Cop resigns, facing numerous misconduct allegations

Mark Taks was arrested three times during his brief career with the NRP

A Niagara Regional Police officer has resigned after being arrested three times in less than a year, while also facing numerous allegations of misconduct, insubordination and corruption.

Const. Mark Taks resigned Dec. 1, after allegations and criminal charges including criminal harassment, and drug-related offences, mounted against the rookie cop during his less than three years as an NRP officer.

Police say charges against Taks stem back to April 18, 2017, when he was arrested for criminal harassment and harassing telecommunications stemming from an incident that occurred while he was off duty. Taks was suspended with pay and later reassigned to an administrative position, while also facing allegations of discreditable conduct and insubordination.

Four months later, a professional standards unit investigation into public complaints against the officer led to additional allegations against him of discreditable conduct, insubordination, deceit, corrupt practice and breach of confidence.

On Oct. 6, Taks was again arrested and suspended with pay, after a police investigation into the trafficking of steroids and other narcotics including cocaine, prescription drugs and marijuana, resulting in professional standards unit allegations against him of discreditable conduct, corrupt practice and neglect of duty under the Police Services Act.

Although a disciplinary tribunal was initially scheduled for Oct. 10, 2017, to address the allegations, it was deferred pending the outcome of criminal proceedings against Taks, at the request of the Crown attorney.

Taks was arrested for the third time on March 20 this year, charged with three counts of breach of recognizance, resulting in allegations of discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.

Following that arrest, police Chief Bryan MacCulloch addressed the charges against the officer in a media release.

“These charges are the result of an ongoing criminal investigation,” MacCulloch said. “Transparency and maintaining public trust are vital to the Niagara Regional Police Service. When that trust is threatened, we are all affected. It is unacceptable when one of our own members is in any way in violation of this.”

Disciplinary proceedings against Taks were concluded on Dec. 11, when Deputy Chief Brett Flynn determined that he no longer had jurisdiction in the matter as a result of Taks’ resignation.