally vague”[23] and sought to regulate expression protected by the first amendment.[24] The court deferred to the prior court decision in Hart Book Stores, Inc. v. Edmisten, that also addressed the issue of vagueness. [25] Since the language deemed vague in Edmisten was identical to the Greensboro ordinance, and Hart was denied in that challenge; the court ruled that the Greensboro ordinance was also sufficient to withstand the challenge of vagueness. Further, the court ruled that Fantasy World was specifically informed that “no adult use” could be made of the former restaurant and that the petitioner was neither “misled nor uniquely affected by a failure of the ordinance.”[26]

Fantasy World’s case was appealed again in 2004, but the decision remained the same. In this ruling Fantasy World contended that Greensboro’s denial of a business license constituted “an unconstitutional prior restraint against freedom of expression”[27]. The judge disagreed stating that “localities may permissibly make adult establishments subject to zoning requirements”[28] including licensing requirements. In its decision the court cited both Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976), and City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc, 475 U.S. 41 (1986) stating “… a city does not “limit alternative avenues of communication” by dispersing or concentrating adult oriented businesses through valid zoning requirements.”[29] This example illustrates the use of criteria three of the O’Brien test (reasonable alternatives of location) to refute the claim of over-restriction.

The right to free speech and expression was again taken up in the 1998 case, Treants v. Onslow County, (97-35-2) 05/05/1998. Treants and another plaintiff, McKillop owned adult businesses in Onslow County. The Plaintiffs asked that the county’s Ordinance to regulate Adult Businesses and Sexually Oriented Businesses be declared invalid and unconstitutional, because it attempted to control through separation requirements the location of adult establishments. In their decision, the court again referenced the 1976 Supreme Court case, Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976). Recall that Young ruled in favor of the City of Detroit, and on the subject of separation requirements stated that:

We are also persuaded that the 1,000-foot restriction does not, in itself, create an impermissible restraint on protected communication. The city's interest in planning and regulating the use of property for commercial purposes is clearly adequate to support that kind of restriction applicable to all theaters within the city limits. In short, apart from the fact that the ordinances treat adult theaters differently from other theaters and the fact that the classification is predicated on the content of material shown in the respective theaters, the regulation of the place where such films may be exhibited does not offend the First Amendment.[30]

The ruling also cites Hart Book Stores, Inc. v. Edmisten[31] in affirming that “the ordinance does not totally prohibit the existence of these businesses, but only prohibits them from locating in particular areas.”[32] As in Fantasy World, Inc. v. Greensboro Board of Adjustment,[33] both Treants and McKillop tried to plead to the alleged “vagueness” of the ordinance. Since both petitioners acknowledged in their appeals that the ordinance applied to their businesses, the court found that there could be no confusion in the wording. Again, the O’brien test comes into play in this ruling. The judge decided that the ordinance was not restrictive to the point of exclusion, only that it regulated while providing reasonable alternatives for the location of the businesses.

The questions of vagueness and first amendment constitutional rights are again taken up in two subsequent cases. Both claims were denied citing previous rulings. The 1998 appeal, South Blvd. Video & News, Inc. v. Charlotte Zoning Board of Adjustment, 129 N.C. App. 282, 498 S.E.2d 623 refers to Fantasy World v. Greensboro[34] to dismiss the issue of vague wording. As well, the 2001 appeal, Durham Video & News, Inc. v. Durham Board of Adjustment,[35]also defers to the Fantasy World case in finding the plaintiff’s argument “without merit”[36]

Issues of Preponderance

Numerous court cases have argued the legal definition of adult establishments. G.S. 14-202-10 provides the legal definition of an “adult bookstore” as a bookstore:

which receives a majority of its gross income… from the sale or rental of publications… which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined in this section; or

Having as a preponderance (either in terms of weight and importance of the material or in terms of greater volume of materials) of its publications… which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined in this section[37] [emphasis added]

Also – and somewhat circular and confusing - the section defines “adult establishment” as “an adult bookstore, adult motion picture theatre, adult mini motion picture theatre, adult live entertainment business, or massage business.”[38] Regarding this issue of preponderance, adult businesses have attempted to argue that adult services and materials are not the predominant focus of their establishments, and therefore they should not be subjected to restrictions noted in State laws and local ordinances.

This argument was made in the Fantasy World v. Greensboro case[39]. Here, the petitioner contented that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate that they were operating an adult establishment on the grounds that much of their business activity had nothing to do with adult sales and services. Fantasy World was the corporate name for a local Greensboro adult business, Xanadu Video and Boutique. Though Xanadu’s primary business was the sale of adult videos and rental of mini video viewing booths, owners attempted to make the store look just like any retail video store by displaying G-rated films and offering video booths for the viewing of these family films. In cases involving the issue of preponderance, this is an often attempted scheme to skirt around regulations. Adult businesses attempt to convince inspectors that the distribution of adult content is actually split fifty-fifty with unrestricted materials. In the Fantasy World case, zoning inspectors observed that adult videos were well represented and featured in prominent locations throughout the store. Conversely, the G-rated material was displayed in poorly lit cases in the back of the store. As well, where adult films could be viewed on large, color television screens, the G-rated films could only be seen on small, black-and-white televisions. The courts were not fooled by these methods. They ruled that preponderance “related more to weight, force, and impact of the material, and not to a mathematical counting of the number of items available[40]”. Fantasy World was in fact operating an adult mini motion picture theater. The court found this to be “an impermissible enlargement or extension of the nonconforming use of the premises.”[41]

In 1998, the City of Charlotte also had a preponderance challenge concerning an adult book store in the downtown area. In 1995, South Blvd. Video and News was granted a Charlotte permit to operate a retail business for video booths and retail sales with the specified condition, “Approval is [given] on the basis that the preponderance of inventory / sales will be non-adult in nature.”[42] Later, when the business was cited for selling a majority of adult materials and services, the owners attempted to subtly alter the business’ appearance. Signs were changed from “South Blvd. Video and News Erotica” to “South Blvd. Video and News Exotica”. Prior to the citation the store had exclusively sold adult magazines. After the zoning inspection they changed to 50% adult content and 50% comic books. Where the store had previously only stocked adult movie titles, it later switched to 50% adult and 50% non-adult content. Again, these tactics were seen by the courts as an attempt to circumvent laws and restrictions. The court denied the appeal stating, “… the Board correctly examined not only the quantity of the adult materials displayed at the store, but also the predominance and importance of these materials to the store’s overall business. For this reason, we hold that the Board’s decision was not arbitrary and capricious on this ground.”[43]

