Disciplinary Actions Against Security Force Members

Several soldiers and police officers from across Canada who came to Vancouver to serve in the Olympics' integrated security unit have been sent home for "inappropriate behaviour," top security officers have confirmed.

The armed forces have "repatriated" more than 50 personnel for reasons including medical issues, compassionate leave and disciplinary grounds, Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile, commander of the Joint Task Force Games, said yesterday in response to questions from The Globe at a news conference.

He did not specify exactly how many were sent home for misbehaving, saying "a few number of cases involve disciplinary reasons." He also declined to elaborate on the activities of the soldiers that led to their expulsions.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer, chief operating officer of the Olympics integrated security unit, said about 16 police officers have returned home. Two were sent home over "disciplinary issues," he said. The rest left for medical reasons or on compassionate leave.

The two officers who were dismissed for disciplinary reasons were sent home "for very minor incidents," he added. He also declined to provide specifics about what happened.