COP FIRED FOR SELLING MARIJUANA ON DUTY

VPD 'Single Rogue Officer' Arrested, Charged on Four
Counts

A "rogue" Vancouver police officer was arrested at VPD headquarters
yesterday and charged for allegedly peddling marijuana while on-duty.

Peter Hodson, 31, a Vancouver constable with less than five years
experience, faces four charges, including trafficking marijuana.

He was arrested at 11:30 a.m. at the department's headquarters on
Cambie Street.

"There will be no discussion here of discipline or suspension," said
Chief Const. Jim Chu. "I have taken the step of firing Hodson as of
today. He is no longer a member of the Vancouver Police
Department."

Hodson, who worked general patrol in the Downtown Eastside, is also
charged with break and enter to commit extortion as well as two counts
of breach of trust for selling drugs and for the illegal use of a
police database.

The alleged offences are supposed to have occurred since Dec.
4.

An investigative team was formed and an office was established off
site. Upward of 30 officers took part and RCMP provided front-line
assistance and investigative oversight.

"What we found was disturbing and disgraceful," Chu said, adding that
he could not discuss many details because the charges were before the
court.

"I can tell you that we assembled evidence that Hodson was trafficking
street-level amounts of marijuana both on and off duty."

Street-level trafficking usually involves two pounds of marijuana or
less.

He added that there is no evidence that it was anything more than the
actions of a "single rogue officer."