In a similar ruling the owner of the Executive Video Club in Stallings, North Carolina attempted to split content between adult and non-adult fare but the courts referenced section a. of adult bookstore definitions ruling, “a majority of [petitioner’s] gross income was derived from the sale or rental of these adult publications, and thus, fulfills the first definition of “adult bookstore” under G.S. 14-202.10 (1) (a).”[44]

Content definitions were further addressed in Durham Video & News, Inc. v. Durham Board of Adjustment.[45] Again, a local adult business, Movie Town, argued that Durham’s assertion that it was running an adult bookstore and mini motion picture theatre was “arbitrary and capricious.”[46] Durham zoning inspectors went to great lengths to prove otherwise. Inspectors video taped the contents of the store and even viewed several portions of the movies. Though Movie Town tried to argue that the graphic depictions on video boxes did not necessarily represent the contents of the films, the court disagreed. In his ruling Judge Hudson concluded, “…with advertisements such as “Real People Having Real Sex!” and “Explicit Anal Sex”… we believe it is reasonable to rely upon an analysis of the pictures and titles on the covers of magazines, videos and other publications to decide whether such works emphasize the anatomical parts and sexual activities specified in G.S. 14-202.10 (10) & (11).”[47]

Content Neutrality and issues of Secondary Impact

As stated, the O’Brien test – and specifically how it addresses issues of content neutrality and secondary impacts to society – is important to case law in regulating adult businesses. The City of Raleigh received a challenge in regard to content neutrality when it attempted to over-exercise its authority in zoning a local adult book store. In Harts Book Stores, Inc. v City of Raleigh[48], the North Carolina court of appeals found that the City of Raleigh overstepped their authority when they refused to grant a special use permit to an adult bookstore. In the September 15th, 1981 ruling the court overturned the original decision. The court found that the Raleigh board of adjustment erred in denying a permit on the grounds “[t}hat the character and use of the buildings in the surrounding area are incompatible with the use of the applicant’s business.”[49] The court found no evidence in the Raleigh zoning ordinance that it was permitted to restrict businesses on such grounds. As well, a zoning inspector testified that the bookstore “meets all the criteria as set out in the Code.[50]” In their conclusion, the board of adjustment stated that it “felt that the granting of [petitioner’s] request would be a detriment to the neighborhood”[emphasis added][51]. Yet the Raleigh zoning ordinance had no criteria to measure detriment. The courts deemed the denial an “unlawful exercise of legislative power by the Board.”[52]

As previously stated, zoning ordinances tend to be successful when they are content neutral, avoiding language that objects to the purpose of adult establishments. Two examples bare this out. Section 12.518 of the Charlotte ordinance regarding adult establishments states the following:

Studies have shown that lowered property values and increased crime rates tend to accompany and are brought about by the concentration of adult establishments as defined herein. Regulation of these uses is necessary to insure that these effects do not contribute to the blighting of surrounding neighborhoods and to protect the integrity of the City’s schools, churches, child care centers, parks and playgrounds which are typically areas in which juveniles congregate.[53]

Similarly the City of Raleigh’s zoning ordinance later added a section on secondary impacts, though it comes close to raising morally motivated opinions about content:

Adult establishments, because of their very nature, are recognized as having serious objectionable operational characteristics, particularly when they are located near a residential zoning district or certain other districts which permit residential uses. Special regulation of these establishments is necessary to insure that these adverse effects will not contribute to a downgrading or blighting of surrounding residential districts or certain other districts which permit residential uses [emphasis added][54]

In Hart Book Stores, Inc. v. Edmisten[55] issues of secondary impact where addressed and the ruling cited examples first addressed in the Federal Supreme Court ruling, Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976). The North Carolina court disagreed with the Petitioner that freedom of expression was being denied based on “unequal treatment of commercial establishments.”[56] Further the court deferred to Young in determining that such unequal treatment was not discriminatory but rather “based most essentially on the different effects [the bookstore] was considered to have on their surroundings.”[57] This same issue was addressed in 321 News & Video, Inc. v The City of Gastonia.[58] The petitioner argued that by imposing separation requirements on the business the zoning board was infringing on the business’ right to exist. The court of appeal ultimately affirmed the board’s denial of a variance citing - among other issues – Gastonia’s zoning code and the City’s right to create “certain buffers… to provide adequate means of protection from the secondary effects of an adult establishment.”[59]

Recall that under criteria four of the O’Brien test, regulations should be “narrowly tailored” to meet the legitimate objective of preventing adverse secondary impacts. In the case of two Onslow County ordinances, the courts invalidated zoning restrictions that were seen as too broad to regulate adult establishments.[60] In Treants v. Onslow County,[61] Onslow attempted to restrict activities of Movie Mates, a mini video viewing business that was believed to be a front for prostitution. Once the business was established the county adopted a new ordinance licensing “companionship businesses”. The court found the category too broad. They argued that “companionship business” could refer to anything from nursing home workers to employees of Movie Mates. In their second attempt at an appeal, the county adopted an ordinance regulating “escort bureaus” but that too was struck down. The court found the term “escort” too vague and argued it could be applied to anything from chauffeurs to dance instructors. Thus, in adopting ordinances, local governments must be careful to narrowly tailor language so that it relates specifically to the activity under regulation.

