Suspended Hall begins dismissal appeal after theft of cocaine
« I truly do apologize for what has happened and do look forward to going back to be a police officer and helping the community the best way I can. »
A city cop suspended with pay for stealing drugs says policing is his “passion,” and he’s eager to get back to the job he loves, even at reduced rank and salary.
Const. Kevin Hall’s appeal of an Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services decision to fire him from the service began yesterday. Outside court, Hall, 44, said he still has much to contribute as a police officer, despite admitting to stealing crack cocaine from police evidence seizures.
“It’s my passion,” he said of policing. “I’m very dedicated, very hardworking and always have been.”
Since his suspension, Hall said he’s made headway in recovery programs, attends monthly group meetings at the Royal Ottawa Hospital and he provides two urine screens per week that have shown him as drug-free for three years.
Hall said he’d be willing to take a desk job just to get back with the service and “get back to it slowly.
“I truly do apologize for what has happened and do look forward to going back to be a police officer and helping the community the best way I can,” said Hall.
Lawyer Robert Houston, representing Ottawa Police, asked Justice Alan Sheffield to dismiss the appeal because the paperwork was several months late. But Hall’s lawyer Kenneth Jull took the blame for the delay, saying he’d been out of the country earlier this year to get married.
Jull said Hall would put a month’s salary totalling $3,500 towards the Ottawa Police if he lost the appeal in order to save tax dollars. Hall is being paid his annual salary while his dismissal is under appeal.
Hall was asked to resign in December 2006 after admitting that he purchased cocaine, failed to turn over drugs he had confiscated, and had stolen cocaine from exhibits.
Houston said there would be damage to the service’s reputation due to the “outrageous nature” of Hall’s actions.
Jull proposed that Hall be demoted to fourth-class constable, not carry a gun and be subjected to random drug testing once a week. He would be immediately asked to resign in the case that drugs are found in his system.
Sheffield said he would give his decision before the end of the month.
