Durham police officer arrested, charged with child sexual exploitation offences
Const. Tre-Jamal Hamad was arrested after an Ontario Provincial Police investigation that began with a report on Oct. 21.
COBOURG · An officer with the Durham Regional Police Service faces seven criminal charges related to child sexual abuse and exploitation material. The Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that Const. Tre-Jamal Hamad, a 31-year-old from Ajax, was arrested and charged on Oct. 25. The Northumberland OPP detachment began its investigation on Oct. 21 after receiving a report concerning the sexual exploitation of a young person. Hamad was held for a bail hearing and his next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.
Hamad is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, making child pornography, possessing child pornography, accessing child pornography and breach of trust by a public officer. Durham Regional Police confirmed Hamad is a constable with their service. In a post on X, the service stated it takes the allegations against him "very seriously." "He has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the court proceedings," the post added. Durham police said they cannot provide further comment as the OPP conducted the investigation and the matter is now before the courts.
The OPP investigation was a collaborative effort involving crime units from Northumberland, Peterborough County and Haliburton Highlands, along with the OPP Regional Support Team and Emergency Response Team. Search warrants were executed at locations in Whitby and Ajax with help from the Durham police Digital Forensics Unit. A publication ban has been imposed in the case, preventing the release of further details. The OPP said investigators are urging anyone who may have had contact with the accused or experienced similar circumstances to come forward.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Northumberland OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Support for individuals affected by this or similar incidents is available through Peterborough Northumberland Victim Services at 1-888-822-7729. The charges against a serving police officer follow other recent cases of law enforcement personnel facing serious allegations. Nosy Mag reported in October that a York Regional Police sergeant was charged with breach of trust and drug possession.
With files from CBC News, CityNews and Vancouver Sun