Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jun 2013
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Tony Van Alphen

CROWN DROPS DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE AGAINST DURHAM COP

Fraud case also abandoned in probe, but breach of trust allegations
remain against Const. Tara Kramp.

Prosecutors have dropped drug trafficking and fraud charges against a
veteran Durham regional police officer who still faces other
allegations in a major bust last year.

Federal prosecutor Moiz Rahman confirmed Tuesday that the Crown had
withdrawn a charge of trafficking against Const. Tara Kramp of Oshawa
but no reasons were given for the move.

Rahman added the Crown had also dropped a charge against Kramp of
defrauding Durham regional police of less than $5,000 by deceit,
falsehood or by other means.

Police had charged Cramp, 39, and four other individuals in June last
year with conspiracy to traffic various unidentified drugs. But
allegations against other individuals in the bust named cocaine,
ecstasy and Oxycodone as drugs in their possession or they used for
trafficking purposes.

With the aid of other forces, Durham police charged more than two
dozen people in a drug investigation dubbed "Project Lodestar."
Officers seized more than $800,000 in cash, guns, vehicles and
$300,000 in drugs.

Police also charged Kramp, a former fitness and bodybuilding buff,
with breach of trust for allegedly providing "sensitive" police
information to an unidentified party. And police said she did
"wilfully attempt to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of
justice," by providing information to another defendant, Jeremy
Russell of Clarington.

Furthermore, police charged her with possessing Durham force property
obtained by crime and four counts of improper storage of firearms in
her residence.

A justice of the peace granted Kramp's release on $20,000 bail with
several conditions including making no contact with about a dozen
other defendants.

Police suspended Kramp, a 14-year member of the force, with pay until
the resolution of her case. Preliminary hearings affecting numerous
defendants are continuing under a publication ban on evidence.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt