(mississauga.com) – A disgraced Peel Regional Police officer who stole what he thought was cocaine from a botched Royal Canadian Mounted Police drug sting was sent to prison today and will soon be fired.
This afternoon in Brampton court, Cst. Sheldon Cook, 43, received a jail term of five years and eight months from Justice Casey Hill. He’ll serve his sentence in a federal penitentiary near Kingston.
Cook, who was taken to hospital yesterday morning with chest pains, bowed his head as he was taken into custody in front of his weeping wife Rhonda and other family members in the courtroom.
“Over and above the stain upon the administration of justice arising from criminality by a police officer breaching the trust imposed upon him or her, such conduct inevitably, but unfairly, results in diminishment of the reputation of his or her police force and fellow police officers,” Hill said in his ruling. “Sheldon Cook is a mature offender … there is no evidence that, in breaching the public trust, he operated under the influence of any superior officer.”
If Cook, a 19-year veteran of the force, doesn’t resign, he will most likely be dismissed officially from the force following a Police Services Act hearing. He had been suspended with pay since his arrest nearly five years ago.
Prosecutors David Rowcliffe and Anya Weiler asked the judge to impose a 12-year penitentiary term on Cook, who was found guilty in June of unlawful attempt to possess an illegal substance for the purpose of trafficking, three counts of breach of trust, theft and unlawful possession of stolen property, and possession of marijuana. Cook’s lawyers asked for a sentence of two years.
“As a police officer, the offender knew that possession of about a pound of marijuana was more than a trifling breach of the Canada Drugs and Substances Act and completely antithetical to the oath of his office as a sworn peace officer,” Hill said.
Cook insisted he was following orders when he took the fake cocaine to his Cambridge home. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The officer told the court his superiors knew he took home 15 bricks of flour after his shift ended in the early hours of Nov. 17, 2005. He said Acting Det. Warren Williams told him to keep the bricks at his home and ranking Det. Marty Rykhoff was aware he was doing so.
Rykhoff has denied putting the packages in Cook’s cruiser or having any knowledge that Cook took them home. He denied telling Cook to take them to his home when he testified as a Crown witness last year.
Williams also denied ever seeing the bricks of fake cocaine in Cook’s cruiser.
Cook was among several officers, including Williams and Rykhoff, who had unloaded boxes of rotting mangoes concealing suspected cocaine bricks from a courier truck in Mississauga the night before.
Cook has denied stealing the product, which he says he knew was fake.
The so-called cocaine turned out to be white flour, being shipped from Peru to Canada as part of an RCMP-controlled drug sting. The fake drugs went missing after arriving at Pearson International Airport.
RCMP investigators followed a GPS signal emanating from the bricks of flour to find them in a Sea-Doo in the garage at Cook’s home.
Meanwhile, a search of Cook’s home uncovered marijuana and several MP3 players that were connected to an unrelated police investigation.
Cook testified the marijuana wasn’t his.
Meanwhile, Hill has revoked an application by federal lawyers to seize Cook’s financial interest in his Cambridge home they said was used as a “stash house” for drugs.
The judge said Cook’s wife, two daughters and in-laws still live in the home and issuing a forfeiture order would be unfair and overreaching.
As a result of Cook’s arrest, the federal justice department decided not to prosecute at least six drug cases where Cook was the arresting officer. A month after he was charged, a Peel judge acquitted former Toronto Argonaut player Orlando Bowen of drug charges and assaulting police. The charges were laid by Cook and another officer. Bowen alleged at his trial that Cook planted cocaine on him during his arrest.
A $14 million lawsuit filed by Bowen against the Peel force and several officers, including Cook, is still pending.
“The point of having one of your top officers censured by our Canadian Parliment (sic) is…. can you think of something more serious or emabarassing (sic)?”
