TORONTO – Seven current Toronto police officers and one retired member have been identified as suspects in a complex conspiracy aimed at murdering an Ontario correctional officer and have been arrested, along with facing a series of additional charges that emerged during the investigation.
The announcement was made today by the chief of the York Regional Police, Jim MacSween, and Deputy Chief Ryan Hoganduring, in a joint news conference with Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, convened to present the findings of the lengthy investigation known as Project South.
The investigation began in June 2025 following an attack on the correctional officer’s residence in York Region. Over the following 36 hours, the suspects—some of them masked and armed—returned to the home with the intent of killing the victim, also damaging a police cruiser parked in the driveway. York Regional Police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan stressed that there is no evidence linking the victim to organized crime, stating instead that “the conspiracy stemmed from his professional integrity and dedication to his job.” …that very integrity likely represented an obstacle to the criminal interests of the officers now under investigation.
The probe, which originated from the attempted murder, uncovered a wide-ranging network of corruption and criminal activity within the Toronto Police Service. Those arrested allegedly involved to varying degrees include Sergeants Robert Black and Carl Grellette; Constables Timothy Barnhardt, Saurabjit Bedi, Derek McCormick and Elias Mouawad; as well as a father and son—retired Constable John Madeley Sr. and active-duty Constable John Madeley Jr. : the charges include conspiracy to commit murder, corruption, drug trafficking, theft of property, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, breach of public trust, possession of prohibited firearms and disguise with criminal intent.
According to investigators, some officers leaked confidential information to Brian Da Costa, a key figure in drug trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area with international connections. Another officer allegedly stole a substantial quantity of personal documents—including driver’s licences, health cards and passports—from a police facility. Others are accused of protecting illegal cannabis and fentanyl distribution operations in exchange for bribes. “A painful and unsettling episode…” Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw called it.
York Regional Police also identified additional civilian suspects—around twenty individuals believed to be part of the same criminal network, operating alongside the police officers.
Here the York Regional Police press release: Seven Toronto Police Service Officers, One Retired Officer Among 27 Suspects Charged in Project South
In the pic above, from left: Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw; York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween and Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan; here below is the video of the press conference on “Project South” results
