OPP officer faces crack-use claims

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OPP officer faces crack-use claims

Postby Thomas » Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:38 am

Month-long internal investigation results in charge of discreditable conduct.

Ontario Provincial Police motorcycle officer Const. Darren Zorn is no longer patrolling the Queensway.

The veteran Ottawa OPP officer, who is also a police association president, is now on leave after his own police force has accused him of smoking crack cocaine on "numerous occasions" and hanging around "persons of questionable character" in order to buy the highly-addictive street drug.

Zorn was served notice through his lawyer on Tuesday that he is charged with discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act for acting "in a disorderly manner or in a manner prejudicial to discipline or likely to bring discredit upon the reputation of the Ontario Provincial Police."

The allegations come after a months-long internal investigation that was launched after the OPP learned one of their own had allegedly crossed the line.

OPP internal allegations, signed-off on by Deputy Commissioner Vince Hawkes, say the trouble for the 11th Branch Ontario Provincial Police association president first arose last winter.

"On Feb. 7, 2012, you were in the company of a (woman) known to engage in illegal activity and abuse illegal drugs. The apartment smelled of freshly smoked crack cocaine and you appeared to be under the influence of a drug," the allegations state.

On May 5, 2012, OPP internal investigators allege, Zorn gave money to the same woman to buy him crack cocaine.

Zorn could be seen as recently as last month pulling motorists over on the Queensway. In light of the unproven allegations, Zorn is now on paid leave.

While the officer is not currently at work, he was required to attend a first appearance on the charges at an adjudication hearing at OPP headquarters in Orillia, Ont. on Wednesday.

Zorn didn't show up, and the hearing was told he couldn't make it because he was ill.

The legal notice sent to Zorn's lawyer on Tuesday included the following note, which was in bold, capitalized letters:

"If you do not attend at the hearing of this charge, the presiding officer may proceed in your absence and you will not be entitled to any further notice in the proceedings."

The OPP has not issued a press release about the internal allegations.

Zorn, who has since been replaced in his role at the police association by an acting president, did not immediately return messages left on his mobile phone.

The maximum penalty under the Police Services Act is dismissal.

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