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| Scotland Yard Investigates Marijuana Complaint |
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Posted by FoM on March 19, 2002 at 07:53:25 PT By Ed Johnson, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press 
A police chief who pioneered a lenient approach to marijuana was removed from his job Monday following accusations that he smoked the drug himself. Scotland Yard said Commander Brian Paddick had been taken off operational duties in Lambeth -- the south London borough where, since July, anyone caught with a small amount of the drug has been given a verbal warning, rather than facing arrest. Paddick, who is gay, denies the allegations made by his former partner James Renolleau in the Mail on Sunday newspaper. The newspaper quoted Renolleau as saying they had smoked more than 100 marijuana joints together in their London apartment. "Obviously, I'm very disappointed to be leaving Lambeth albeit temporarily," the 43-year-old Paddick said Monday. He would not comment on the Mail on Sunday report. The Metropolitan Police Authority said the inquiry would investigate whether Paddick "committed a breach of the police disciplinary regulations." Gay rights campaigners lambasted the move against Paddick, who the British media said was the country's highest-ranking openly homosexual officer. "This is just so typical of what can still happen and it certainly will be seen by many gay and lesbian police officers today as no encouragement or inducement for them to come out and to be open about their own sexuality," Stephen Warwick, spokesman for the Lesbian and Gay Police Association, told the British Broadcasting Corp. Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said Paddick was "a convenient, vulnerable whipping boy for those desperate to thwart the liberalization of the cannabis laws." Metropolitan Police Authority chairman Lord Toby Harris insisted the inquiry had nothing to do with Paddick's sexual orientation. "These are allegations that if made against any officer, regardless of the background, would need to be investigated," Harris told the BBC. "We are not interested in whether he is gay or not. The issue is whether he was involved as a police officer in any criminality or breach of disciplinary procedures." Harris said Paddick could be dismissed if the allegations were proved true. Scotland Yard said Paddick had not been suspended, but had been moved to other duties. Complete Title: Scotland Yard Investigates Marijuana Complaint Against Police Commander Newshawk: Newshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch II Related Articles: Police Chief Faces Inquiry Over Tale of Cannabis Police Chief Faces Music Over Outburst on Website Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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