Recently retired Toronto cop from Barrie charged in police corruption investigation makes court appearance

John Madeley Sr. (left) and John Madeley Jr. (right), the father and son accused in Project South, a seven-month-long investigation into organized crime and corruption.

A former Toronto police officer accused of working with organized crime groups had his first virtual court appearance Friday morning in Newmarket.

Represented by a lawyer who appeared on his behalf, John Madeley Sr., 55, was arrested in January and charged again earlier this month. York Regional Police revealed Madeley Sr. and seven other Toronto Police officers, including his son John Madeley Jr., 29, were charged in a police corruption investigation, dubbed Project South, that uncovered alleged police involvement in at least eight targeted shootings, extortion plots, and robberies.

The seven-month investigation into police corruption alleged several officers worked with organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking and illegal gambling rings and provided confidential information to gangs across the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. In all, at least 27 people were arrested.

Madeley Sr., who served with the Toronto Police Service for nearly 30 years and worked out of 12 Division, is accused of breach of trust, several counts of unauthorized use of a computer, firearm charges, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 following an investigation between York and South Simcoe police officers.

Police allege Madeley and 47-year-old Thomas Phippard, also known as Frank the Tank, were part of an illegal online gambling ring. Investigators said Madeley and Phippard used threats and violence to intimidate victims to collect money from gambling debts.

Toronto Police confirmed Madeley Sr. retired April 1, 2025. While speaking with CTV News in October 2022 at his son’s police graduation ceremony, the second-generation Toronto police officer described the occasion as the “proudest moment” of his life. He and his son are accused of illegally providing confidential information to criminal organizations.

During a press conference on Feb. 5 that included comments from Toronto and York Regional Police leadership, investigators shared video and descriptions of several acts of violence that included a plot to kill a corrections officer at his home. Keajean Doman, 23, of Innisfil faces several charges that include attempted murder and remains behind bars.

Madeley’s longtime colleague and police constable Timothy Barnhardt, 56, faces 17 charges and was denied bail following a special hearing in Toronto this month.

The accused are scheduled to return to court in Toronto next month. The allegations against them have not been tested in court.