Police Constable David Packer has met with more intimidation at the 14th division of the Metropolitan Police Department. Although not yet formally charged, he has been interviewed by internal investigating officers checking the possibility of laying a corruption charge against him.
Constable Packer’s action in refusing to “guard” the Morgentaler abortuary earlier this year has received widespread pro-life publicity. In mid-July, Constable Packer received a generous donation from a Maritime pro-life supporter. According to P.C. Packer, the address on the envelope was illegible, and there was no indication elsewhere as to the identity of the sender. Packer then sent a telex to Nova Scotia police station, inquiring about the identity of the sender. He has not received a reply and thus has no way of knowing to whom to return the kind offer of money. Nonetheless, Packer told the Interim, he planned to keep the cheque, un-cashed, until such time as he could identify the sender.
Approximately 10 days after receiving the cheque, Packer was called to a superior’s office where he was asked a number of pointed questions. He then discovered that the envelope had been opened, and the letter and cheque photocopied.
When asked by the Interim if it were the standard practice of the Toronto Police Department to open personal mail, PC Packer replied, “It is an outrage to have one’s mail opened, it is an outrage to have one’s locker searched, but it is part of police life that one must accept.”
PC Packer is not in the least bit intimidated by this latest official action. He points to the coincidence of his upcoming trial date.
He thinks this may well be an attempt to “ruffle” him before his court appearance and says it was obviously premeditated. After all, he points out, the police department waited long enough to find out whether or not he would cash the cheque.
