Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 30, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press wednesday August 30, 2006 a3 top news Veteran officer pleads guilt to corruption repeatedly tried to help Hells associate All i was doing is looking out for my Friend and his father. It looked like they were having trouble with a business partner ? Bruce Hynen heading to court yesterday. Cite now connected to Hynen. Hynen is the first Crown opposed his release on bail. A judge agreed of dozens of people caught up in the Case to go to to let him out on strict conditions and he has court. Remained free Ever since. Ramp noticed Hynen was running background the Crown is expected to stay 13 other serious checks through the secure police computer sys criminal charges against Hynen today which tems on the target and contacted Winnipeg police involve other allegations of corruption. One of the who began an internal investigation. Charges involves an aug. 13 allegation that Huy Minuk said there were already concerns about Nen disclosed the identity of a confidential win Hynen stemming from an earlier drug Case in Nipes police informant to one of the targets of the which he was suspected ? but never proven ? to operation. Have tipped off the target of a pending drug raid. Weinstein said yesterday there was absolutely Winnipeg police began tracking Huygens move no Merit to those claims by police and said Hynen ments and obtained a warrant to wiretap his Tele never had any personal discussions at any time with phone. Hundreds of conversations were monitored the Hells associate. All of his chats were with Over the course of several months. Mcpake. Hynen was finally arrested in september 2004 Hynen started with the police in 1988 and at the exact time police in Canada and the United worked in the police gang unit Between 1999 and states conducted a series of Early morning raids 2003, then was transferred to the Community ser connected to the Ephedrine investigation. The Hells vice Centre on Broadway where he worked until biker was one of those arrested. He remains before his arrest. The courts. Hynen was briefly detained in custody and the. by Mike Mcintyre a Veteran Winnipeg police Constable admits he repeatedly tried to help an angry Hells Angels associate Hunt Down people who stole $462,000 in drug Money and then went on the run. Bruce Hynen 40, pleaded guilty yesterday to unauthorized use of a police computer that involved nearly a dozen illegal name address and Back ground searches in 2003 and 2004. Hynen was caught in police wiretap conversations discussing the missing Money background of the biker and results of the computer checks with his Calgary based Friend Gordon Mcpake. Mcpake had asked Hynen for help on behalf of his own Friend an associate of the Manitoba Hells who a been ripped off by his sex Girlfriend and her new Boyfriend. The Man wanted Mcpake to use his police connections to help track the pair Down and recover his Money which was obtained through the proceeds of crime court was told. Hynen was aware of the bikers background As he checked Winnipeg police records that had him flagged As a Hazard and a Hells associate. Ill drive to Thunder Bay tomorrow and expletive kill him Mcpake tells Hynen of the woman a new Boyfriend suspecting they a headed East. He also conveyed to Hynen How angry the biker was Over getting burned. Ill beat him right into a expletive coma Mcpake continues. He trusted his woman Way too much Hynen says of the biker. Later the officer suggests the woman might have gone to police about the biker and the stolen Money. I guarantee she a singing like a expletive Bird says Hynen. Crown prosecutor Marty Minuk said yesterday Hynen and Mcpake also discussed the bikers involvement in the drug Trade. On one occasion Mcpake mentions the Man being involved in a big Deal involving a ? expletive Load of drugs. This is not the Type of activity the Public expects of police officers Minuk told court yesterday. Its an offence against the Community and attack against Public Confidence and integrity of the Hynen faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison but Minuk did to make any specific recommendation for penalty. Defence lawyer Hymie Weinstein asked for an absolute discharge which would prevent Hynen from having a criminal record. Chief provincial court judge Ray Wyant reserved his sentencing decision until next month. Weinstein said his client has suffered enough having already resigned from his $65,000-a-year Job when it was Clear he was Likely going to be fired. Hynen is now making about $33,000 a year installing duct work and is having trouble finding other work because of the publicity surrounding his Case. In Hindsight i see i be made some poor Deci Sions. All i was doing is looking out for my Friend and his father. It looked like they were having Trou ble with a business partner Hynen told court yesterday. The business partner ? the biker who was ripped off ? claimed to be involved in an Industrial clean ing business and had met Mcpake and his father years earlier through their similar Enterprise. Hynen said yesterday he never received any payment for helping Mcpake and never had knowl Edge of criminal activity taking place or interfered with any ongoing investigations. I be definitely suffered emotionally mentally financially. I just want to put this behind me and move on with my life. I feel like i be already been punished severely he said. Weinstein suggested yesterday that other police officers routinely conduct illegal computer checks As favours for friends and relatives without even being charged or punished. He said the lawyer rep resenting the Winnipeg police association has told him of Many such cases. What or. Hynen did was foolish for a Friend. But it was not evil said Weinstein. Hynen first Drew the suspicion of ramp in late 2003 while they were in the Early stages of investigating a massive North America Ephedrine smug gling operation with big ties to Manitoba. Its alleged the Ephedrine was being used to make Crys Tal methamphetamine. One of the key police targets was the Hells Asso ;