Seven Toronto police officers, retired cop charged in organized crime probe

Multiple Toronto police officers have been arrested in connection with a large-scale investigation that began last June.

York Regional Police say seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer are now facing charges. They’re accused of assisting organized crime in the Greater Toronto Area.

Police say this investigation was spurred by another investigation into the alleged planned murder of a corrections facility officer.

Investigators say Toronto officers provided personal information to the individuals who were involved in that incident, as well as many other shootings, extortions, and robberies.

“This news is both shocking and completely unacceptable,” said York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween.

The seven month investigation, dubbed Project South, started when police say they stopped a conspiracy to commit murder at a home in York region.

The target was a member of corrections management who was working at a Toronto institution.

“Over a 36-hour period, a number of suspects attended this suspect’s home in the York Region — we allege for the purpose of murdering him,” said York Regional Police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan.

Video released by York regional police shows a suspect looking around the victim’s home.

Later, three men arrived in masks at the corrections worker’s home, armed with a loaded handgun and rammed a police cruiser that was in the driveway.

The three suspects were arrested.

Police say the investigation into this incident revealed that Toronto Const. Timothy Barnhardt and other officers had allegedly unlawfully accessed a police database and shared confidential information, that led to the attempt on the correction’s worker’s life, and for other crimes.

READ MORE: Here are all the Toronto officers charged in a corruption and organized crime probe

“In some cases police officers were offered bribes for this information,” said Hogan. “We have identified a number of serious criminal acts that have occurred following the release of confidential information almost in real time.”

Officers allege the leaks also led to multiple shootings across southern Ontario. Some with connections to the ongoing tow truck turf war, as well as an alleged plan to have Toronto police officers support illegal cannabis dispensaries.

“Investigators have determined that some of the officers, we identified, also participated in drug trafficking,” said Hogan.

Seven Toronto officers and one retired officer have been charged with various offences.

“The allegations against seven Toronto police members, and one retired member are deeply disappointing,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw.

Demkiw was asked by reporters how the public can continue to trust law enforcement.

“We are bolstering our professional standards unit, but importantly we have written to the Inspector General to provide independent oversight,” said Demkiw.

He was also asked if there have been calls for him to resign and why the public should trust his leadership.

“Your first question: no, secondly, right now my job is very much focused on the immediate aftermath of this investigation and as you have heard the investigation continues,” said Demkiw.

At a conference held Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said this about the news, “it’s disturbing.”

“It’s very, very disturbing, but I don’t want the public to lose trust in our great police, because they’re incredible. In any organization there are always a few bad apples, and the courts are going to decide.”

When asked if there is a possibility that corrupt officers could be in other jurisdictions, police said the investigation is ongoing, which includes looking into the relationships of all the arrested officers.

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