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Saturday Special: Conviction, but no reward

Police closed the Atomic Dog case, kept the money

By: Mike McIntyre

27/11/2009 4:11 PM | Comments: 5

Police investigate the scene at the Winnipeg home of Dr. Jack Fainman on Wednesday Nov. 12, 1997. Fainman, 66, was shot in the right shoulder through the back window of his home the previous night. James Steele was the driving force behind the 2001 arrest of James Kopp, who was wanted in connection with the shooting but has not been tried or convicted in the case.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Police investigate the scene at the Winnipeg home of Dr. Jack Fainman on Wednesday Nov. 12, 1997. Fainman, 66, was shot in the right shoulder through the back window of his home the previous night. James Steele was the driving force behind the 2001 arrest of James Kopp, who was wanted in connection with the shooting but has not been tried or convicted in the case.

His life reads like the script for a Hollywood blockbuster. An ordinary man pulled off the street and offered more than $1 million for his help. His past wiped away, and a new identity assumed.

Two years spent penetrating a terrorist organization targeting innocent victims in both Canada and the United States. Staking out secret meetings armed with audio and video surveillance. And risking his life to help capture one of the FBI’s Most Wanted.

For Jack Steele, this was no movie. The risks were real.

Now the American man is speaking out for the first time about his dangerous work as a secret agent — and slamming Canadian police and justice officials for refusing to pay him a $547,000 reward.

For the full story, see today's newspaper or our fpNews electronic edition.

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5 Commentscomment icon

Thanks to 1985 (1st comment), I don't need to read the "full story".

But as a teaser, the idea of leaving us breathlessly assuming that our Canadian law enforcement agencies are DISHONEST AS HECK, cannot be beat, can it?

Not very nice.

Also, asking for comments before we readers have even read the "full story" is bizarre. But you got my comment, so run with it!

The "Reward Ad" stated that the CDN National Task Force (comprised of RCMP, OPP, Vancouver, Winnipeg & Hamilton/Wentworth Police & the CDN Abortion Rights Action League & Other Public Institutions) offered a $547,000.00 REWARD FOR "INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST & CONVICTION OF THE PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE SHOOTINGS."

The Reward Ad doesn't indicate the person responsible has to be convicted in Canada. Information was definitely provided by Jack Steele regarding the shootings leading to the conviction of James Kopp.

The CDN Ad had a picture of Kopp and provided his personal informationn; Kopp apparently wasn't identified as a suspect until the FBI became involved because of the NY, USA shooting.

The CDN Task force was disbanded and the investigations closed because of Kopp's US conviction of life behind bars; obviously, a clear indication that the "person responsible for these shootings" was "arrested and convicted".

If the CDN Task force doesn't pay Mr. Steele, they should be paying the FBI the reward money. According to the story, the FBI handled and communicated with Mr. Steele over the course of the investigation.

The CDN Task force balked on their deal on a slimy technicality which probably wouldn't stand up in court if the FBI demanded payment to them.

Of all the issues to not spend government money on, this one is disgraceful. The CDN Task force should be ashamed and embarrassed. Absolutely ridiculous.

The bad guy is off the street is the main thing. This fellow played an integral part of making it happen. Without his help chances are that there would have been further damage by the bad guy. We all understand that the bad guy will never face charges in Canada but because of the under cover work done by Mr. Steele, he should be PAID! What kind of example does this set for the next time the Police need help? They will be laughed at ... and so they deserve to be if they won't stand up to their end of the deal.

pay the rat his cheddar

The reason Canadian Officials are not paying Mr. Steele is that James Kopp has not been convicted of his CANADIAN CRIMINAL OFFENCES, only those that he committed in the US. Should Kopp ever be extradited to Canada to face his charges (and convicted of them), Steele would then be paid. This of course is quite unlikely because the US, unlike Canada, will keep this man behind bars for the rest of his life, where Canada would release him after something ridiculous like 10 years.

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