Why yes I can D. A certain high level Armed Forces Colonel charged with 88 Criminal Code offenses ranging from murder, rape, forcible confinement, on down the serious list to theft, B&E and some bizarre conduct naked thrown in the mix. The lives of
the women as well as roughly 40 victims and family members. Kinda makes a little UNANIMOUS censure pale in comparison.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The point of having one of your top officers censured by our Canadian Parliment is…. can you think of something more serious or emabarassing?
Remember the vote to censure the Deputy Commissioner was UNANAMIOUS and the decision was unprecedented for the Mounties and the RCMP. IMHO I and countless Candians consider this very serious, possibly you don’t.
In regard to the TV changer and the pen knife…were these people in custody?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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“Actually the site I saw said complaints were up 6.5% and direct complaints were up 43%.” The CPC annual report is online at the following site:
http://www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca/prr/anr/2009-2010-eng.aspx#toc11 They have a comprehensive breakdown that should be read in its entirety, not piecemeal.
“My point with statistics is anyone including me can spend 30 seconds on the internet and find statistics to prove any point they want.” Obviously you do not visit the sites that I reference otherwise you would know, as with the above noted, that they are real submitted reports by real functioning organizations. How else would we be able to access except by snail mail? Ignore them at your peril. You do not like them because they do not support your contentions or they shed light on your misconceptions.
Edmonton Police Service: Edmonton Police Service 2008 Complaints: 274 registered complaints; officers: 1329; percentage: 20.6% And 48 criminal allegations.
And thus this statement “Possibly they (individuals) went directly to the Commission knowing so little is ever done if they complain directly to the RCMP.” Which you use to support your hypothesis. In fact every complaint is transmitted to the CPC by the RCMP. You should brief yourself on the workings of the CPC.
“Personally I don’t care about statistics of other police forces in Canada as I do not have to deal with them. I am “fortunate” to have to deal with the RCMP and that is why I say the force is BROKEN.” So now we have established your police force of area, why don’t you take a meeting with the Officer in Charge of the local Detachment? I am sure you would find it more informative than a meeting with me. You could sit on the local board and find out what is really going on. Be part of the police liaison committee. Or ask your local municipal govt for a copy of the Special Edition of the Mayors Newsletter from the UBCM if you live in the Province of BC. Very interesting.
“With your love of statistics and context you must sit behind a very larege (sic) desk at the RCMP in ????” Another assumption on your part based on your what? Intuition, speculation, supposition? Just like your enmity for the entire membership of the RCMP organization you are misguided and biased. By challenging your theories, observations and bias, you automatically assume I sit behind a desk in the RCMP.
“How many police forces have had a high ranking officer censured by our Canadian Parliament?” None that I recall, but then what is the point? Or does the argument back in the early 1900’s count?
“How many other police forces in Canada have had their “chief” resign in disgrace?” Five
Do not wait for me to provide context for you. Before you post or advance a theory, check it out first.
“Please ask Robert Dziekanski’s mother how she feel (sic) about spurious statistical comparisons between the RCMP and some randon (sic) municipal police force that has more complaints per capita (sic) in Canada.”
Nothing spurious about statistical comparison. You do not like them just as you do not like the RCMP because they do not fit your theories. They throw cold water on your sky is falling assumptions. Another inane statement requesting I ask Mrs. Dziekanski. I would be surprised if she would condemn the entire RCMP organization over the actions of the few morons at the YVR incident. I wonder if she would condemn the entire armed forces over Williams if one victim of the dozens was her daughter? Same inane type of question.
“I am not talking about random complaints, please tell me the statistics on how many other police forces in Canada have had a member shoot a prisoner in custody in the back of the head.” Exonerated, sorry. (Have your cousins reenact that, its pretty easy.) But I do remember the VPD shooting an individual for a tv channel changer and an artist with a pocket knife.
