Officer charged with stealing seized narcotics

A City of Kawartha Lakes Police officer has been charged after a criminal investigation into thefts of seized narcotics.

Chief John Hagarty launched the investigation in December and called on the commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police to conduct an independent investigation.

The investigation, which centred around the removal of drug exhibits from the property and evidence storage area at the police station in Lindsay, has now been concluded, police said Tuesday.

Det. Const. Jeff Burke was charged Tuesday with theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and breach of trust.

He will make his first appearance in Ontario Court of Justic in Lindsay on May 31.

Burke has been a member of the force for 13 years.

There were several types of drugs involved, including prescription medications that were evidence in several investigations, some ongoing and some concluded, Hagarty told a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

He said he immediately contacted Crown attorneys, who will determine “what exhibits have been compromised.”

Evidence is locked up in a room that “is a very secure area,” Hagarty said, and can only be accessed by three officers, including an inspector. The chief does not have a key to the room.

Asked how the alleged theft was discovered, Hagarty said Burke was off duty but found in the police station when “another officer noticed and intervened.”

Police conduct annual audits of evidence and the chief arranged for an additional audit following the discovery of the theft.

An investigation into potential misconduct under the Police Services Act continues.

— with files from Kawartha Lakes This Week