KAWARTHA LAKES-A City of Kawartha Lakes Police officer who was suspended after being charged with stealing drugs from an evidence locker at the station is now facing impaired driving charges.
41 year old Jeff Burke was charged after a traffic complaint was received by the OPP.
Police say at 8:10p.m. on January 20, 2020 officers from the City of Kawartha Lakes detachment of the OPP received information related to a vehicle being operated by a suspected impaired driver. The vehicle was allegedly located on Peace Road and the ensuing investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver.
Burke was charged with Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) and was also issued a 90 day licence suspension and the vehicle has been impounded for a 7 day period.
Police Chief Mark Mitchell confirmed the arrest to Kawartha 411.
“He remains under suspension and I have ordered an investigation under the Police Services Act. I know that his CSO supervisor is aware of the charges as well.” Mitchell said.
Burke was a 13 year veteran of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service when he was suspended in April 2018. At the time he faced nine charges including breach of trust, possession of stolen property, theft and fraud. He plead guilty to breach of trust last May and was sentenced to house arrest and probation. He was on disability at the time and was not suspended with pay.
Burke told Kawartha 411 he suffered from PTSD for years.
It’s unclear how this current charge will affect his house arrest.
“At this time, I don’t know what will happen with his Community Sentence Order as a result of the new charges.” Mitchell explained.
The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on February 20, 2020.
