'I am not the perfect police officer,' Gerard Brand testifies in own defence at trial

Wiping sweat from his brow, suspended Calgary police Det. Gerard Brand testified in his own defence on Tuesday, telling the jury he is no criminal.

"This job to me wasn't just a job; my father was a police officer in the West Indies," said Brand. "This is a family business, this is important to me."

Brand is charged withbreach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer. He is accused of accessing personal and confidential information from police databases and selling it toManilla Capital a cash loan company between March 2010 and August 2011.

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Brand told jurors the only reason he accessed information through police databases was for investigative purposes. He also said that, with permission from the Calgary Police Service, he'd begun a side job as a mortgage broker.

It was in that capacity that Brand said he came to know and meet with Manilla Capital employees.

At one pointin his role as a police officer, Brand beganinvestigating an employee of the company who ended up being charged with fraud. It was through the course of that investigation that Brand said he was searching the private information on CPS systems.

"I am a detective, I was a sergeant," said Brand. "I did the things that a detective and a sergeant would do."

'I am not the perfect police officer'

In his 26 years as a police officer, Brand said there had been "downsides" through his career, including an incident in 2005 where his service pistol was stolen from his parkedcar at the folk festival.

Brand said he immediately called police and quickly pleaded guilty in court after being criminally charged.

"I am not the perfect police officer by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

Brand told jurors that another officer'sgun was recently stolen from that officer's personal vehicle, but despite the similarities, that mandid not face charges.

Brand blamed insomnia for accessing CPS computer systems at odd hours.

"I came here to tell my story," he said

Brand under cross-examination

In her opening statement to the jury, prosecutor Leah Boyd said evidence will show Brand was paid by Manila Capital for the addresses and phone numbers of clients who owed money, but who the company couldn't find.

There are strict privacy requirements for police officers and limits on when they are allowed to access databases likeCPICthe Canadian Police Information Centre.

Boyd is an Edmonton-based prosecutor assigned tothe case in order to avoid any conflict.

Brand will continue to becross-examined by Boyd on Wednesday.

A 21-year veteran of the Calgary police at the time of his arrest in May 2012, Brand has been suspended with pay ever since.

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