No criminal charges for Costa Labos, police officer accused of lying to a judge

No criminal charges will be laid against Montreal police Chief-Insp.Costa Labos, a high-ranking internal affairs officer, following a criminal investigation by Quebec's provincial police.

Labos was accused of lying to a judge in order to obtain a search warrant. The investigation was launched in June of this yearat the request of MontrealpoliceChiefPhilippePichet.

TheSret du Qubecfinished its reportand gave it to the province'sDirector of Penal and Criminal Prosecutions (DPCP), which concluded there were no grounds to lay charges.

"I reiterate my full support to inspector-chief Labos," saidPichet.

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Kept job during investigation

Montreal's police brotherhood called for Labos to be removed from his position when news of the investigation broke. It also attacked the judgment of Pichet for deciding to keep him in his post.

Pichet said he stands behind that decision.

"I understand a lot of people didn't have all the information, but I did," he said. "My decision was made based on facts."

The police chief added Labos is not popular with some officers because part of his duties involve disciplining and investigating officers accused of wrongdoing.

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Force dogged by accusations

In June of this year, two members of the Montreal police department's anti-gang squad were charged after an internal investigation alleged they lied to get search warrants and one of them traded for sexual favours.

FaycalDjelidiis accused of a total of nine charges,while DavidChartrandis accused of four.

Chartrand, 36, andDjelidi, 39,bothworked on multidisciplinary investigations and youth co-ordination in the Montreal police's south division.