FIRED VPD OFFICER ACCUSED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING

A Vancouver police constable is facing charges this week in
connection with "disturbing and disgraceful" activities uncovered
over the past two months.

"I have something to share with you today that I know you will find
as shocking and disturbing as I do," Chief Const. Jim Chu said
Wednesday in announcing charges against White Rock resident Peter
Hodson. "Just a few hours ago, we arrested one of our own."

Hodson, 31, was arrested and charged - and fired - that morning.

Describing the alleged offences as those of "a single rogue officer,"
Chu said investigators "observed behaviour that suggested Hodson was
trafficking street-level amounts of marijuana both on- and off-duty."

Hodson has been charged with trafficking marijuana and two counts of
breach of trust; one for selling drugs and the other for illegal use
of a police database. Hodson was also charged with break-and-enter
with the intent to commit extortion, in connection with street-level
drug-trafficking allegations.

In Vancouver Provincial Court Thursday, Hodson was remanded. He is
due back in court Monday.

Chu said an "extraordinary investigation" into Hodson's activities
began two months ago - 18 months after Hodson was charged with
impaired driving, a matter that is still before the courts.

"We knew we had a case that would alarm the department and the
public," Chu said. "We had to take immediate and thorough action to
determine whether the allegations were true and if they were, if the
rot was confined to this one officer."

Approximately 30 Vancouver officers were involved in the
investigation; the RCMP provided assistance and investigative
oversight, Chu said.

Chu said while the VPD is shaken by the "abhorrent incident," there
is no evidence other police officers were involved in the offenses,
which are alleged to have occurred between Dec. 4, 2009 and April 20,
2010. He named one other individual, Oscar Lapitan, as a co-accused
of Hodson's who is also charged with trafficking marijuana.

Hodson was a Vancouver officer for less than five years.

On the Peninsula, he attended White Rock Christian Academy, where he
played basketball with the Warriors. He reportedly also played for
Langara College and University of B.C. teams. He was also a founder
of Under the Reading Tree, a charitable organization that promotes
literacy and education in Africa.

- - with files from CTV