COPS CAN LEARN TOLERANCE FROM PEER'S PROBLEM

Addiction makes people selfish, hurtful and sometimes dangerous. It's
a disease of the soul. Just ask Const. Mike Wasylyshen.

Last week, the Edmonton cop stood in front of a judge and apologized
for his boorish, reprehensible behaviour, fuelled by alcohol abuse.
Apparently, Wasylyshen becomes an insufferable bully when he drinks.

He attacked people he was sworn to protect, embarrassed brethren in
uniform and dishonoured his family -- notably his father, former
chief Bob Wasylyshen.

The younger Wasylyshen pleaded guilty to two counts of assault in an
incident that included punching a man on crutches around Christmas
2005. Wasylyshen was out celebrating with some friends on Whyte
Avenue, where he consumed a "significant" amount of alcohol.

On the street, he saw a man on crutches and started taunting him as a
"cripple." Wasylyshen ran across the street to punch the man.

The pair were pulled apart, but Wasylyshen came at him again. This
time he was thrown to ground by two of the other man's friends.

When a couple of nearby store security guards stepped in, Wasylyshen
turned on them. In his rage, he threatened to burn down one of the
guards' houses.

It was a horrifying display of out-of-control behaviour, the last
thing you would expect from someone whose chosen career is keeping the peace.

Shortly after the incident, Wasylyshen checked himself into rehab,
and according to his lawyer hasn't touched alcohol since then. In the
courtroom last week, the 10-year veteran cop tearfully apologized to
everyone involved, his family, fellow cops and the public, all of
whom he hurt and betrayed.

"I did let the community down and I hope I can regain its trust," he said.

The judge slapped him with a $500 fine. In order to send a message to
other drunken brawlers, a request to discharge him was denied,
meaning Wasylyshen will have a criminal record. Now he must also go
through the police department's internal disciplinary process.

Police Chief Mike Boyd praised Wasylyshen for owning up and
apologizing. He commended the constable for "the actions he's taken
to try to deal with his personal problem with alcohol."

Other cops wrote letters to the court, saying he's a changed man
since drying out, calling him a natural leader and a good example for
younger cops.

But Wasylyshen can also serve as an example to lawmakers. Talk to any
cop and they will tell you the vast majority of people they arrest
are struggling with addictions. Most burglaries, car break-ins,
identity theft and other so-called property crimes are committed for
quick cash to feed the perpetrators' habits.

Likewise, brawls and domestic violence are commonly fuelled by drugs
and alcohol. Our jails are full of people whose addictions have spun
out of control.

They don't get a lot of sympathy from the public. We don't think it's
our responsibility to worry about their downward slide before they
turned to crime. Their substance abuse problems aren't ours.

Wasylyshen is lucky. He has the financial means to get treatment and
is surrounded by people who will help him stay on the wagon.

How many convicts would be leading productive lives right now if they
had better access to help? How many crimes would never have been
committed if substance abuse was taken seriously as a health problem
before it became a criminal issue? How many fewer victims would there be?