A total of 27 people, including 7 current Toronto police officers and 1 retired officer, have been accused of involvement in extortion and drug trafficking during an investigation by the Toronto Police Service of Canada.
SNPNEWS.IN News ( Gurmail Kamboj ): On February 4, Toronto Police Service Regional Deputy Police Chief Ryan Hogan said in a press conference that more than 300 officers of his team exposed a large network of organized crime and police corruption after a 7-month investigation. He said that the credibility of the police has been greatly damaged by the accused police officers after this investigation.
The case began between June 18-20, 2025, when an attempt was made to murder a senior manager/correction officer working at the Toronto South Detention Centre in Ontario and to target his home several times. Police arrested three suspects based on CCTV footage and charged them with conspiracy to commit murder.
Following the incident, police investigations revealed that Police Constable Timothy Barnhardt had illegally stolen the corrections officer’s personal information (such as address) from a police database and leaked it to gang member Brian Da Costa. It was only after receiving this information that the criminals arrived at the officer’s home. This is being described as the “genesis” of the investigation,
The police formed a large team of officers under Project South to investigate the case, during which other officers’ illegal database data was also discovered, which led to the investigation becoming even larger.
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Some shocking facts revealed during the police investigation:
● Illegally taking personal information (addresses, etc.) from police databases and giving it to criminal gangs, which led to extortion, shootings, robberies and other violent crimes. At least 7 shootings and other incidents in York Region have been linked to this.
● The accused officers took bribes to provide protection to illegal cannabis dispensaries and obstructed enforcement.
● Involved in trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall, MDMA, etc. The investigation resulted in the seizure of 169 pounds of cannabis and 1 pound of fentanyl (prepared to be shipped to Europe).
● Breach of trust, misuse of an authorized computer, criminal conspiracy, theft, and aiding and abetting violent crimes related to the tow truck industry.
In addition to Constable Timothy Barnhardt (the most charged with 17 charges and described as the “genesis” of the investigation), 170+ charges have been laid against Constable Robert Black, Constable John Madeley Jr, Constable Carl Grellette, Constable Sarabjit Bedi, Constable Derek McCormick, Constable Elias Mouawad and Retired Constable John Madeley Sr. 19 other individuals have been charged with 170+ charges. During the investigation, $600,000+ in cash, illegal guns, drugs (169 pounds of cannabis, 1 pound of fentanyl, etc.) have been seized.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw called it “painful and unsettling” and the most painful case of his 30-year police career, which has shaken trust. He said “no stone will be left unturned”.