Preemption

Preemption is the argument that a regulation is invalid if it inadvertently supersedes a similar rule or regulation from a higher authority. In the case of North Carolina court decisions, the argument often contends that ordinances are not lawful because they are preempted by similar specified issues in the State Statutes. This argument was presented in the Treants v. Onslow County case.[62]The petitioner argued that Onslow county’s zoning ordinance attempted “to regulate the exposure of “specified anatomical areas””[63] and in so doing it was preempted by G.S. 14-190.9 which concerns indecent exposure. However, the petitioner’s argument was seen as reaching and the courts ruled that “the purpose of the ordinance is not to regulate the exposure of these areas, but to regulate the location of adult and sexually oriented businesses in the county.”[64]

On appeal Treants came at preemption from a different angle. This time the petitioners cited perceived contradictions in the ordinance and statutes regarding restricted locations. Treants maintained that the ordinance language governing distances that must be maintained between two adult establishments was preempted by G.S. 14-202.11 (a) which provides,

no person shall permit any building, premises, structure, or other facility that contains any adult establishment to contain any other kind of adult establishment. No person shall permit any building, premises, structure, or other facility in which sexually oriented devices are sold, distributed, exhibited, or contained to contain any adult establishment.

In this case the court agreed with Treants. In the ruling the court stated that, “because the General Assembly has already addressed the issue that distance required between these types of businesses… [the ordinance] is preempted by N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-202.11.”[65] It should be noted that preemption does not prevent local governments from local regulation. Preemption only applies to those areas where there may be a perceived overlap between state and local government authority. Local governments continue to have a variety of remedies at their disposal to set specific limits to hours of operation, age requirements, and other aspects to control adult businesses.

Conclusion

Businesses that are involved in the sale of sexually oriented products and services are controversial. Though the public may object to these businesses on moral grounds and argue that they blight the community, adult establishments are nevertheless legal. The U.S. Constitution gives these businesses the right to exist. Those who seek to diminish their influence must do so not by eradication, but through careful control and regulation. Local governments must be careful to layout a constitutional framework as a foundation to any regulatory ordinance. The O’Brien test and other tools are guides for establishing these frameworks. Adult businesses can be limited to certain zoned areas, and can have other restrictions imposed upon them such as age and appearance restrictions and limited hours of operation. Ordinances can also be adopted to lessen the negative economic impacts on property values and deter criminal activities that often accompany the locating of these businesses. To meet potential legal challenges, local governments must be careful to adopt sound ordinances that emphasize the secondary impacts these businesses have on communities. At the same time governments must not completely exclude these businesses, and must allow for their regulated activity. Through careful preparation local governments can provide guidance through policies that protect both constitutional rights and the interests of the community.

[1] G.S. 14-202.10, (11) a., b., c. give specifics of, “specified sexual activities”.
[2] G.S. 14-202-10, (1) a., b.
[3] G.S. 14-202.11, (c)
[4] G.S. 160A-181.1 (a)
[5] Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976)
[6] The test was first used in United States v. O’Brien, 391 U.S. 367 (1968)
[7] The 4 steps to the O’Brian test are laid out in Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses, David Owens, 1997, Institute of Government, University of North Carolina.
[8] Regulating Sexually Oriented Businesses, David Owens, 1997, Institute of Government, University of North Carolina.
[9] Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976), City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc. (No. 84-1360)
[10] Ibid 5, Krueger v. City of Pensacola, 759 F.2d 851, 856 (11th Cir. 1985).
[11] G.S. 160A-181.1, (c)
[12] G.S. 160A-181.1 (d)
[13]Appendix B: North Carolina Local Regulations on Sexually Oriented Business Location, North Carolina School of Government: http://www.iog.unc.edu/organizations/planning/iogresources/appb.htm
[14] Ibid 10.
[15] For years a massage parlor on West Franklin street was the Town’s sole adult business until the opening of Cherry Pie, an “adult superstore” a few years ago on hwy 15-501.
[16] Ibid 10
[17] Ibid 10
[18] Hart Book Stores, Inc. v. Edmisten, 612 F.2d 821 (4th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 447 U.S. 929, 65 L.Ed.2d 1124 (1980)
[19] Ibid 18
[20] Ibid 15
[21] Ibid 16
[22] Fantasy World, Inc. v. Greensboro Board of Adjustment, 162 N.C. App. 603, 592 S.E.2d 205 (Feb. 17, 2004).
[23] Fantasy World, Inc. v. Greensboro Board of Adjustment, ___N.C. App.__, 496 S.E. 2d 825 (1998)
[24] Ibid 18
[25] Ibid 16
[26] Ibid 18
[27] Fantasy World, Inc. v. Greensboro Bd. of Adjust., (03-52) 02/17/2004
[28] Ibid 27
[29] Ibid 27
[30] Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc., 427 U.S. 50 (1976)
[31] Ibid 18
[32] Treants v. Onslow County, (97-35-2) 05/05/1998
[33] Ibid 23
[34] Ibid 27
[35] Durham Video & News, Inc. v. Durham Board of Adjustment, 144 N.C. App. 236, 550 S.E.2d 212
[36] Ibid 35
[37] Article 26A, G.S. 14-202.10
[38] Ibid 30
[39] Ibid 27
[40] Ibid 8
[41] Ibid 18, Petitioner appealed the case again in 2004 on the same argument and was refused.
[42] South Blvd. Video & News, Inc. v. Charlotte, 498 S.E.2d 623. (1998)
[43] Ibid 31
[44] Davis v. Town of Stallings Bd. of Adjust., 141 NC App 489 (99-1513), December 29, 2000
[45] Durham Video & News, Inc. v. Durham Board of Adjustment, 144 N.C. App. 236, 550 S.E.2d 212.
[46] Ibid 45
[47] Ibid 34
[48] Harts Book Stores, Inc. v. City of Raleigh, 53 N.C. App. 753, 281 S.E.2d 761 (1981)
[49] Ibid 48
[50] Ibid 48
[51] Ibid 48
[52] Ibid 48
[53] Charlotte zoning ordinance: www.charmeck.org
[54] Raleigh zoning ordinance, section 10-2144. (4), www.raleighnc.gov
[55] Ibid 18
[56] Ibid 14
[57] Ibid 14
[58] 321 News & Video v City of Gastonia, 050345-1 6 December 2005
[59] Ibid 58
[60] These cases are taken from the Owens’ paper (Ibid 5)
[61] Ibid 32
[62] Ibid 32
[63] Ibid 24
[64] Ibid 24
[65] Ibid 24

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2006

Lost In America

Between Britney's cooter and Son of the Duke Lacrosse Players Scandalit's hard to tell which spells slow news month more across the country.

