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Thompson had 15 years on the job when she got into trouble, but Dunbar told the judge her employment status is currently “uncertain” and officially listed as, “unknown, pending disposition of criminal charges.” He was unable to tell Justice Wheeler what impact her disposition of the case would have on that situation but thought a discharge would likely foster a better outcome for his client.

Federal Crown prosecutor Courtney Cottle didn’t recommend any jail time for Thompson. She opposed granting her a discharge, however, arguing that it would be contrary to public interest, not only because Thompson was taking drugs while on duty but because she was posted to the mobile unit that night, which Justice Wheeler was informed is one of only two armed posts in the prison.

At the very least, Cottle argued, Thompson should have declined to take that post. The rules, she told the judge, are the same for police, correctional service officers and ordinary members of the public in that regard: “If you are armed and you have drugs, we take that seriously,” she said.

The judge, in her review of the evidence, noted that Thompson, after she was assigned to the mobile unit, was wearing a loaded nine-millimetre pistol, with one bullet chambered and 12 in the magazine. She was also issued two additional magazines for the pistol and a loaded Colt CF carbine with two extra magazines.

At 10:45 that night, the judge said, another officer found Thompson pulled over on Bath Road, vomiting outside her vehicle. Justice Wheeler said she told her co-worker she’d be fine, but then ended up in front of the prison, slumped in her patrol vehicle, unable to stay awake. A supervisor suspected she’d overdosed and, according to the judge, called for Narcan, an opioid antagonist. Thompson was unable at that point to say what she’d taken, Justice Wheeler continued, but she indicated the pills were in her pocket before she was transported to Kingston General Hospital.