Toronto police chief acknowledges ‘painful and unsettling blow’ as 7 officers swept up in corruption probe
CBC
The news that seven Toronto police officers have been swept up in a corruption probe sparked by a conspiracy to kill a corrections official last June cannot understate the impact of organized crime on the community, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said Thursday.
The officers’ charges range from conspiracy to commit murder to drug trafficking. York police led the investigation, which also saw 19 civilians arrested on varying charges.
“This is a deeply disappointing and sad day for policing,” said MacSween.
The sentiment was echoed by Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw, who spoke at Thursday’s news conference alongside MacSween.
"Corruption has no place in policing,” Demkiw said.
“It strikes at the trust people place in us."
In its own statement Thursday afternoon, the Toronto Police Association said it was “disturbed by the allegations.”
“There is nothing our members or the TPA hate more than a corrupt cop,” the statement said.
Demkiw himself sent a letter sent to Inspector General Ryan Teschner on Wednesday, asking him to inspect five areas in the police service — supervision and span of control, screening and vetting in the force, access to police databases and information systems, evidence and property management practices, and substance abuse and fitness for duty.
“This is a painful and unsettling moment,” Demkiw said Thursday. “I understand this news will be distressing for Torontonians and our police service members.”
Mayor Olivia Chow said she supports Demkiw’s request for an independent review. She did not hold back when asked about the investigation at an unrelated event Thursday afternoon, saying police officers found guilty of committing any crimes “deserve to be thrown in jail.”
Public trust is a fundamental part of policing and Torontonians deserve the right to know they can trust police officers, she said.
Premier Doug Ford also weighed in during an unrelated announcement, but struck a more conciliatory tone, saying it was “disturbing” but he didn’t want to tarnish police.
“I don’t want the public to lose trust in our great police, because they are incredible,” he said, noting that in any organization there are always a few “bad apples.”
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