Oh right, then we have The Great Oregon Mount Hood Rescue. If I have to hear anything more about three idiots who took to hiking in a snow storm I'll hop a plane and go dig them out myself.

Think I'm being uncharitable? Get a load of what locals think in The Oregonian:

Lost climbers: Risk-taking annoys public

"Why are smart, "experienced climbers" lost on this mountain in December?

Is there something in climbers that makes them think they're invincible? And do they ever consider that the risks they take impact the safety of those who might have to come searching for them?

SANDRA GOODRUM, Lake Oswego

We have a limited pool of searchers qualified to search Mount Hood in these treacherous winter conditions. Now we have a search in play that is taxing the most experienced of our people.

Lost are three climbers described as "very experienced." I cannot understand how climbers of this caliber chose to take a cell phone over a radio locator. Is it weight? Can they only be rented?

I sincerely hope the answer is not "it comes down to choice," because we now have rescue climbers on this mountain in the worst of conditions searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack, and they are all at risk for death or serious injury.

NANCY FORMAN, Beaverton

There is a vast difference between the vacationing Kim family, who had no idea of the risk they would be taking on that remote mountain road, and the three experienced climbers lost on Mount Hood who undertook a risky challenge on purpose, knowing full well the problems they might encounter. They made an "informed decision" to go out with minimal gear.

Mountain climbing in winter is, by definition, a high-risk activity. It is unrealistic for those who choose to risk their lives to expect others to come to their rescue if they have difficulties.

A good rule of thumb for the Oregon winter would be: Don't count on being rescued. Stay within your ability and pay attention to the weather that can change quickly. If you have to be rescued, be prepared to pay for the cost of all that equipment and all those man hours.

PATRICIA ANDERSON, Wood Village

The plight of the missing climbers on Mount Hood proves, once again, that it doesn't matter how smart, well-prepared or experienced one is. Their route, from Cooper Spur up Eliot Glacier and over the summit, was overly ambitious during most months, but to do so in December is to defy Mother Nature.

Mount Hood demands our respect. Unfortunately, Mother Nature will always get the last word.

P.D. TAIT, Northeast Portland

I'm with Ms. Anderson; rescue them, get them home where they belong - get them off the television 24-hours-a-day - and when it's all over send them an invoice wrapped with a big bow.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2006

Fine. It's the Holidays. Go ahead and rip my heart out.



Montreal landmark Ben’s Delicatessen closes for good

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December 15th, 1978

Whatever Champlain College may have thought about the events of November 3rd and their aftermath may be best evidenced by their silence. On December 15th, 1978, the School held its monthly Board of Governors meeting. This was the first time the Board had convened since the disappearance of Theresa Allore. Champlain College actually had three campuses – there was the one in Lennoxville, but there were also facilities near Montreal and outside of Quebec City. The Board of Governors was comprised of members from all three campuses – Champlain-St. Lambert, Champlain-Longueuil, and Champlain-Lennoxville. Each college was represented by various members from faculty and administration, as well as one member each from the community and the student population.

In the previous meeting, the November 3rd meeting, there was full participation from the Champlain-Lennoxville contingent, and Bill Matson presented his report on administration and housing problems. At the December 15th meeting - the first meeting of the Board since Theresa Allore went missing - the entire Champlain-Lennoxville delegation failed to show up. Bill Matson failed to submit his monthly report. Not a word was uttered concerning the disappearance of a student. In the matter of Theresa Allore, the College had nothing to say.

In mid December, Chief Leo Hamel phones my father to talk about Theresa’s boyfriend, Vlad Kulish. Despite a solid alibi proving that he was thousands of miles away in Calgary at the time of Theresa’s disappearance, Hamel states that he has a “gut feeling” about Vlad, and that he is “not positive” about his character.

Apparently, Leo Hamel was unsure about a lot of things. Six weeks into the case and he was beginning to doubt his theory about Theresa being a runaway. The week before Christmas 1978, a Montreal newspaper, the Journal de Montreal, releases an article about the case titled “Une Histoire De Drogue?” 



In the article, Hamel is quoted as saying that it is possible that Theresa was killed, and her murder might have something to do with the drug culture that has developed in the Eastern Townships region. Hamel failed to discuss this information first with my family, prior to giving it to the media. He later back peddles, claiming the story is “pure fabrication” and that he was never even contacted by the reporter who wrote it. He still maintains there is hope, and advises my father not to fear the worst.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006

Cue Tumbleweed...

Montreal vacancy rate rises for fifth year

...aaannnnddd Action!

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2006

MADD Money

In non-profit services for victims, Mothers Against Drug Driving has always been something of a bully on the block. I am not surprised by the allegations made in last week's Toronto Star that MADD misreported, and therefore misrepresented its fundraising practices.The org has always played it a little too fast and lose for my tastes, always hiding behind the caveat; "well, do you want another drunk behind the wheel or don't you?"

At issue here is the definition of its contact with the public. The Toronto Star and Feds say telephone calls and mailings are expressly for the purpose of raising money for the non profit. MADD Canada CEO Andrew Murie argues that these contacts are also "information exchanges" ; opportunities where fundraisers not only ask for donations, but also inform citizens about public safety issues.

No one in their right mind would buy that argument. Ask anyone who has been contacted by a telemarketer, and I don't care if they are employed by MADD, a police association, Statscan, or your local long distance provider - they are all equally aggressive with one thing on their minds; to keep you on the phone long enough to get your business or get into your wallet. When was the last time you had a telemarketer lay out their mission in anything that didn't sound like a sales-pitch?

If MADD includes the professional fundraising services correctly on their books, their administration costs balloon to roughly 84% of their operating budget. Typical admin costs for non-profits run at about 25%. Anything above that is serious cause for eyebrow raising. Canadians should be MADD alright. This is a slap-in-the-face to all other victim non-profits who fulfill their public obligations, in spite of the tedium of keeping the books "according to GAAP". With their power and influence MADD should have demonstrated better leadership. Instead they may have inadvertently damaged the reputations of all charities in Canada that work so hard for the benefit of public welfare.