“The internal disciplinary system of the RCMP is broken, admit it. If a RCMP member can be accused of something, put on paid leave, admit guilt, appeal his punishment and still be paid…wow where is the incentive to ever work??” No argument from me there. Even the Commissioner wants it changed. But remember, it takes legislation from the govt to do that. You have to amend a Federal Statute, the RCMP Act.
“n October 2008 it was revealed the RCMP had used taxpayer money to pay individuals to write negative, politically biased reports about the Vancouver safe injection site INSIGHT. Please feel free to tell what internal discipline was brought against the people involved.” Nothing. Two researchers were commissioned to write the report. News flash, anything the RCMP does is with public money. Poor choice of researchers perhaps? The RCMP also fund one of their biggest critics in 2 Criminology chairs at SFU and one at UFV.
And finally: “Did you notice today how quickly the Canadian Military started dealing with Col. Williams as soon as he plead guilty. Can you say it took a nanosecond and you think they would even let him appeal his being stripped of rank, medals and given the boot??” Yes I noticed. That is due process military style, not applicable, and never will be, to the RCMP as I have pointed out before.
http://www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca/sr-er/acf-afc-eng.asp Surely not in the armed forces?
“I look forward to your statistics and their proper context.” Glad to hear it, at least it shows you are willing to learn. Check this out:
And this: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/police_services/publications/index.htm
And especially this: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2009PSSG0034-000629.htm
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I’m impressed you actually did some research D. But as I always have said context is what you should strive for with statistics. Now do a comparison with the other major forces in Canada if their reports are available yet.
“This increase is likely due to the public’s greater awareness of the CPC and the option of pursuing a complaint through its independent process. As a consequence, complaints submitted directly to the RCMP have declined. ”
“The type of issues raised in complaints in 2009-2010 followed similar trends from previous years. The most common complaint issue relates to member attitude. This category of alleged complaint can include dismissive, rude, non-responsive or biased behaviour on the part of the member as well as behaviour that is seen to be unfair or lacking empathy.”
And I certainly do not see murder, break and enter and stealing underwear and sex assault under the tables anywhere, such as Williams who did plead guilty while looking at pictures of himself that were included in thousands of pictures of abused women, underwear, and him in womens’ underwear. Probably his meticulous organization and note taking spurred the guilty plea.
What I see is:
Attitude other than abusive language 19.2
Criminal investigation quality (RCMP) other than note-taking 13.8
Arrest 8.2
Vehicular incidents 7.7
Police physical abuse other than restraints 6.8
Detention 5.8
Alcohol/Drugs 5.5
Search and seizure 3.8
Property mishandling 2.6
Abusive language 2.4
No torturing of prisoners, no offences I outlined to you before. I also dont see anything similar to “12 current and former soldiers were charged with more than 70 drug-related offences”
“The real difference here is he was going thru the Federal Court System and had to be found guilty of wrong doing.” ( News flash D, that’s where all avenues lead from RCMP discipline for appeal.) And his charges were in criminal court. Where do you get federal court out of that?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Lets face it, police officers are kind of like politicians today, they are not really held accountable as the rest of our society is.
WalMart has one over this police force and if they adopted their standards and morals of business they would become allot more efficient that they are right now.
As you listed they are even admitting the wrongs but all we see is years of paid leaves and probably a pension at the end of it too, wouldn’t surprise me a bit, to hear that one.
They seem to operate in a different area and are extended privileges where even the justice system, “this lady holding the scales who is suppose to be a sign of WISDOM” is forced to line up to that perception of a privilege fundamental right that go way beyond what is sound judgment while the rest of us suffer the opposite.
But I’m wondering who made this up, and why have they been given these kinds of perks and powers and what can be done about it to correct this today when the politicians have no say in what they do, their accountability?
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“If Cook, a 19-year veteran of the force, doesn’t resign, he will most likely be dismissed officially from the force following a Police Services Act hearing. He had been suspended with pay since his arrest nearly five years ago.”
Wow, nearly 5 years. Certainly not the military eh D.?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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