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KAWARTHA LAKES-A 13 year veteran of the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service has been charged following a criminal investigation.
In December 2017, Chief Hagarty contacted the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police and requested that the OPP conduct an investigation into allegations that drug exhibits had been allegedly unlawfully removed from the property and evidence storage area at the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service.
That investigation has now concluded. On April 10th 2018, Detective Constable Jeff Burke was charged with Theft Under $5,000, Possession of Stolen Property Under $5,000 and Breach of Trust. Detective Constable Burke has been a member of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service for 13 years.
At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon Chief Hagarty said it was a female police officer who saw Burke at the police station on his day off that set off alarm bells. Burke has had one previous misconduct allegation against him. Hagarty said that was dealt with internally in 2017.
He will have his first appearance in a Lindsay court on May 31st 2018.
Detective Constable Burke has been suspended from duty with pay while these charges work their way through the courts. The Police Services Act mandates suspension with pay. An investigation into potential misconduct under the Police Services Act is continuing.
