本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛BRODIE FENLON
Globe and Mail Update
July 3, 2008 at 4:28 PM EDT
TORONTO — Two Toronto police officers and three corrections officers have been charged with drug-related offences in a large-scale bust of marijuana grow operations in the Greater Toronto Area.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair announced the charges at a press conference Thursday, hours after police executed 63 search warrants throughout GTA.
Of 23 people arrested, 20 were charged, including a young offender. The police officers, who are suspended with pay, are constables with more than eight years of experience each. They are scheduled to appear in a Newmarket court Friday.
Toronto police identified the accused officers as Kevin Bourne, a nine-year veteran based at 51 division, and Patrick Lee, an eight-year veteran based at 31 division.
"When we have behaviour as is alleged in this investigation, where members of our service are alleged to have been involved in a criminal enterprise, it is more than merely a betrayal of their oath of office," Chief Blair said.
"It is, frankly, a betrayal of all of the hard-working and decent men and women of the Toronto Police Service and the policing profession in this country."
Chief Blair said an internal professional standards investigation was launched after one of his officers was identified in February as having a connection to a residence that was under investigation for marijuana offences by the York Regional Police Service.
Internal affairs investigators conducted surveillance, interviews and executed search warrants over several months, he said.
"Over the course of this investigation, the professional standards branch discovered that a second member of our service, along with three corrections officers and a number of private citizens, were involved in a criminal enterprise, the primary purpose of which was the production and distribution of marijuana, the distribution of other drugs, and the laundering of the proceeds of their criminal enterprise," Chief Blair said.
Superintendent James Ramer said the accused are alleged to have participated in an "elaborate criminal organization" that lasted more than two years and involved other drugs, including Ecstasy and steroids. Police seized three houses, five vehicles, $60,000 in cash and nearly eight kilograms of marijuana, Supt. Ramer said.
"It's certainly disappointing to find out that you have two of your own members involved, but it's work that needs to be done. We have to ensure the public trust and public confidence," he said.
"We are very disappointed by this investigation," Chief Blair added.
"This has been an exhaustive investigation, it has included countless hours of surveillance, just a huge amount of work ... We determined that two or our members were engaged in criminal behaviour, and we also determined that no other member of this service was in any way connected to this criminal enterprise."更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Globe and Mail Update
July 3, 2008 at 4:28 PM EDT
TORONTO — Two Toronto police officers and three corrections officers have been charged with drug-related offences in a large-scale bust of marijuana grow operations in the Greater Toronto Area.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair announced the charges at a press conference Thursday, hours after police executed 63 search warrants throughout GTA.
Of 23 people arrested, 20 were charged, including a young offender. The police officers, who are suspended with pay, are constables with more than eight years of experience each. They are scheduled to appear in a Newmarket court Friday.
Toronto police identified the accused officers as Kevin Bourne, a nine-year veteran based at 51 division, and Patrick Lee, an eight-year veteran based at 31 division.
"When we have behaviour as is alleged in this investigation, where members of our service are alleged to have been involved in a criminal enterprise, it is more than merely a betrayal of their oath of office," Chief Blair said.
"It is, frankly, a betrayal of all of the hard-working and decent men and women of the Toronto Police Service and the policing profession in this country."
Chief Blair said an internal professional standards investigation was launched after one of his officers was identified in February as having a connection to a residence that was under investigation for marijuana offences by the York Regional Police Service.
Internal affairs investigators conducted surveillance, interviews and executed search warrants over several months, he said.
"Over the course of this investigation, the professional standards branch discovered that a second member of our service, along with three corrections officers and a number of private citizens, were involved in a criminal enterprise, the primary purpose of which was the production and distribution of marijuana, the distribution of other drugs, and the laundering of the proceeds of their criminal enterprise," Chief Blair said.
Superintendent James Ramer said the accused are alleged to have participated in an "elaborate criminal organization" that lasted more than two years and involved other drugs, including Ecstasy and steroids. Police seized three houses, five vehicles, $60,000 in cash and nearly eight kilograms of marijuana, Supt. Ramer said.
"It's certainly disappointing to find out that you have two of your own members involved, but it's work that needs to be done. We have to ensure the public trust and public confidence," he said.
"We are very disappointed by this investigation," Chief Blair added.
"This has been an exhaustive investigation, it has included countless hours of surveillance, just a huge amount of work ... We determined that two or our members were engaged in criminal behaviour, and we also determined that no other member of this service was in any way connected to this criminal enterprise."更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net