T.O. officer likely to plead guilty

Cop faces 2 counts of misconduct over cocaine found in wallet

A Toronto police officer found with a small amount of cocaine in his wallet is expected to plead guilty to professional misconduct at a disciplinary hearing later this year.

Det. Const. Kirk Blake made a brief appearance before the Toronto police tribunal Tuesday, facing two counts of professional misconduct under Ontario’s Police Services Act. Police prosecutor Insp. Domenic Sinopoli told the tribunal that Blake is expected to enter a guilty plea at a November hearing.

Blake, who has17 years with the Toronto police, was charged with one count of possessing a narcotic after the guns and gangs officer was found to have a small amount of cocaine in his wallet.

The discovery of the drug came about in September 2016, after Blake left his wallet behind at the Scarborough courthouse, where he had been doing some computer work in his capacity as an officer.

The wallet was located by another Toronto police member and “found to contain a small clear plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance,” later determined to be cocaine, according to a police document outlining the misconduct allegations against Blake.

Blake was granted an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to the criminal charge. The officer is accused of misconduct for allegedly acting in a disorderly manner or in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the reputation of the Toronto police force.

The penalty for a conviction under the Police Service Act ranges from a reprimand to dismissal. Wendy Gillis can be reached at wgillis@thestar.ca