Pubdate: Thu, 23 Feb 2012
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Matthew Gauk, Daily News

MOUNTIES MISSING DRUGS, CASH

Some Cocaine and $10,000 Gone From RCMP Evidence Locker

A Nanaimo RCMP officer attached to the municipal drug unit is the 
subject of a criminal investigation into missing evidence after 
$10,000 cash and a small amount of cocaine disappeared from detachment 
headquarters.

Police announced the investigation by Island District RCMP officers 
and a concurrent code of conduct investigation related to the 
inappropriate handling of exhibits on Wednesday.

The constable at the centre of the incident has eight years of 
experience and was informed of the code of conduct investigation on 
Wednesday afternoon.

He has been placed on administrative duties with no access to exhibits.

No criminal charges have yet been laid. "Never mind how personally 
it's upsetting, it questions the integrity of policing and it 
questions the integrity of the 9,000 employees across the province," 
said detachment commander Supt. Norm McPhail. "It's very concerning 
for me and I'll get to the bottom of this as quickly as I can."

Nanaimo RCMP were made aware of a problem in December after a routine 
movement of evidence from investigators' temporary lockers to the main 
vault by an evidence clerk revealed the cash and 0.3 grams of cocaine 
was missing.

The lockers are used to store exhibits that have not been examined or 
catalogued prior to their permanent storage. The matter was referred 
to a supervisor, who forwarded it to McPhail. A week-long audit was 
done in December that led to the criminal investigation.

The constable being investigated was part of the drug investigation 
that had seized the evidence in question.

No drug charges were laid in relation to the original drug bust, but 
McPhail expressed concern the missing items would forestall future 
criminal charges. Nanaimo RCMP officers have been reminded of existing 
exhibit policy and a full audit has been done on the temporary exhibit 
locker, McPhail said.

"The policy has been basically improved to suggest we use a drop safe 
as opposed to individual lockers," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.