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Was the last serial killing case this big in England the Yorkshire Ripper?

"The use of a screwdriver as a weapon is disturbing, but no means original. Peter Sutcliffe, the serial murderer better known throughout England as the Yorkshire Ripper, had used a sharpened Phillips screwdriver on several occasions during his killing rampage from 1977 to 1980. Sutcliffe carried a toolbox in his car, and would often alternate between a hammer and a screwdriver. Two of his thirteen victims had objects thrust in their vaginas after Sutcliffe had stabbed, bludgeoned or strangled them to death."

Prostitutes told: Stay off streets
CNN
POSTED: 11:03 a.m. EST, December 13, 2006 


LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police in eastern England are combing through rural areas hoping to find out who is behind the suspected killings of five women -- all believed to be prostitutes -- that may be the work of a lone serial killer.

Prostitutes were on Wednesday warned to stay off the streets of the Suffolk city of Ipswich, fearing the killer or killers could strike again.

"I'm not sure what starker message there can be at the moment: Certainly three of their peer group have been murdered, now potentially another two," Chief Supt. Stewart Gull of Suffolk police said. 

"Clearly it's not safe, they need to stay off the streets."

Investigators looking into the murders of three female prostitutes whose bodies were found outside Ipswich in recent weeks found two more bodies on Tuesday. (Watch how police are on the hunt for a serial killer )

While the two bodies have not been identified pending autopsies, police said they feared they were Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, two missing prostitutes, Gull said.

"We haven't heard from them, another night as passed, tragic news," Gull said. "I had hoped to find them ... alive and well but sadly that doesn't appear to be the case."

In a chilling twist, it was revealed that Clennell gave a TV interview four days before she disappeared in which she spoke of her fears. However, she said she had to continue working the streets because she needed the money. (Full story)

Police do not expect to identify the two unidentified women on Wednesday, Gull said. The bodies were left at the scene overnight to preserve forensic evidence.

"It may seem quite callous but we've had to leave them in (that) situation overnight," Gull said. "They'll remain there today in order that we can maximize our opportunity of finding the person or persons responsible."

The other three victims have been identified as Gemma Adams, 25; Tania Nicol, 19 and Anneli Alderton, 24, British media reported. All three women were prostitutes, media reports said.
While it is too early for investigators to conclusively link the two "unexplained deaths" with the three murders, Gull noted that there are "striking similarities" between the crime scenes.
"We know that they're all young females, probably all prostitutes ... all found naked in a rural, open environment," he said.

Gull said police on Tuesday received more than 2,000 tips from the public on the three murders. He encouraged anyone with any shred of information to contact police, noting that the "extra help could make the difference."

A British newspaper on Wednesday offered a reward of £250,000 ($491,000) for information leading to the arrest of the murderer.

"We hope this historic reward will help in solving the series of brutal murders which has shocked the nation," said the News of the World, which is published on Sundays.

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Laura Gainey



Last night in Montreal

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2006

Scaring the Nation with their Guns and Ammunition

The second part of Justice Dennis O'Connor's report on the Maher Arar affair recommends creating an independent agency to review the national security activities of the RCMP.

Where have I heard that before? Oh snap! The Poitras commissionrecommended that the Surete du Quebec have direct oversight from the Ministere de la Securite Publique!

And $20 million later what did we get?

Only this... and this... and this.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2006

I suppose I should be more diligent in reporting the Pickton pre-trial proceedings, but that too I find far too disturbing:

Potential Pickton Jurors Face Questioning

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Le Pire

Search for Missing Canadian Sailor, Laura Gainey Called Off

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December 11, 1978

On December 11th, 1978 Bob Buellac phones Mr. Allore with what are now becoming weekly reports. More news about Compton. He has spoken to the students from the “acid party”. Three students have come forward saying they over-dosed on acid the night of November 3rd. Dave states that he and fellow students, Brian and Marc got together in Gillard house around ten thirty at night. They drank some beer and each dropped a hit of acid. After midnight, Dave was walking from Gillard to King’s Hall and suddenly passed out on the lawn. He was taken to the Sherbrooke hospital by another student, Glenn. Later, Marc also passed out. He was also taken to the hospital by a student, Dan. Still a third person took Brian to the hospital; he had also passed out. All three students recovered and were back at Compton by the following Saturday afternoon. All three students claim that they were the only ones doing acid that night. Theresa Allore was not involved.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2006

It is an understatement to say I love the Habs. I've seen them twice this season at the RBC center. I listened to the broadcast on CJAD last night via the internet. I've seen Gainey play many times at the old Montreal forum. Bob Gainey was a boyhood hero of mine; an anglo who learned to fit in on an all French team (hell, he learned the language), and became the leader of a dynasty. 

My first reaction when I read this was, "holy shit":

Rescuers race to find daughter of Habs' GM
Laura Gainey, 25, swept into Atlantic by rogue wave on Friday; Montreal Canadiens' GM passes duties to assistant while awaiting word

Last Updated: Sunday, December 10, 2006 | 1:52 PM ET
CBC News

The search for Laura Gainey, daughter of Montreal Canadiens' general manager Bob Gainey, has reached a critical stage two days after she was washed off a tall ship from Nova Scotia, rescue officials said Sunday.

Laura Gainey, 25, was swept off the Picton Castle on Friday night. She wasn't wearing a life jacket or a survival suit.
(Courtesy of Barque Picton Castle)
On Sunday, the hockey club identified Gainey, 25, as the woman who was swept off the deck of the Lunenburg-based Picton Castle by a rogue wave during a storm Friday night. The Lunenburg-based vessel was en route to Grenada when the accident occurred about 760 kilometres southeast of Cape Cod, Mass.

Her father, a hockey legend, has been GM of the Habs since May 2003, returning to the team that he helped win five Stanley Cups in his 16 NHL seasons from 1973 to 1989. At one point, a Soviet national team coach called Gainey — a left winger and eventual captain — the best all-around player in the world.

