Toronto Police Chief Unveils Anti-Corruption Strategy in Response to Recent Officer Arrests

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw speaks to media during a press conference in Toronto on Jan. 21, 2025. The Canadian Press/Cole Burston

Toronto’s police chief says he is launching an anti-corruption strategy to improve “accountability” after seven current and one former officer were arrested and charged last month as part of an organized crime investigation.

The two-year project will “prevent, detect, and address corruption” on the heels of Project South, an investigation into police corruption linked to organized crime in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Police Chief Myron Demkiw said in a report to the Toronto Police Services Board.

York Regional Police announced on Feb. 5 that seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer were among 27 suspects charged in a probe that uncovered allegations of bribery, conspiracy to commit murder, and drug trafficking. The investigation, launched in June 2025, also led to charges against three Peel Regional Police officers.

The charges have also triggered a province-wide inspection into police integrity and anti‑corruption practices by Ontario’s inspector general of policing.

Demkiw, who delivered his report to the board on March 4, said his force would follow guidance from the inspector general’s office, while also carrying out its own plans for improvement.

“I think the opportunities for improvement exist now, and we'd be remiss if we didn’t take hold of that opportunity for enhancing our capacity,” he said during the board meeting.

“This is a pivotal moment for us at the Toronto Police Service, and we promise our members and members of the public that our response would be swift, clear-eyed and decisive.”

The two-year project Demkiw plans will include two main parts: an anti-corruption project aimed at strengthening oversight, accountability, and professional standards and another project, dubbed One TPS, to improve “the professional culture that supports ethical conduct, accountability, and public trust.”

The projects will run concurrently for at least two years, the chief said.

Demkiw’s anti-corruption project is designed to address four main areas, including the screening and vetting of new police recruits and supervision protocols. It will also supervise who is authorized to access the system and ensure that evidence and property are handled correctly.

Both projects will be staffed by small project teams made up of uniform and civilian members of the Service, according to the report. The project teams will be dedicated to this work on a full-time basis throughout the project’s duration.

When asked by a board member if it would be better to wait for the inspector general’s findings before moving ahead with his own strategies, Demkiw said the Inspector General’s office must assign an independent inspector before the review can begin, and the office has not provided a timeline for the inspection.

It’s important to take action now, he added.

“I'd be remiss as chief if I did not look for the opportunities… for immediate improvement as quickly as we can,” he said. “I think you as a board would expect that of us as a leadership group, and I think Torontonians would expect that of their police service.”

Upcoming Inspection

Ontario Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner announced on Feb. 9 a province-wide inspection would be launched to examine police integrity and anti‑corruption practices across all 43 municipal police forces along with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Anishinabek Police Service (APS).

Teschner emphasized that the inspection is not aimed at uncovering particular instances of corruption, but rather is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of police services and boards in preventing, detecting, responding to, and strengthening their organizations against corruption.

Teschner said more must be done to thwart organized crime as well as to ensure police forces remain above reproach.

He did not comment on the arrests of the officers, but described organized crime as “insidious.”

The officers facing criminal charges include Const. Timothy Barnhardt, Sgt. Robert Black, Const. Carl Grellette, Const. Saurabjit Bedi, Const. Derek McCormick, Const. Elias Mouawad, and Const. John Madeley Jr., along with his father, retired Const. John Madeley Sr.

Demkiw has said he will be seeking to suspend six of the accused officers without pay, in accordance with policing legislation.