| Peel Region police will investigate allegations made by a Toronto Star employee that he was harassed by two police officers while waiting for a bus. In a column that appeared in The Star yesterday, sports reporter Morgan Campbell wrote that two undercover officers questioned him at a Mississauga bus stop last week because they thought he was a drug pusher named Matt. Campbell, 24, alleges the officers questioned him because he was black. ``For many black men in the GTA, police harassment is another rite of passage, like a first car or a first tax return,'' Campbell wrote. ``So, more than anything, I learned that looking like Matt meant police harassment is something that I should not only expect, but accept.'' Even though he told them he was a Star reporter, and showed them his Star identification and driver's licence, Campbell said the officers still didn't believe him and continued to interrogate him. Campbell said one of the officers apologized later, but they still followed him home in their cruiser. Peel police Chief Noel Catney was unavailable yesterday for comment, but his chief executive officer, Roman Boychuk, said the officers involved would be questioned. Campbell has yet to lodge a formal written complaint but has six months to do so. ``Chief Catney is concerned about the issues raised by Mr. Campbell,'' Boychuk said. ``But if Mr. Campbell were to commence a formal complaint, the process might involve the chief so it would be improper for him to comment publicly on it at this time.'' Boychuk said one of the officers involved is on vacation out of the country and the other is spending a few days in Northern Ontario. ``We haven't obtained memos or reports from them on what occurred, but the chief has directed divisional superintendents to obtain comprehensive reports from the officers from their point of view as to what happened. He's certainly going to look into this and obtain as much information he can.'' Boychuk wouldn't reveal why the officers who spoke with Campbell were in the area that night. Campbell said the taller of the two officers called him ``Maureen'' when he told him his name was Morgan. Campbell also said he spoke with a Peel sergeant, who told him the apology officers gave him on the street would be the only one he would receive.
Copyright 1996-2001. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.
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