Seven Toronto Cops Charged in Organized Crime Probe Involving Murder Plot
Seven Toronto police officers and one retired constable have been arrested and charged in what investigators are calling one of the most complex police corruption probes in Canadian history. The investigation, dubbed Project South, was announced on February 5 and has sent shockwaves through the force and the city.
The allegations are staggering. Officers are accused of collecting personal and confidential information from police databases and selling it to organized crime figures — who then used that information to carry out shootings and other violent acts. The charges range from bribery and obstruction of justice to drug trafficking, theft, and breach of trust.
The Murder Plot
At the centre of the case is an alleged conspiracy to murder a senior Ontario corrections officer. According to investigators, within 36 hours of the plot being set in motion, multiple suspects showed up at the corrections officer's home in York Region with the alleged intent to kill him. The plot was intercepted before anyone was harmed.
York Regional Police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan identified Const. Timothy Barnhardt, 56, as the "genesis" of the investigation. Barnhardt faces the longest list of charges among the accused. Other officers charged include Derek McCormick, Elias Mouawad, John Madeley Jr., and his father, retired constable John Madeley Sr.
What It Means for Toronto Policing
The arrests have prompted immediate calls for accountability and reform. In total, 27 people have been charged following the seven-month investigation, with 19 additional suspects facing charges alongside the officers.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw acknowledged the severity of the allegations, calling them "deeply troubling" and promising full cooperation with the investigation. But for many Torontonians, the case raises uncomfortable questions about oversight, internal culture, and how long this kind of activity went undetected.
A Pattern?
The charges come at an awkward time for the Toronto Police Service, which has been working to rebuild public trust after years of criticism over use-of-force incidents, carding practices, and budget controversies. Project South suggests the problems run deeper than policy — they're structural.
The accused officers have been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the proceedings. Court dates are expected in the coming weeks.
