Windsor police need another 60 days to mull releasing records on missing cocaine
Windsor police say it will take up to three months to consider whether to release information related to the disappearance of $25,000 worth of cocaine from a drug vault under officers’ control.
The Windsor Star filed a request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act on April 3 for records related to the missing drugs. Exactly 30 days later — the maximum amount of time allowed by law — the Star received a letter from police saying it would take another 60 days to consider the request.
“The request necessitates the retrieval of records from a number of sources/units and meeting the time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the institution,” wrote information and privacy co-ordinator Shelley Gray, quoting the legislation, on letterhead bearing Chief Al Frederick’s name.
Windsor police lost track of nine ounces of cocaine after it was seized during a drug investigation in 2013.
The revelation came during a recent case in Superior Court that resumes for sentencing next month.
Frederick explained to the Windsor Police Services Board that the cocaine was mistakenly taken out of the drug vault for destruction. He said the officer collecting items for destruction likely grabbed the wrong exhibit.
Pressed by reporters, Frederick later provided a report written by a now-retired superintendent that concluded there was no explanation for the drugs’ disappearance other than erroneous destruction.
The report stated there had been a “bin-by-bin” audit of the drug vault. In its Freedom of Information request, the Windsor Star asked for a copy of that audit and other audits dating back to 2013.
The Star has also asked for copies of documents related to the purge of items from the vault at the time the cocaine disappeared. The Star is seeking access to documents related to the collection of the items and their ultimate destruction.
Frederick told the Police Services Board the disappearance of the cocaine is the first time in 10 years anything in the drug locker has been misplaced. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, board chairman, accepted Frederick’s explanation and chalked up the cocaine’s disappearance to “human error.”