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The Taman case turned the spotlight on how police investigate each other, with ugly results. Now, that scandal could lead to a former top-ranking officer going to jail if he's found guilty of perjury and obstructing justice.

RCMP announced Wednesday that former East St. Paul Police Service chief Harry Bakema faces charges related to his investigation into the death of Crystal Taman and his testimony at a subsequent inquiry.

ARCHIVE PHOTO Former East St. Paul Police Service chief Harry Bakema swears in for the 2008 inquiry that condemned the handling of the investigation into the crash that killed Crystal Taman.

Taman, 40, died on Feb. 25, 2005, after Derek Harvey-Zenk, then an off-duty Winnipeg Police Service constable, crashed into her car near Lagimodière Boulevard and the Perimeter Highway on his way back from drinking with fellow officers.

Harvey-Zenk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death in a controversial plea bargain that resulted in a sentence of house arrest.

A damning inquiry report in 2008 said Bakema prepared inaccurate police notes during his investigation into Taman's death, and that the police investigation by the East St. Paul Police Service was "riddled with incompetence" and "conducted in bad faith."

Alberta Justice spokesman David Dear said Wednesday the perjury charge relates to what Bakema told an inquiry looking at the investigation of Taman's death "on or about July 14, 2008."

The breach of trust and obstruction of justice charges relate to the original investigation into Taman's death in February and March 2005.

"These are very serious Criminal Code offences, and we're preparing to prosecute him as vigorously and effectively as we would any case," Dear said.

Mounties in British Columbia began their investigation into Bakema in September 2008 at the request of Manitoba Justice, and then forwarded what they found to Alberta Justice for review. The case is being handled by out-of-province staff to prevent any conflict of interest.

A senior prosecutor from Alberta Justice will handle the prosecution of Bakema, who is due in court Jan. 5.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Derek Harvey-Zenk pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death.

News of the charges was welcomed by Robert Taman, an outspoken advocate in the wake of his wife's death.

"I'm satisfied with the direction that it's taken... We're happy with what's happened."

He was reticent to comment further for fear of harming the criminal case against Bakema.

"I've seen the mistakes that have happened in the past, and I don't want to be one of them," he said.

Recent media reports have said Taman will sit on the new Manitoba Police Commission, which will oversee the establishment of an Independent Investigation Unit to investigate serious incidents involving police, including deaths.

An RCMP spokeswoman said Bakema was served with his court summons Wednesday. He could not be reached by the Free Press.

Dear said the perjury charge carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, as does the criminal breach of trust charge. The charge of obstruction of justice carries a maximum 10-year sentence, he said.

University of Manitoba law professor David Deutscher said charges like those Bakema faces are seldom levied against police officers.

"It does happen, but it's relatively rare.

"It can be fairly said that most police officers do their duty honestly and don't do anything to give rise to a belief that they've broken their oath or compromised their duties by committing a criminal offence," he said.

"It took (the RCMP) awhile to get through it and they're of the view that they have sufficient evidence to convict him. At this point in time, he's guilty of nothing and I don't think that can ever be forgotten."

Crystal Taman, wife and mother of three, died almost instantly in the crash.

-- With files from Geoff Kirbyson

gabrielle.giroday@freepress.mb.ca

The crash: Feb. 25, 2005

A truck driven by Derek Harvey-Zenk, 31, at the time a Winnipeg police officer and who had been up all night partying with other city officers, slammed into a car driven by Crystal Taman while she was stopped at a red light at Lagimodière Boulevard and the north Perimeter Highway. The 40-year-old mother of three was killed almost instantly.

Paramedics on the scene reported that they smelled alcohol on Harvey-Zenk's breath. A week later, he was charged with impaired driving causing death, refusing a breathalyzer test, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and criminal negligence causing death.

The initial investigation into the accident was conducted by the East St. Paul Police Service, led by chief Harry Bakema. It later came to light that Harvey-Zenk and Bakema had previously worked together for the Winnipeg Police Service.

The sentence:

A botched police investigation found no evidence of impairment. Harvey-Zenk pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death and the other charges were dropped. He was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day to be served at his home. The sentence resulted in public outrage and prompted the Doer government to call an inquiry into the handling of the investigation and the criminal prosecution.

The inquiry: June to August 2008

Testimony revealed Harvey-Zenk had spent the evening drinking with other officers at a restaurant and then at the home of another officer. The other officers denied knowing how much alcohol he had consumed that evening. A waitress who served the group told the inquiry she was pressured to not "remember too much" by her manager, who was friends with the officers. Other officers involved in the investigation denied that they gave preferential treatment to Harvey-Zenk.

The lawsuit: January 2009

Taman's family, including her husband, Robert, and her three children, Tara, Kristin and Jordan, launched a lawsuit over the botched investigation and prosecution of Harvey-Zenk. A few months later, then-justice minister Dave Chomiak said the province and city would pay the family $300,000 to settle the suit filed against the rural municipality of East St. Paul, including its now-former police chief Bakema, the Winnipeg Police Service -- including five officers who investigated the case -- and the provincial government, including special prosecutor Marty Minuk.

The aftermath:

A new Manitoba Police Services Act is passed in late 2009. Its changes include:

Police no longer investigate their own when serious criminal allegations are made, such as in a police-involved shooting.

A civilian-led Manitoba Police Commission will be created to oversee policing issues throughout the province.

-- Geoff Kirbyson