Canadian and U.S. coast guard vessels and a merchant tanker have been combing an area of more than 1,900 square kilometres.

Gainey, who hadn't been wearing a survival suit or life jacket, had been in the water for 34 hours as of 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

Continue Article

The U.S. Coast Guard estimated Gainey would be able to survive about 36 hours, based on factors that include her age, her physical fitness and the water temperature of around 22 C.

Crew threw her life jackets, rings

But Daniel Moreland, the senior captain of the Picton Castle, said it was too early to give up.

'The water's warm. There's reason for hope.' -Daniel Moreland, captain of the Picton Castle
"The water's warm. There's reason for hope," he told CBC News on Sunday from Mahone Bay, N.S., where he has been following the search.

"As soon as someone goes over, it's very problematic to get them back, except if conditions are perfect, and conditions are far from perfect.

"But there are many cases of people being in the water for long periods of time as long as it's warm, so we're going to keep the search up."

Gainey was 'very dedicated, very hard-working and very passionate about being on the ship,' according to the Picton Castle's skipper.
(Courtesy of Barque Picton Castle)
Moreland said that as soon as Gainey hit the water, crew members threw over rescue gear to mark the site and help her stay afloat. The captain said it was pitch black at the time, making it almost impossible for the crew of 29 to see her.

"There's a lot of debris, a lot of life rings: ten or more life rings and life vests would have been thrown at her," he said.

Gainey is a volunteer on the vessel who is known to be a good swimmer, very fit and is "a well-loved crew member," Moreland said. He described her as "very dedicated, very hard-working and very passionate about being on the ship."

The Montreal Canadiens issued a statement Sunday saying Gainey had passed his duties on to assistant GM Pierre Gauthier while he and his three other children —Anna, Colleen and Steve — await word. Laura Gainey's mother, Cathy, died of brain cancer at age 39 in 1995.

Search at crucial stage

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday that the search is in a crucial stage.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Larry Chambers said an American C-130 search aircraft returned to the scene on Sunday, relieving the crew of a Canadian Coast Guard C-130 that had searched through the night.

A merchant tanker has also helped in the search.

The tall ship was four days into a voyage to Grenada, travelling along the Gulf Stream, when it encountered bad weather.

Moreland said by all accounts Gainey was where she should have been on the vessel, seeking shelter from the storm.

Gainey inspired Frank J. Selke Trophy

Gainey's father is probably best-known for his relentless style on the ice, which spurred the NHL to create a new post-season award, the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the top defensive forward. Gainey won it for each of the first four years it was presented.

He inspired Soviet national team coach Viktor Tikhonov to call him the world's best all-around player after the 1976 Canada Cup.

Gainey was named captain of the Canadiens before the 1981-82 season.

He was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.

With files from the Canadian Press

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2006

Guarding the Guardians

Fixing the RCMP is not my beef, but this is hard to resist.

Arar is right; Zaccardelli stepping down is no solution, but neither is another public inquiry where results are shelved:

Mending the Mounties

Thirty years after the McDonald Commission, the RCMP finds itself at another crossroads

Chris Selley, Macleans.ca
Updated Friday,
December 8, 2006, at 10:47 EST

The federal government now knows who shouldn't be the RCMP's commissioner. But as much of a relief as it may be to see the back of Giuliano Zaccardelli, the real challenge is to re-establish the Mounties' stiff-spined, incorruptible image among Canadians. And that won't be easy.

As James Travers pointed out in Thursday's Toronto Star, the RCMP has been in similarly dire straits before. Almost exactly 30 years ago, the weight of several embarrassing scandals precipitated a Royal Commission. Whether the force's plight in the late 1970s and early 1980s was more or less severe than now depends on which image is worse for a once world-renowned police force: purposeful corruption or accidental ineptitude.

Established in 1977, the McDonald Commission investigated "certain activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police." And what activities they were. Over the course of the 1970s, the Mounties engineered several notorious break-ins. They let themselves into separatist organizations such as the Agence de Presse Libre du Québec and the Mouvement pour la Défense des Prisonniers Politiques Québécois; they stole a list of party members from Parti Québécois headquarters. In the end, Assistant RCMP Commissioner Thomas Venner admitted to the inquiry that his force had conducted more than 400 illegal break-ins since 1970.

Even more notorious was the matter of convicted FLQ terrorist Paul Rose's mother's barn. In May of 1972, the Mounties believed that separatist elements were going to use the barn to meet with representatives of the Black Panthers, but couldn't convince a judge to grant a wiretap warrant. So they burned it down.
There are many parallels to the RCMP's current position. The McDonald Commission followed a decade of RCMP reaction to the FLQ Crisis, Canada's first and only brush with domestic terrorism. The current RCMP crisis - especially as it relates to the Maher Arar affair - follows five years of reaction to the events of September 11, 2001.

The McDonald Commission's chief recommendation was to get the RCMP mostly out of the national security business by establishing CSIS. Now what? The Arar Commission, led by Justice Dennis O'Connor, has thus far offered 23 helpful suggestions, which Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day insists the government is working to adopt. Some of them - for example, that "The RCMP should ensure that information provided to other countries is reliable and accurate" - seem frighteningly basic. But the Arar case, in which faulty information shared with the United States led to an innocent Canadian being tortured in Syria, has proven that they can hardly be taken for granted.

O'Connor points to "a need for a more coherent connection between Canadian agencies when dealing with terrorism investigations." Among his other recommendations: better training for officers involved in national security investigations; that information sharing policies "be subject to review by an independent, arms-length review body"; and that other countries' human rights records should be examined when such information is being shared with them. (More general observations and recommendations on RCMP oversight and independence are expected next week, when O'Connor releases the"Policy Review" portion of his report.)

