Sgt. Rodcliff Chung is facing more than two-dozen charges under Ontario’s Police Act

BY PAUL JUNOR

Thanks to Sergeant Rodcliffe Chung (aka Officer Rod) the lives of many troubled youths have been transformed from one of challenges, difficulties, and setbacks to hope, positivity, and enrichment.

As a 20-plus-year veteran police officer with the Toronto Police Services (TPS), he has received numerous awards and recognition for his work within the Black community. He is currently a supervisor with the Employment Unit and throughout his years of policing, he has been warmly received for his emphasis on the community aspects of policing. In addition, he founded Fresh Start 4 Youth in November 2008 where he serves as program director.

According to his LinkedIn profile, “It is a residential group home facility that works with youth and adolescents to provide positive guidance and treatment.” This facility is managed by professionally trained staff that provides culturally appropriate services and creative programs daily as well as residential support. The name, “Fresh Start” comes from the mission of the group to give troubled youths another chance to be transformed from an uncertain past to a new and bright future. Through the development of life skills, the youths will be able to acquire strategies and life management techniques that enable them to develop to their full potential.

The celebration of the 10^th anniversary of Fresh Start 4 Youth Services was celebrated in 2012 and the support that was shown to Officer Rod Chun is palpable and can be seen on YouTube.

Things seem to have taken a turn for the worst as was revealed in an opinion piece by Michelle Mandel in the Wednesday, April 22^nd, 2022 issue of the Toronto Sun. She informed the Sun’s readers that Sgt. Rodcliff Chung is, “Facing more than two dozen charges under Ontario’s Police Act over his running of a for-profit group home for disadvantaged youth” She reported that a 2020 notice of hearing indicated that he allegedly started the group home, “Without receiving the necessary approval from the police chief.”

Furthermore, she writes, “His dealings with youth who could be involved with the criminal justice system placed him in an on-going conflict of interest.”

There are questions that arise as to why after all these years the TPS decided to file 28 charges of misconduct and insubordination. Some of the charges include using TPS email, voicemail, computers, and supplies to operate his business and his position as a police sergeant to act on behalf of the group homes.

There are other allegations against Sgt. Chung from interfering with police investigations, to conflict of interest between his role as a police officer and owner of the group home where individuals were under investigation. Some of the misconduct charges listed surround his use of his TPS email account, such as:

• In 2013, he wrote a Peel police staff sergeant for help after a request from rapper P. Reign and Drake for paid duty was turned down
• In 2019, he wrote a support letter proclaiming the innocence of a woman’s daughter charged with drug trafficking in New Zealand despite not having access to any of the evidence

Maureen Salama, a lawyer for Officer Chung told the Toronto Sun, “Sgt. Chung looks forward to defending himself against these charges before the tribunal and denies the misconduct that he has been alleged to have committed. He looks forward to his hearing and his ability to respond to the charges at that time.”

He has significant support from the community who know him as a strong youth advocate and looks forward to a positive outcome at his hearing in January 2023.