A Durham Regional Police constable has been charged with seven offences tied to child sexual abuse and exploitation material after an investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police. Tre-Jamal Hamad, 31, of Ajax was arrested on Oct. 25, four days after Northumberland OPP received a report about the exploitation of a young person.

What led to the charges?

Northumberland OPP opened the case on Oct. 21 and worked with crime units from Peterborough County and Haliburton Highlands, along with the OPP's regional support and emergency response teams. Search warrants were carried out in Whitby and Ajax, with help from Durham's digital forensics unit. Hamad was held for a bail hearing and is due in the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on Oct. 29.

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The charges, according to the OPP, include:

  • Possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material
  • Making sexually explicit material available to a person under 18, and two counts involving a person under 16
  • Luring a person under 18 by telecommunication, and two counts involving a person under 16
  • Indecent exposure to a person under 16
  • Producing, publishing or possessing exploitation material for publication

How is Durham police handling it?

Durham Regional Police confirmed Hamad is a constable and said he was suspended without pay until the court case concludes. The service said in a statement on X that it views the allegations seriously, but declined to say more because an outside force ran the investigation and the matter is before the courts. A publication ban limits what the OPP can release.

What happens next?

The Cobourg court appearance on Oct. 29 is the next scheduled step, and the case will proceed through Ontario's courts under the ban. Northumberland OPP is asking people who had contact with the accused, or who have had similar experiences, to come forward at 1-888-310-1122. Peterborough Northumberland Victim Services can be reached at 1-888-822-7729.

FAQ

Is Hamad still a Durham police officer?

He remains a member of the service but is suspended without pay while the charges are before the courts.

Why is another police force investigating one of Durham's officers?

The OPP led the case from the start, and Durham said it cannot comment further because the probe was conducted externally.