VETERAN DRUG COP CHARGED

A veteran Toronto drug cop was charged yesterday with possessing hashish
for the purpose of trafficking in a police investigation that led to six
criminal court cases being stayed.

The charges against Det.-Const. Mark Denton, an 18-year veteran assigned to
the drug unit, stem from an incident two months ago when a 40-gram bag of
hash was allegedly found in his van.

SUSPENDED

Denton, who has been suspended with pay, is to appear in court next month.
The charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking relates to the
amount of drug allegedly found, but there's no evidence of actual trafficking.

"If he is convicted of these charges, his career could well be in jeopardy
(but) nothing is automatic," said Const. Devin Kealey.

Denton was off-duty, but driving an unmarked police vehicle, when he was
pulled over by OPP in Newmarket on Nov. 17. Sources said he was driving
erratically.

He identified himself as a Toronto cop and went home in the back seat of a
cruiser. Police then allegedly found hash in the vehicle.

The drug unit is the focus of two internal affairs investigations.

Defence lawyers claim their clients have been robbed by unit officers --
one lawyer alleges hundreds of thousands of dollars were stolen during drug
probes.

As a result of the Denton investigation, six federal drug cases have been
stayed.