'I am not guilty': Calgary officer urges jury to acquit him of corruption charges

A Calgary jury should find police Det. Gerard Brand guilty of corruption-related charges, prosecutor Leah Boyd said in her closing statement on Wednesday afternoon.

"What he did was access and use police information unlawfully," said Boyd.

Closing arguments were made by both Boyd and Brand who represents himself after jurors heard more than two weeks of evidence.

Brand is charged with breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer stemming from activity alleged to have taken place between March 2010 and August 2011.

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

He is accused of using police resources toaccesspersonal information of people who owed money to Manila Capital a cash loan business and selling it to the company to help them track down missing debtors.

Boyd spent most of her closing submissions reviewingevidence from Crown witnesses.

In several instances, she told jurors, the evidence showed Brand searched the personal information of the debtors on Calgary police computer systems and immediately called his contacts who were employed by Manila Capital.

Invoices that included the names of the debtors weresubmitted by Brand to Manila Capitalshowing he was selling the private information to the company, said Boyd.

An 'incredible coincidence'

One witness who was an employee of the loan business testified that she met with Brand at a Joey Tomato's as part of a search for someone who would be able to help the company track down those who owed it money.

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

"I am not guilty," Brand told jurors. "At no time did I try to conceal anything in this matter."

Brand said he accessed the information in his role as a police investigator.

"We just can't believe such an incredible coincidence," said Boyd.

'I believe you're faced with acquittal'

Brand also submitted he met with the Manila Capital employee because he wanted help finding clients for his side job as a mortgage broker.

Jurors were told by the accused that there is an"alternative explanation" for the evidence.

"I believe you're faced with acquittal," said Brand.

On Thursday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Glen Poelman will give the jury its final instructions before members are sequestered until they reach a verdict.