Pubdate: Wed, 05 Jul 2017
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Sarah Sacheli
Page: A3

PROVINCE TO INSPECT POLICE DRUG VAULT FROM WHICH COCAINE DISAPPEARED

Provincial officials will conduct an inspection of the Windsor police
drug vault after the disappearance of $25,000 worth of cocaine seized
nearly four years ago.

Police Chief Al Frederick said he met with officials from the Ontario
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services Friday to
discuss the inspection. "They have not done the inspection as of yet,"
Frederick said Tuesday.

Windsor police lost track of nine grams of cocaine seized as part of a
2013 investigation that included wiretaps and multiple arrests. When
one of the drug dealers went to trial earlier this year, police could
not produce the cocaine they testified they had seized from him. The
judge expressed concerns about the missing evidence, but convicted the
man nonetheless.

When the Windsor Star broke the story about the judge's comments about
the missing drugs, Frederick said he knew nothing about the case. But
days later, when questioned publicly at a Police Services Board
meeting, he said police had conducted an audit of the drug vault after
discovering years earlier the drugs were missing. The audit showed
nothing else was amiss, Frederick said, leading him to conclude the
drugs must have been erroneously removed from the vault for
destruction.

Frederick said he and Mayor Drew Dilkens, chairman of the Police
Services Board, wrote to the ministry after that meeting and requested
provincial inspectors audit the drug vault and review police practices
related to the handling of evidence. "They have an inspection
schedule," Frederick said, explaining the ministry routinely conducts
audits of various police activities. "This was something special," he
said of his request for an inspection of the drug vault.

Dilkens is said to be on a family vacation and could not be reached
for comment Tuesday.

The Windsor Star has filed a request under the Municipal Freedom of
Information and Protection of Privacy Act for documents related to the
destruction of items and subsequent audits of the drug vault.
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