Seven Toronto Police officers have been arrested on charges related to organized crime and “serious criminal corruption,” the deputy police chief of York Region confirmed this morning.
York Regional Police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan said the officers charged are Toronto Constables Timothy Barnhardt, Elias Mouawad, Saurabjit Bedi, John Madeley Jr. and Derek McCormick, Sergeants Robert Black and Carl Grellette, and retired Constable John Madeley Sr.
“This is among the most complex and challenging investigations of my 28-year policing career,” Hogan said at a media conference held at YRP Headquarters. “The investigators involved held a mirror to the face of the criminal justice system and to our policing institution to uncover the truth.”
None of the allegations has been tested in court.
The seven-month investigation, known as Project South, involved the support of more than 400 officers and has resulted in 27 arrests targeting organized crime in the Greater Toronto Area, according to a York Regional Police statement.
The charges faced by the Toronto officers include bribery, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, theft of personal property, breach of trust, and unauthorized access and distribution of confidential information.
One officer’s charges are linked to the attempted murder of a correctional officer last June, Hogan told reporters at the press conference today.
Barnhardt, charged with a total of 17 offences, is alleged to have unlawfully accessed information about the victim and released it to criminal networks before the incident. Three civilians were later arrested after allegedly attending the victim’s home multiple times “for the purpose of murdering him,” Hogan said.
A key suspect in Project South is Brian Da Costa, a 43-year-old Toronto man who was arrested on drug trafficking charges on Jan. 23. Hogan alleged Da Costa and other criminal associates bribed Toronto officers for confidential information.
He said the release of that information by officers helped to facilitate seven shootings in York Region, along with other “serious criminal acts” that followed the sharing of information “almost in real time.”
All seven officers have been suspended, said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, adding the service is seeking suspension without pay where appropriate.
He said the Toronto Police Service Board has also asked for an external inspection to regain Torontonians’ trust.
A publicly released letter from the board, addressed to Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner, requests a “credible and transparent assessment” that considers supervision, screening of candidates and access to information systems.
Demkiw had a message for the individuals charged.
“You will answer for your actions in a court of law,” he said.
“We will do everything we need to do to support the York Regional Police and the court process, and all necessary disciplinary processes will be followed.”
