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3 |Thursday June 1, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |www.insidehalton.com Hatton police drug u n it o ffic e r is facin g ch aig es by Susan Clairmont Hamilton Spectator A Halton police officer who spent years taking drugs off the street is facing five criminal charges after prescription opioids were stolen from a po lice evidence locker. At least 3 0 court cases connected to the stolen drugs, which were alleged evidence, will likely be dropped because of the evidence-tampering, set ting accused drug dealers free. Staff Sgt. Brad Murray was in charge of the Drug and Morality Unit at the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) and had authorization to access the locked storage area where all drugs seized by the service were kept and catalogued. He was a high-profile member of the unit from its creation in January 2 0 1 3 to May 2016. The thefts are alleged to have occurred in that time. On Sunday, May 28, the 16-year veteran police officer was arrested and charged with two counts of theft under $ 5 ,0 0 0 , two counts of breach of trust and one count of obstructing justice. The arrest of Murray "violates public trust in the w ork we do and is an affront to the Canadian justice system as a whole," Halton police Chief Stephen Tanner says in a media release. "As such, w e are committed to dealing with this issue transparendy and thoroughly" In an interview with T he Spectator , Tanner said there is no evidence the highly addictive stolen prescription opioids, which include OxyContin, On his very first solo patrol shift in November 2 0 0 1 , he made a substantial marijuana seizure during a routine traffic stop. By 2 0 0 3 , Murray was already working a plain clothes detail, a quick rise for a young cop. In 2 0 1 3 he was tapped to join the newly-launched integrated drug, gun and gang unit. A year later he was running the unit, which expanded to in clude hum an trafficking investigations. In March 2 0 1 6 , during the time the seized drugs were being stolen and just two months be fore Murray left the unit, he talked to The Specta tor about the pain medication addiction sweeping the area. He said tightened protocols for prescribing opioids was making it harder for addicts to get their drugs of choice, causing a spike in phar m acy robberies and the appearance of bootleg versions of the drugs, including Fentanyl. "N ow those people are finding it hard to get the drugs legitimately," he said. "W e have to find better strategies with doc tors, pharmacists and including police to build an engagement model to help these people at a critical stage when they are coming off the opi oids that they feel so desperate to com m it these robberies." see Drug on p.12 Halton Police Staff Sgt. Brad Murray have made their way back out onto the street or have "been sold for profit." Barry Hughes, president of the Halton Region al Police Association, said Murray "is entitled to the presumption of innocence as would any other person facing charges in court." "It wouldn't be proper for m e to com m ent on the matter as it' s before the courts." The country is facing a devastating and deadly opioid addiction crisis, with many becoming hooked on the painkillers after they are pre scribed by doctors following events like back in juries or knee surgery Murray has made an impressive career waging a war against drugs. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 7 A M - 3 PM Served with Grilled Potatoes Other Sides Available Offer ends June 30th , 2017 2501 Prince Michael Drive, Oakville Off Dundas St. (#5 Hwy) between Meadowridge Dr. & Eighth Line - Shoppes on Dundas Plaza 905.257.5126 ·www.sunnysidegrill.com e n ie d In ju r e d ? I CAN HELP. M y te a m o f e x p e rie n c e d la w y e r s c a n h e l p y o u w ith : Disabled Benefits? Q uality tested SOIL BLENDS SAME or NEXT DAY Delivery l/ s A C , BULK Delivery 6 PICK-UP available / 2 Convenient SUPER SAC sizes / Open 7 Days a W eek + $5 refundable deposit on sac - D is a b ility C la im s* *Short-Term Disability. Long-Term Disability. GPP - C a r A cc id e n ts - S lip a n d F a lls - W r o n g f u l D ism iss a l YOU DON'T PAY UNLESS HAPPY 150th I GET YO U M O N E Y . Sam S p ad afo ra INJURY AND EMPLOYMENT LAW O F F I C E S in O A K V IL L E a n d T O R O N T O ^CANADA1 F o r a fre e c o n s u lta tio n c a ll: Oakville: 905.842.2022 Toronto: 41 6.644.3999 email: s s p a d a fo r a @ s ls p c .c a 9 0 5 3 3 3 D IR T O rder online: s u p e r s a c . c a n n a i f