Police Corporal Gino Peck has still not been criminally charged for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. But today, the rift inside the police department cleaved even deeper as the Gang Suppression Unit made another, harder push to charge him - and the rest of the Eastern Division formation pushed right back. Yesterday he wasn't charged because the Court Book was lodged by an officer from the Prosecution Branch yesterday, but on instructions, it was retrieved. This caused some confusion when the matter was called before the Court, and neither Peck nor his wife, Loretta were present. It was adjourned to the 16th February, but the Prosecutor cautioned the Court that he was not certain that the matter would be proceeded with at all. So today, the arresting officer from the GSU lodged the Court Book at court #2 with Magistrate Sharon Frazer presiding. But Peck and his wife Loretta were not taken to court - again because the Police simply refused to deliver him to the courthouse. The rift has gone all the way to the senior command of the department where, we are told, the directive is that he should be charged internally, not criminally. And this evening, Police Minister Doug Singh confirmed that is what will happen. There will be no criminal charges because Peck has satisfied investigators that he gathered the rounds as part of his police duties and simply forgot to turn them back in at the station; that is, including the prohibited.45 round which he reportedly claims to have collected at a crime scene. Peck's sympathizers - and there are many in the department - say that the 18 year veteran was not leading any criminal enterprise but simply doing police work, and they have criticized the GSU for arresting him for that. As we reported, the GSU raided his Curassow Street home on Saturday morning at 6:30 and found a total of 62 rounds of 9mm,.38, 16 gauge and.45 ammunition and two empty magazines in his bedroom and under his bed. That excludes another 39 live rounds, which were for his service 9mm pistol. And while that's where we thought we were leaving the story, there's another twist. Half an hour ago, the acting police press officer sent a press release detailing the arrest and saying that, quote "Cpl Peck and his wife were charged with kept prohibited ammunition." Where it will go next, no one knows for sure - but after speaking with the Minister who said there will be disciplinary not criminal charges, we suspect that the police press officer may have to revise the public position.