Assuming these recommendations hold the key to RCMP salvation, who best to lead the charge? On Thursday, The Globe and Mail identifiedfour candidates for Commissioner, all of whom are currently deputy commissioners: Pierre-Yves Bourduas, Bev Busson, Barbara George andTimothy Killam 

But some wonder if promotion from within is the right way to go. Even if the Arar affair could be entirely attributed to Zaccardelli's leadership, there are plenty of other issues for the RCMP to confront.
Most notably, at least from an internal perspective, officers are reportedly deeply unsatisfied with the limited explanations they have received regarding two tragedies that shook the force to its core: James Roszko singlehandedly killing four Mounties in Mayerthorpe, Alberta in March of 2005, and Curtis Dagenais killing two others in Mildred, Saskatchewan this past summer.

An officer in Prince George escaped sanction for allegedly having sex with underage prostitutes. An inquiry has been launched into how Ian Bush, a 22-year-old mill worker, came to die at the Houston, B.C. RCMP detachment from a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Auditor General Sheila Fraser recently raked the Mounties' pension fund over the coals. 

As the Globe's Lawrence Martin recently noted, there's also the curious publicization of the investigation into a possible Liberal leak on income trusts during the last election campaign. And the threats to freedom of the press inherent in the raid on the Ottawa Citizen's Juliet O'Neill. And the connections with the sponsorship scandal. It goes on and on.

Quoted in Thursday's Globe, Wesley Wark - president of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies - argued that among the tough choices the RCMP should make is putting a totally new voice at the top. "I would suggest the next commissioner has to come from outside the force," he said. "That will be a blow for the RCMP itself, but it will also be a signal for change." 

Former justice minister Irwin Cotler and NDP leader have both made supportive noises about that idea. But it would make a major departure. There is no modern precedent for an outsider being brought in to lead the RCMP, and it has the potential to cause more problems than it would solve. Former Solicitor General Wayne Easter, for one, has expressed concern that such a choice would have an uphill battle winning respect among the rank and file.

"Somebody within the RCMP who has come up through the system, I think, would have a lot more respect from the force," Easter told the Canadian Press.

Respect from the force, though, may this time take a back seat to respect from the public. Justice O'Connor's next report will focus on how to beef up oversight, and the RCMP'ss salvation may indeed lie in systemic changes. But winning back Canadians' confidence won't be that easy. Only when the Mounties are trusted to respond to events like the October Crisis or 9/11 by following their own rules - instead of bending or breaking them - will the next commissioner's mandate be considered a success.

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Barbara Brown - rumored to be an occasional reader here - wants what we all want

(thanks D for the tip)

Cops leave her cold
Twin wants justice for woman slain in '74
By KEVIN CONNOR, TORONTO SUN



Beverly Smith was found murdered in her home north of Oshawa on Dec. 9, 1974, while her infant daughter slept in her crib. Barbara Brown, Smith's twin sister, wants police to reopen the case. (Veronica Henri/SUN)
The twin sister of a Durham woman murdered in 1974 says she wants to "shame" police into reopening the cold case on the eve of the 32nd anniversary of the killing.

"They (police) are more interested in current cases and finding out who killed some bikers. They say they don't need a full-time cold case squad, but if they had a family member murdered you would see a cold case squad pretty quick," said Barbara Brown, whose sister, Beverly Smith, was killed on Dec. 9, 1974.

Smith -- who was the first homicide case for the newly created Durham Regional Police Service -- was alone with her 10-month-old daughter in her home north of Oshawa when she was shot in the back of the head with a .22-calibre weapon.

"Nothing will bring her back, but I want to know what closure feels like. She was a real person, with a real family that was loved. Police need to remember that," Brown said yesterday.

"I've done everything to get them on the case but shame them. I don't want this person to go to their death without paying for my sister's murder."



Smith's body was found by a neighbour after her husband -- Douglas Smith, an evening shift worker at the Oshawa General Motors plant -- called home repeatedly, but did not get an answer.

Paramedics found the couple's baby asleep in her crib.

At the time, police said it was possible Smith knew her killer because there were no signs of forced entry.

In 1987, police reopened the case and said it was drug-related because a small quantity of narcotics was missing from the home.

Last summer, Smith's case was profiled on Court TV, but the show didn't produce any new leads.

"The police are stumped. I need to tug on someone's heart strings to come forward with information, even if it is anonymous," Brown said.

The force will revisit Smith's murder, Det. Leon Lynch, a Durham homicide investigator, said yesterday.

"(Last year) we started getting things ready (to reopen the case), but decisions were made to work on getting the fresh stuff done," Lynch said.

"It has been put aside, but I hope to get working on it soon."

Brown says she will likely spend time with Smith's daughter tomorrow.

"What she knows about her mother I told her. It's still too painful for her dad to talk about it, but I share."

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2006

Fun at The Onion :

Rookie Cop Told To Ease Up On Crime Scene Tape

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2006

THE POEM 'Grace'

Nelie Keeler was the girl who wrote the poem. She was not a BU student, she died of sickness , apparently something like that. Her photographer asked to put that poem with her picture in 'The Campus' with poem for honnor to her.

Sue

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Little something I put together for the upcoming AFPADnewsletter:

Crime Victims’ Rights in the United States

In August 2005 I attended the National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA) annual conference in Orlando, Florida. One session was on victim rights and compensation in the various U.S. States. 

Currently 33 states have victim rights amendments to their constitutions. Every state has at least some statutory language protecting victims. Crime victim rights are varied and may include any of the following:

- The right to notice of proceedings
- The right to be present at proceedings or hearings
- The right to be notified of offender release or escape
- The right to restitution
- The right to a speedy trial
- The right to public safety
- The right to be heard

Victim compensation programs are also varied throughout the U.S. States. Government programs provide approximately $450 million in compensation a year nationwide, and 95% of this compensation is administered at the State level. In general the criteria for administering compensation must meet the following criteria:

- The crime must be a crime of violence
- The crime must be reported to the police
- The report must be made within 72 hours; in the case of sexual assault it must be reported within 180 days (most states)
- The request for compensation should be reported within one year of the crime (For Ohio it is two years, for Utah there is no limitation)
- Arrest or conviction does not effect eligibility
- There is no expense requirement (as long as there is not another source of restitution)
- Compensation is not eligible if the victim contributed to the victimization (gang related)

Benefits for victims can include any of the following:

- Medical care
- Mental health care
- Lost wages, loss of support
- Funeral expenses, crime scene cleanup
- Relocation (California, Florida, Alabama and Utah)

There are limits on the amount of compensation provided. In general the maximum allowable is approximately $25,000, with the average claim usually being approximately $2,000. In most states decisions about compensation can be appealed.

