Coun. Chu used CPS business cards, pager, and 'police appeal' in personal life, document shows
CBC
A transcript from Calgary Coun. Sean Chu's 2003 police disciplinary hearing — for "caressing" a teenage girl — shows not only was the the then-officer issued a reprimand, he was also assigned six months of ethics committee work. That came after the presiding officer found Chu had used "police business cards, police pagers and his police appeal to enhance his off-duty personal life."
Following an investigation under Alberta's Police Act, Chu was found guilty of discreditable conduct for touching the leg of a 16-year-old girl in 1997 at a restaurant while he was in uniform, according to his own testimony.
The transcript also shows the presiding officer did not believe Chu's accuser and discounted her evidence entirely.
Chu has faced increasing calls for him to step down since CBC News broke the story on Oct. 15 that when he was a 34-year-old police officer in 1997, he had sexual contact with a minor.
On Oct. 18, Chu was re-elected as Ward 4 councillor by a margin of 100 votes. A judicial recount has been requested.
The transcript obtained by CBC News is from Chu's sentencing decision, which took place on Jan. 31, 2003 — nearly six years after the incident — and lasted eight minutes.
The newest document reveals that presiding officer Debbie Middleton-Hope did not believe the testimony of the complainant, a woman CBC News has identified as HH. CBC News does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault.
Middleton-Hope said HH was "inconsistent" in her evidence and had difficulty remembering "pertinent details." The presiding officer said she would not consider HH's evidence in considering Chu's sentence.
On Tuesday, Mayor Jyoti Gondek took issue with Middleton-Hope's comments about HH's inconsistencies, pointing out there are "inconsistencies on both sides."
"Choosing to believe one side over the other because of inconsistencies is clearly flawed," said the mayor.
In issuing a five-year reprimand in 2003, Middleton-Hope said Chu would suffer consequences, such as difficulty being promoted or transferred within the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
"As this incident is five years old, has impacted Const. Chu's personal and professional life, I feel a further five years of restricting Const. Chu's career opportunities is a sufficient sentence," said Middleton-Hope.
But the presiding officer was so concerned about Chu using his police persona in his private, off-duty interactions, she also directed Chu to assist with developing the "integrity/compromise" section of a presentation for the ethics council for a period of no less than six months.
"Furthermore, what I find disturbing in the evidence presented by Const. Chu was his readiness to use police business cards, police pagers and his police appeal to enhance his off-duty, personal life," said Middleton-Hope.
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