Cop convicted of tipping off bikers
By Tony Ricciuto, Niagara Falls Review (Canada Friday, August 2, 2013
WELLAND – A Niagara Regional Police officer, who was found guilty of breach of trust for leaking information to the Hells Angels, says he intends to appeal the judge’s decision.
Frank Dean Rudge was convicted Friday in a Welland courtroom for leaking confidential police documents to the motorcycle gang during a two-year period between August 2004 and September 2006.
Rudge showed no reaction as the verdict was read out in court. Wearing a black suit and tie, he sat beside his lawyer, Ronald Brady, when the verdict was delivered.
“I do not believe Rudge’s evidence. It does not leave me with a reasonable doubt and I am not left with a reasonable doubt on the basis of all the evidence,” said Justice Peter Hambly, of the Superior Court of Justice.
”My belief that he did so is much closer to absolute certainty than it is to a belief on a balance of probabilities.”
After delivering his verdict, the judge ordered a break in the proceedings. Court resumed a short time later to order a pre-sentencing report and to schedule a date for sentencing.
During the break, NRP Chief Jeff McGuire was seen arriving at the courthouse.
The matter returns to court Nov. 12 and 13. The judge is expected to hear submissions from both the Crown and defence on the first day followed by sentencing the next day.
Both lawyers declined to make any comment while the case is still before the courts, but Rudge let reporters know he intends to appeal the decision.
Outside of the court, Rudge pointed to a reporter and said: “It’s the best conviction that money can buy.”
Also outside of the court, McGuire said these types of cases are always “bittersweet” and he’s certainly not happy when any of his officers are involved in “something like this.”
Asked if members of the public lose confidence in their police service when an officer is charged, the chief said that confidence should be strengthened because it shows the officers who investigated the case did the right thing and it was put through the process.
Rudge has remained on the payroll, suspended with pay, since he was charged in 2007.
McGuire said he does not have the authority to stop that pay and Rudge will remain on the payroll until sentencing is complete.
The Crown called 25 witnesses during the trial. Rudge testified in his own defence and his lawyer called three other witnesses.
This was not the first time that Rudge appeared in court on these charges.
The case was heard in 2010 by a Superior Court judge sitting without a jury. On May 13, 2010, he was acquitted, but the Crown appealed.
The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in a judgment dated December 2011.
Some facts in this case:
Hells Angels is an international outlaw motorcycle club;
Police in Ontario investigated club in 2005, 2006 as part of Project Tandem;
Only a few trusted officers knew about it;
NRP Const. Frank Dean Rudge found guilty of breach of trust for leaking information to club Aug. 2, 2013
tony.ricciuto@sunmedia.ca
Comments