Toronto-area officer charged after gun stolen from vehicle in London

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A Toronto-area police officer has been assigned to administrative duties after London police charged him with improperly storing a firearm.

A man called police around 10 a.m. on May 2 to report an overnight theft from his vehicle at an Exeter Road hotel, London police said Tuesday. Officers learned a gun and other items were taken from inside the vehicle.

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“The weapon was later recovered in an unrelated investigation,” police spokesperson Const. Matt Dawson said.

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Kevin James Clayton, 34, of Woodbridge is charged with storing a firearm contrary to regulations.

A Peel Regional police spokesperson confirmed Clayton is an officer with the force, the second largest police service in Ontario.

“We will be conducting an internal investigation into the matter. The officer is currently on administrative duty pending further investigation,” Sgt. Jennifer Trimble said in an email. “As this matter is before the courts, we cannot provide any other information.”

Clayton was released on an undertaking – a document created by either a court or police that places the charged person under certain conditions – and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on June 17.

Dawson wouldn’t say whether the stolen gun was a service weapon.

Clayton holds the rank of constable and earned $202,842 last year, up from $180,155 the previous year, according to the so-called Sunshine List, an annual disclosure of public sector salaries over $100,000.

Police officers in Ontario charged with criminal offences can face professional misconduct charges under the Community Safety and Policing Act – legislation that came into effect April 1, replacing the 34-year-old Police Services Act – after their criminal proceedings are completed.

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

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