news-record.com

WINSTON-SALEM — An officer who worked for the Winston-Salem Police Department for less than a year faces criminal charges of theft and drug possession.

The police department received a tip about officer Mark David Cottone on Oct. 9, the city said today. The department investigated and fired him Oct. 15.

The district attorney's office charged Cottone today with one count of felony larceny, one count of felony exploitation of a disabled adult, and two misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances. In a release, the city identified the drugs as Percocet and methadone.

Cottone, 36, joined the department Nov. 14, 2008. He worked as a patrol officer.

The city did not identify the victim or say when or where the alleged criminal offenses took place.

Police Chief Scott Cunningham ordered Cottone's badge to be destroyed and the number changed on his patrol car.

“We absolutely will not tolerate a breach of the public trust by our personnel,” Cunningham said in a news release. “We take the integrity of our department very seriously, and we want our citizens to know this.”