A veteran Winnipeg police officer is facing nearly three dozen criminal charges connected to the illegal possession of drugs, weapons and other property seized during police operations.

Const. Trent Milan, an 18-year member of the Winnipeg Police Service, was arrested at his home Wednesday.

“This is a dark chapter for the Winnipeg Police Service — full stop,” Deputy Chief Danny Smyth said at a news conference Friday. “We hope the public understands the actions of one member do not represent our commitment to the community. The Winnipeg Police Service does not tolerate this kind of conduct.”

Milan has been charged with 34 offences, including criminal breach of trust, theft, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of prohibited weapons, and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Smyth said more charges are expected, but not involving other officers.

Smyth said he assigned the professional standards unit to investigate Milan last September after he was made aware of “irregularities involving compliance with some of our procedures that regulate the handling of property and evidence and ... police information.”

Investigators “recognized Milan's conduct was criminal in nature (and) brought forward an operational plan that methodically tracked Milan's conduct and gathered evidence against him,” Smyth said. “They were successful in securing criminal charges against Trent Milan and this was done without fear or favour.”

It is also alleged Milan illegally shared confidential police information. Smyth would not confirm if Milan shared the information with members of the criminal community, but said it is not believed any officers were put in danger.

Police executed a search warrant at Milan's home, where officers “found a great deal of property ... including drugs,” Smyth said.

Milan, now on administrative leave, was most recently assigned to general patrol duties in the West District. The investigation into his conduct reached back to 2010 when he was assigned to the Street Crime Unit.

Police officers greeted news of Milan's arrest with everything from “shock to disbelief to anger,” said Winnipeg Police Association president Maurice Sabourin.

“It's been a very difficult day, to say the least,” Sabourin said. “Hopefully the public recognizes that this is an isolated incident and it doesn't shake their confidence in the police service and our members.”

Milan has been released on a promise to appear. His first court date is expected to be in November.