Corruption is Everywhere > Five more Toronto Police Officers Suspended

 

5 More Toronto-Area Police Officers Suspended in Ongoing Corruption Probe

Jennifer Cowan

2/9/2026|Updated: 2/9/2026

Five more police officers from the Toronto region have been suspended just days after seven Toronto cops and one retired officer were criminally charged by York Regional Police in connection with an ongoing organized crime and corruption investigation.

Two additional Toronto Police Service officers and three from Peel Regional Police have been suspended in connection with Project South, an ongoing investigation by the York Regional Police into serious crimes like murder, shootings, extortion, and drug trafficking, police have confirmed. The most recent suspensions increase the total of current and former police officers linked to the inquiry to 13.

York Regional Police announced last week that seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer from the service had been accused of illegally accessing information that was relayed to criminals. The investigation led to criminal charges against the officers and 19 other people.

Police from Toronto and Peel have not confirmed any additional charges, but said additional officers have been suspended under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act.

Peel Regional Police media relations officer Const. Taylor Halfyard told The Epoch Times that its service has administratively suspended three officers, pending further investigation by York police. No officers have been charged thus far, he said.

“The scope of the York Regional Police (YRP) investigation is wide-reaching and ongoing,” he said via email. “To protect the integrity of their investigation, we will not be providing additional comment.”

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Toronto Police senior communications advisor Nadine Ramadan said in an email to The Epoch Times that two additional officers from the force have been suspended “in relation to Project South,” but said she was not able to confirm further information.

Toronto Police Association (TPA) president Clayton Campbell also confirmed the suspensions via email.

“Unlike criminal charges (where legal support is not guaranteed), members facing internal disciplinary matters under the Community Safety & Policing Act are provided with the opportunity to access legal assistance through the TPA,” he said. “The law prohibits us from discussing these matters publicly, except to say that we will continue to support our members throughout this process.”

Project South

Project South was launched by York Regional Police in June 2025 after a conspiracy to murder a member of corrections management working at an Ontario correctional institution was uncovered, police said.

The investigation eventually led to officers within the Toronto Police Service. Four of the seven active officers accused during a Feb. 5 press conference have been suspended without pay and all face a range of criminal charges.

York investigators allege the officers charged passed confidential police information to criminals who in turn used the information to commit serious crimes, including attempted murders and extortion.

Some have been accused of accepting bribes and drug trafficking and one officer is facing theft charges.

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.

York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween told reporters during the press conference at York police headquarters in Aurora, Ont., that the seven-month investigation was ongoing, but did not say if investigators expected to lay more charges against other officers.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw told reporters during the press conference that he was “deeply disappointed” by the alleged conduct of his officers and said they would answer for their actions in a court of law.

Toronto Police Service Board chair Shelley Carroll and Demkiw have requested Ontario’s inspector general of policing to immediately launch an independent external investigation.

Inspector General Ryan Teschner announced on Feb. 9 a province-wide inspection would be launched into police integrity and anti-corruption.