OFFICER'S DRUG CHARGE THE FIRST FOR PEEL FORCE

A 13-year veteran of the Peel Regional Police has become the first officer
of the force to be charged with selling illegal drugs.

Constable Christopher Walpole was arrested yesterday at his home in Bolton
and charged with selling ecstasy.

The 34-year-old constable is alleged to have sold the drug to an undercover
officer on two occasions between mid-July and Aug. 20, police spokesman
Sergeant John Betts said.

Constable Walpole, who works in Peel's 12 Division as a uniform patrol
officer, faces two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and one
count of possession of proceeds of crime. Police would not say how much
money and ecstasy were involved.

Ecstasy, the drug of choice at rave parties, sells for about $25 a pill,
Sgt. Betts said.

A 26-year-old Mississauga man, who police say is acquainted with the
constable, has been charged with two counts of trafficking.

At the time of his arrest, the constable was under suspension with pay in
connection with an unrelated matter that has yet to go to trial. He was
charged in May with assaulting a man last November during investigation of
a shoplifting complaint at the Wal-Mart store in Square One mall in
Mississauga. The man was not injured, Sgt. Betts said.