Andrew Duffy

Junger resignation a "game," inquiry told

"This paper (agreement) was nothing more than a vehicle to facilitate Junger's resignation," said Shannon, the internal affairs officer who directed the investigation. "I was willing to do whatever I had to do within the law to facilitate Junger's resignation.

Junger, who was videotaped in a police sting operation selling sex for money, did not deserve to be a Metro police officer, Shannon testified yesterday. Shannon signed the deal "as per the chief of police" on Jan. 19, 1990, in the office of Junger's lawyer, Ken Byers, who had drawn up the contract.

In the two-page document, the police agree to withdraw a drug charge against Junger, and destroy evidence related to the constable's dealings with his former girlfriend, Roma Langford, a high-priced call girl, in return, Junger agreed to resign.

Langford is to testify before the inquiry today and Junger is expected to take the stand later this week. The inquiry is delving into the conduct of Metro's internal affairs unit and its handling of the Junger affair. Junger was charged with possession of hashish in December, 1989, on the strength of evidence supplied by Langford. At the time, Junger and Langford were operating an escort service.

By the time of the meeting in Byers' office, the charge against Junger was in jeopardy, Shannon testified. Langford had recanted her evidence on two occasions and police needed her to tie the drugs to Junger.

In making the deal with Byers, Shannon said he agreed only to ask a crown attorney to withdraw the drug charge. He admitted that's not how the clause reads. "In retrospect, I wish crown approval had been written down there," he said. "But crown approval is a given, it's a constant." Shannon said the clause calling for the destruction of evidence was part of a "game" he played in Byers' office.

The clause, he said, related only to the videotaped sting operation, which would have been used as evidence to support a Police Act charge of conduct unbecoming of an officer. Once Junger resigned from the force, Police Act charges couldn't be brought against him and the videotape ceased being evidence, he said.

Langford's lawyer, Dan Brodsky, suggested to Shannon that his conduct amounted to "a deliberate lie."