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x LRT Fa ua ngrenm { Volume 135 Number 38 COPY 75¢ 28 Pages (70¢ + 5¢ GST) HIGH OUTPUT: Mathew LaVigne of the Blue Express pulling team readies his modified tractor for competition at the Port Perry Fairgrounds on Saturday night before the annual Truck and Tractor Pull got underway. The competition was just one" RIK DAVIE/PORT PERRY STAR of many attractions that drew large crowds over the weekend to the annual Port Perry Fair, which featured a new two-day format for the 2001 edi- tion. For more fair photos, please turn to Page 2 of today's Star. Tax increases shoc "per cent. By Kay Langmuir Port Perry Star Some retired residents in the Canterbury Common'. subdivision are worried they might not be able to afford to live in their homes after receiving. walloping, increases in their recent tax bills. Residents in the 200-home development in Port Perry's north end were shocked when they received tax bills two weeks ago with increases of between 25 and 38 -- vay lL we + 1m rye k some residents As a result, they've booked an urgent meeting with Scugog Township officials. Bill Sadler, spokesman for an adhoc committee of "the Canterbury Common Residents Association, said some people who have lost spouses 'since moving to the development were close to hysterical when they opéned their bills. Please turn to Page 10 LEAR-OUT SeA-e oe E on now! AU HUE ETV Easy Control at your fingertips Police service questions SIU investigations By Rik Davie Port Perry Star The Durham Regional Police Association (DRPA) is renewing its call for a review of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in the wake of four separate investigations by the police watchdog agency in the Durham area and a call last week by the Police Association of Ontario for the resigna- tion of SIU director Peter A. Tinsley. The investigation of a 26 Division officer for wrong doing more than two weeks ago after a motorcycle crashed into his police cruiser while he directed traffic near an accident scene has led to some hard questions about the mandate of the SIU by both the local association and the provincial police group. The motorcycle rider suffered a broken leg in the inci- dent. According to the 2000-2001 annual report of the SIU, the unit is tasked with investigating "the circumstances of seri- ous injuries or deaths that may have resulted from criminal offenses by police officers." Tom Bell, an executive member of the DRPA, told The Star "the cases they have pursued with us (the Durham Regional Police Service) appear to do nothing more than justify their existence. We question how far they can stretch the term 'serious injury' before the police officer on the street cannot function for fear of investigation." According to figures supplied by the SIU, there have been a total of seven SIU probes of police officers in the Durham Region area alone in the last seven months. The latest in the string of SIU probes in the Durham area includes an investigation into a member of the Durham Regional Police Canine Unit. The cop in question may be named a subject officer after allegations were made that his four-legged partner bit a suspect on the finger during the course of a foot chase last week. The officer is under scrutiny despite information The Star has gained from sources close to the DRPS that there were no lacerations to the skin of the suspect and that medical attention was not requested for a lengthy period of time after the arrest. The arrest occurred after two suspects, including one from the Blackstock area, attempted to evade police in a cube van. The van crashed in Oshawa and two police canine units tracked and apprehended the suspects sepa- rately. The two suspects face numerous charges, including theft, as a result of the arrest. Probably the most notable incident occurred several weeks ago when former 26 Division Staff-Sergeant (now Inspector) Mike Ewles was investigated after an incident at Please turn to Page 10 1273 King St., Manchester 905-985-9909 ree RS a