S TANDARD TERRACE
1.30
$
$1.24 PLUS 6¢ GST
VOL. 27 NO. 14
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Cops lose pay over steroids By MARGARET SPEIRS TERRACE RCMP inspector Dana Hart was shocked and dismayed at having to order an investigation into a steroid ring involving four former Terrace officers, but said the fact that fellow employees came to him with concerns about their behaviour should reassure the public. The incidents happened more than two years ago, and now that the disciplinary reports about them have been concluded and released, Hart is free to talk about them. “I can’t express enough how extremely disappointed I was with their behaviour. The public
holds police to a higher standard and rightfully so,” he said July 11, referring to RCMP Cpl. Jason De Coene, Const. Devon Gerrits, Const. Brian Heideman and an unnamed officer, who has since resigned from the force and so has only been referred to as Const. C. “I never experienced or encountered anything like this [incident] in my career,” said Hart, who has been inspector here since Aug. 15, 2011 and was at detachments in seven provinces and territories and part of the prime minister’s security detail, going back to his start in the RCMP in 1990. “This matter came to light from
several sources, including members of the detachment, whose actions demonstrated the integrity we expect of police,” said Hart, adding that this incident shows that the public perception that police stick up for each other is not true. De Coene, Gerrits and Heideman, who have all since been transferred to detachments elsewhere in B.C., were disciplined with a reprimand and forfeiture of eight days pay, according to a decision made by inspector Bernard Tremblay, chair of the disciplinary board and agreed with by the other two board members chief superintendent Martin Cheliak and super-
intendent Anthony R. Pickett. An earlier report on De Coene detailed his involvement, described for all three men as “disgraceful or disorderly acts or conduct that could bring discredit on the force.” The dates of his involvement were between Dec. 1, 2010 and July 20, 2012, the same as Gerrits. For Heideman, his involvement was from March 27, 2008 to May 30, 2012. In an agreed statement of facts, the officers said they regularly worked out, including weight training, at a local gym along with other Terrace RCMP officers. Gerrits and Heideman said they regularly worked out with another
Firefighters kept busy this season
LAST WEEK’S hot, dry weather meant dangerous fires were raging across the province, with the Terrace area being no exception. Two roaring fires within 1,000 feet of each other had to be doused by a team of Thornhill firefighters and a provincial firefighting crew July 15 in the Jackpine Flats area just south of Terrace. The first one was responded to at 2:30 p.m. at Nystrom Pl. with the assistance of a helicopter and is still being investigated. The second was responded to at 6:20 p.m., one kilometre from Goodwin Rd. near a BC Hydro right-of-way. The Wildfire Management Branch was notified and members of the local initial attack crew assisted with an initial attack which included dropping water bombs. As of late last week, it was also still under investigation. “With the time of day and the type of brush and forest it was in, it was difficult to action,” Fire Chief Wes Patterson said. “We had a busy day.” And July 16 Thornhill firefighters responded to a slash pile at Lakelse Lake that had reignited after it was thought to be fully extinguished. The pile of debris sparked up again due to the warm weather and winds, explained Patterson. “With this warm weather, anyone who has been burning this spring should recheck any unburnt piles for possible re-ignition,” he said. Fire bans came into effect Thursday, July 17 and will be in place until Sept. 15 or until otherwise notified. If smoke or fires are spotted report them by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone.
officer only identified as Constable C, who also was a Terrace RCMP officer, the statement continued. Both discussed with Const. C the possibility of using steroids themselves as part of their fitness regimes, the statement said. Two times, December 2010 and April-May 2011, Gerrits received a pill of “Winstral” to try and consumed them, the statement said. Then he received an entire bottle of “Winstral” pills, paying cash for them and intending to use them for his own personal consumption and not for redistribution or any dutyrelated purpose, the statement said.
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TERRY HEINRICKS PHOTO
■■ How’d you get that shot?! TERRY HEINRICKS didn’t climb a mountain to take this picture, he used his drone, a remote controlled device equipped with an on-board camera that can give photographers a new vantage point. Read more on A3.
Adventure
City to pay
Star shortstop
Local air cadets take long, long journey to summer camp \COMMUNITY A9
Court ruling comes out on the side of former chief administrator \NEWS A8
Terrace fastball player helps Williams Lake win gold at provincials \SPORTS A24