Former Toronto Police Drug Squad plainclothes officer who had his service Glock firearm stolen at Sherway Gardens loses 10 days pay and must take firearms safety course.
A former Toronto Police Drug Squad officer was forfeited 10 days with pay and ordered to take a firearms safety course after his service weapon was stolen at Sherway Gardens Mall.
Const. Eugene Lee, 51, was off-duty when he went to Sherway Gardens on February 2023 and left his gun in a backpack on the back seat of his personal vehicle.
When he returned after about six hours of shopping his vehicle had been broken into in the parking lot and the backpack with his Glock firearm was gone.
A deadly Glock firearm as this one is desired by criminals who stole one from an off-duty drug cop. The weapon has not been found.
The 14-year veteran of the force was suspended with pay after being charged with careless storage of a firearm and careless storage of ammunition, which were dropped.
A Toronto Police Disciplinary Hearing in a decision last month said the weapon has never been located and can be used to injure someone if it ends up in the hands of a ‘bad actor.”
Lee faced Police Act charges of insubordination and discreditable conduct.
“The firearm was stored unloaded and without ammunition,” according to the decision. “It was not locked up in any secure receptacle nor was there a trigger lock on it.”
Tribunals Hearings Officer Inspector Susan Gomes said the force takes the incident very seriously.
Const. Eugene Lee expressed remorse and called his supervisors right after his Service-issued weapon was stolen.
“… police officers are prohibited from carrying their issued firearm, or issued magazines while off duty except when travelling to or from duty.”
”A multi-hour stop into a restaurant does not qualify,” according to the decision, which said Lee contacted his supervisors right away and accepted full responsibility for the incident.
‘Constable Lee carelessly storing his firearm, having it stolen and not recovered is simply damage to the Service’s reputation,” the decision warned.
Submissions made said Lee’s carelessness was completely unacceptable, and that if this were to occur again, ‘the Service will take it extremely seriously and dismissal may be requested.’
“The police issued firearm is unaccounted for and out in the public, where it may be used for violence, or even for the responsibility of taking a life,” the tribunal was told. “… this behaviour cannot be tolerated.”
Sherway Gardens Mall parking lot where the officer’s gun was stolen during a shopping spree.
The tribunal heard from Lee who expressed his remorse stating he was willing to accept the punishment and to return to work.
The hearing was told that during his policing career Lee had earned 32 awards and letters of recognition, which included 25 award recommendations, six letters of appreciation and a corporate award.
Lee’s supervisors told the hearing that he is an honest person, with integrity and true core values.
“He owned his mistake immediately and faced it head on,” one manager said. “He has proven that no one is perfect, and mistakes happen to everyone, and has expressed feeling terrible about what happened.”
Lee has to report for a firearms safety course at the Toronto Police College.