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A Calgary police officer is facing drug possession, theft and breach of trust charges after an investigation found he failed to properly handle confiscated marijuana.

The police service’s anti-corruption unit launched an investigation last November into allegations that Officer Robert Cumming, 43, may have seized marijuana during the course of his duties, but failed to dispose of it according to procedure.

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The probe resulted in Cumming’s arrest last Friday on the charges. The officer, who has been with the police service for about 15 years, was relieved of duty with pay for the next seven days, though his compensation will be reviewed, Supt. Ryan Ayliffe said.

The seven-month investigation that led to Cumming’s arrest was “significant and complex,” according to Ayliffe, who called the case disappointing.

“The public trust and confidence is something we take very seriously,” Ayliffe told reporters. “We don’t like to disappoint the community when things like this happen, but at the same time we want to be transparent when these things do happen.”

Cumming is accused of possessing an ounce of marijuana that was seized as evidence in previous drug cases. Ayliffe said the breach of trust charge — linked to the officer’s alleged mishandling of evidence — is the most serious.