The judge said that police officers have a high standard to uphold.
"Police officers are the visible representation of the rule of law in the community," he said. "We teach our children to go to them if they need help. We give them a status commensurate with their importance. When a police officer breaches the public trust and engages in illegal activity, even if off duty, it undermines the public confidence in the police and the rule of law."
Nelson police officer gets 30 days of house arrest
Bill Metcalfe - Nelson Star, Oct 27, 2015
It also undermines the public confidence in a judge - our judicial system as a whole but let's not get into that one now! - when his sentencing is not commensurate with the crime. The sentence given CST. Drew Turner supposedly is similar to what's generally handed-out for a similar offense elsewhere. But precisely in line with Judge Hewson's sanctimonious blather above: Turner deserves something more exemplary than a month in the comfort of his home.
But then: he's a good citizen and family member!
Not mentioned here is whether he will continue receiving his generous pay-package - for sure no overtime, shucks! - while kicking-back in front of the TV with a few cold ones. Napping. Working on the truck. Doing house-stuff for winter. And napping.
Turner's legal fees will be paid by the local police board - in effect, by the City of Nelson. This is not automatic: the Police Act states that a municipal police board may pay the fees if it chooses to, which in this case it did.
Actually it's neither the Board nor the City paying for this charade: it's us taxpayers who - in effect - get to reward an out-of-control cop for brutalizing a handcuffed woman into unconscious submission.
Awriiight!!! Get This Man A Beer!!!
According to Holland, the police board could attempt to recoup the fees from Turner at a later date if it wishes to.
Not very bloody likely the Board will - even though Turner is now a convict with a criminal record and undoubtedly far from destitute.
Neither is it likely that this Board will ultimately fire him - which it could: but what's to follow internally now is pretty much cops-for-cops - and at the end of that line is Chief Holland. Who is a rather energetic presence on the Nelson Police Board!
No matter what all those reviews to follow come up with: it won't be about the victim, she won't benefit - unless she gets herself an ambulance-chasing lawyer to go for bigtime damages. Which - if she wins - will again come out of our pockets. The real winner: good citizen Bad Cop!
While Metcalfe's copdom-workings are revealing: reader-comments on this article - once again and as on all previous Turner-related ones - have been disallowed by the Star's editor. What - rather who - is Greg Nesteroff afraid of? The cops?
None of these images are of the victim here: Tawny Campbell.
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