Next year’s NOVA conference will take place in Reno, Nevada from July 22 – 27. For information visit the NOVA website atwww.trynova.org

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2006

Congratulations to our friend Allison Hanes who won an award for her series of articles on internet child pornography:

(Thanks to Anon for pointing this out)

Gazette series on online porn honoured

The Gazette
Published: Thursday, November 23, 2006 

Reporter Allison Hanes has won an award for a series of in-depth reports in The Gazette on the issue of online child pornography.

Beyond Borders, a Winnipeg-based national child advocacy group, recognized Hanes for articles that looked at several cases of child pornography in Quebec and shone a spotlight on the offenders, the young victims and the officers trying to save them.

Hanes's reports appeared in The Gazette last March. She left the paper that month to join the National Post.

"The articles depicted the real and lasting consequences of children who are sexually abused and how the Internet erases borders, allowing child abuse images to be shared the world over," the organization said in announcing the award.

"Her pieces stood out from the rest," added Norman Boudreau, vice-president of Beyond Borders. "It was beyond the sensationalism and brought information to the reader."

Awards were also presented to Winnipeg Free Press reporter Mike McIntyre for coverage of the abduction of two children by convicted child sex offender Peter Whitmore, and to Diego Briceno-Orduz for a documentary about child sex tourism that aired on the CBC television program The Passionate Eye.

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Congratulations to our friend Allison Hanes who won an award for her series of articles on internet child pornography:

(Thanks to Anon for pointing this out)

Gazette series on online porn honoured

The Gazette
Published: Thursday, November 23, 2006 

Reporter Allison Hanes has won an award for a series of in-depth reports in The Gazette on the issue of online child pornography.

Beyond Borders, a Winnipeg-based national child advocacy group, recognized Hanes for articles that looked at several cases of child pornography in Quebec and shone a spotlight on the offenders, the young victims and the officers trying to save them.

Hanes's reports appeared in The Gazette last March. She left the paper that month to join the National Post.

"The articles depicted the real and lasting consequences of children who are sexually abused and how the Internet erases borders, allowing child abuse images to be shared the world over," the organization said in announcing the award.

"Her pieces stood out from the rest," added Norman Boudreau, vice-president of Beyond Borders. "It was beyond the sensationalism and brought information to the reader."

Awards were also presented to Winnipeg Free Press reporter Mike McIntyre for coverage of the abduction of two children by convicted child sex offender Peter Whitmore, and to Diego Briceno-Orduz for a documentary about child sex tourism that aired on the CBC television program The Passionate Eye.

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December 4th, 1978

On December 4th Bob Beullac phoned my father to give him a full report of what he had discovered in the week since his investigation began. Beullac is the first to notice that Theresa’s hiking boots - boots that she always wears whenever she is traveling - are still in her room in Gillard House. The information is significant. It establishes that Theresa Allore went missing on a cold November night sockless in Chinese slippers. It is the first definite indication that Theresa is probably not a run away.

Beullac also reveals that drugs are the main problem at Compton. In Beullac’s opinion, Theresa's friends at Compton are “pot-heads”. Their stories don't add up. How could the girls fail to report Theresa missing for nearly a week? They aren’t telling the truth, he says. In addition Beullac believes that one of the girls' boyfriend, Ian Catterill is a “pusher”. He has discovered that Catterill got tossed out of Vanier – another college located in Montreal - for dealing drugs. Catterill is currently on probation at Lennoxville. In Beullac’s opinion, Catterill is supplying drugs to the Compton residents.

More bad news. Beullac informs my father that Theresa also did drugs. What’s more, students say she did drugs with Ian Catterill. Students have told Beullac that Theresa tried pot, hash, speed and mescaline. Beullac is curious to know why Ian Catterill went home for a week after it was discovered that Theresa was missing. Catterill also claims to have been in Vermont on November 3rd and 4th - the weekend when Theresa first went missing. Beullac ends his telephone conversation by talking about Sharon Buzzee. Beullac believes that Sharon Buzzee is not messed up on drugs. Buzzee was sure of what she saw on the night of November 3rd. Beullac thinks that Sharon Buzzee is telling the truth.

On the afternoon of December 4th, my father calls Dr. Matson. He tells Matson about Sharon Buzzee. Matson suggests that it might be a case of mistaken identity – she probably talked to someone else on the stairs. My father then calls Chief Hamel. Hamel is surprised to hear the news about Sharon Buzzee. He wants to check it out. He thinks maybe she has the time confused. She probably saw Theresa on the staircase the week before she disappeared. Hamel states that he will meet with Dr. Matson in the morning to assess the progress of the investigation.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 02, 2006

Réal Lajoie

So where else did Real Lajoie serve? (Thank you NI for this - I missed it):

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Retired SQ officer sentenced for sex crimes

Last updated Oct 27 2005 05:38 PM EDT
CBC News

A former Sûreté du Québec officer has been sentenced in Quebec City to five years in prison for a string of sexual assaults over a 30-year period. 

Réal Lajoie served on the provincial police force in several regions in Quebec, including the Charlevoix and Lac St-Jean regions.

He pleaded guilty to a dozen counts of sexual assault, making threats and criminal harrassment.

* FROM MARCH 23, 2005: No parole for former SQ officer
http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/ser...-lajoie20050323

Some charges were dropped after he announced he would be pleading guilty.

Lajoie, who served as an SQ officer for 30 years before his retirement in 2001, faced a total of 19 separate charges for crimes that allegedly took place from 1973 to 2004.

Nine alleged victims have come forward.

Ten of the charges were of a sexual nature, ranging from inappropriate gestures to one charge of rape involving a girl under the age of five. He was also charged with uttering threats to assault and obstruction of justice.

Crown and defence lawyers agreed on the five-year sentence, plus the seven months Lajoie has already been incarcerated.

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