What we know about the Toronto police officers implicated in a corruption probe

Toronto police officers are accused of plotting to murder a corrections officer, and surveillance footage shows the moment suspects rammed a police cruiser.

There are seven current and one former Toronto police officers who have been arrested following a months-long investigation into corruption and organized crime.

York Regional Police (YRP) divulged the details of Project South, at a news conference Thursday morning with Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw alongside them.

The police officers were among 27 suspects charged in the investigation. It is alleged the officers provided personal information to conduct crimes, including violence connected to the tow truck industry and that one of the accused participated in a plot to murder a corrections officer.

• READ MORE: Toronto police officers arrested in plot to murder Ontario corrections officer

The officers charged worked in 11, 12, 23 and 52 divisions in the city’s west end, encompassing areas that serve West Humber-Clairville, Beechborough-Greenbrook, and Humewood-Cedarvale. At least one officer also worked in the specialized Guns and Gangs Unit.

Police called Const. Timothy Barnhardt the “genesis of the investigation.”

“Our information led us to believe that it was relationships that Const. Barnhardt had with other officers and to what extent those relationships go in the past,” YRP Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan told reporters on Thursday morning.

The Toronto Police Association said they were “disturbed” by the allegations laid against the group of officers, if proven to be true, adding there is nothing they “hate more than a corrupt cop.”

Here’s what we know so far about each officer arrested in Project South:

Const. Timothy Barnhardt

Barnhardt, 56, of Mississauga, is facing a total of 17 charges, the most of all officers accused.

Among the offences, Barnhardt has been charged with peace officer accepting a bribe, breach of trust by public officer, unauthorized use of a computer and conspiracy to obstruct justice, as well as drug-trafficking-related and firearm-related charges.

Police launched their investigation on June 20, after an incident at the corrections officer’s home in York Region.

“It was in short order following that incident, and the two incidents that followed over 36 hours, that our investigators uncovered the actions of Const. Timothy Barnhardt,” Hogan said. “Those actions were the unlawful access and subsequent distribution of personal information relating to that.”

• READ MORE: Toronto police chief says corruption allegations ‘shake the very foundation of trust’

Barnhardt is one of four officers who were involved in an operation allegedly helmed by Brian Da Costa—a suspect police identified as a “key” player in a “sophisticated” drug-trafficking operation responsible for the exportation of cannabis and fentanyl. The other officers allegedly part of the operation have been identified as Sgt. Robert Black, Const. Saurabjit Bedi and Sgt. Carl Grellete.

Hogan alleged Barnhardt “unlawfully” accessed confidential information of a corrections officer, which he then fed to Da Costa.

Barnhardt allegedly provided information to three other suspects—Median Jackson, 32, Kaejean Doman, 23, and Devonte Barker-Campbell, 31—who police say were “recruiting” criminal actors to carry out the plot against the correctional officer.

Toronto police confirmed to CTV News Toronto that Barnhardt served them for 19 years, and was assigned to the 12 Division. They said he was an “inactive” member, but did not clarify what exactly that meant.

Barnhardt was denied bail on Friday and was remanded into custody following his hearing.

Sgt. Robert Black

Black, 42, of Vaughan, is facing a total of four charges. He has been charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, counsel an uncommitted indictable offence: fraud exceeding $5,000, and possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and Adderall.

Black has served the Toronto Police Service for 19 years and was assigned to the Emergency Management and Public Order division. A spokesperson for Toronto police said he was an inactive member, but would not say why he was.

The Toronto Police Association could not comment directly on the inactive status for Barnhardt and Black.

However, a spokesperson for the association told CTV News Toronto that when a member is marked with an inactive status it “usually means they are on some sort of longer-term leave” that lasts beyond a few days or even weeks, which can be anything from long-term disability to parental leave to sick leave.

Retired constable John Madeley Sr.

Madeley Sr., 55, of Barrie, is facing a total of 11 charges, including two counts of breach of trust by public officer and five counts of unauthorized use of computer.

He retired on April 1, 2025, after 29 years of service. When he retired, he was a constable with TPS’ 12 Division.

This is not the most recent incident where Madeley Sr. has faced charges. In January, the retired officer was charged for his alleged involvement in an online gambling ring.

• READ MORE: 2 charged, including former Toronto officer, in online gambling ring investigation

From January 2024 to October 2025, YRP said an organized crime ring “allowed access to gaming websites where victims placed bets on credit.”

Victims who lost their bets had to settle up their debts with cash, police said, sometimes in “exaggerated amounts.”

In this investigation, Madeley Sr. was charged with nine offences, including breach of trust and four counts of unauthorized use of a computer.

Court records obtained by CTV News revealed that Madeley Sr. was previously charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Newmarket, Ont. in 2008, though the Crown attorney stayed the charge.

Const. John Madeley Jr.

Madeley Jr., 29, of Barrie, has been charged with two offences, including breach of trust by a public officer and unauthorized use of a computer. He is the son of retired constable, John Madeley Sr.

The father and son duo are accused of leaking information to criminals.

“We allege that the information provided was in support of illicit activity and, as previously reported, retired Toronto Police Const. John Madeley (Sr.), and now his son, Toronto Police Const. John Madeley (Jr.), have unlawfully accessed and distributed confidential information,” Hogan said.

CTV News Toronto interviewed the father and son during Madeley Jr.’s induction into the Toronto Police Service in October 2022. At that time, Madeley Jr. became the third John Madeley to join the police force, as his grandfather bearing the same name also served the force.

Madeley Sr. called his son’s graduation the “proudest moment” of his life.

Police confirmed Madeley Jr. was assigned to TPS’ 23 Division.

Sgt. Carl Grellete

Grellete, 49, of Vaughan, is facing a total of four charges, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, breach of trust by a public officer, mischief not exceeding $5,000 and harassment by repeated following of another person.

He has served the Toronto Police Service for 19 years and was assigned to 12 Division, police confirmed.

Const. Saurabjit Bedi

Police laid six charges against Bedi, 38, of Caledon, including peace officer conspiracy to accept a bribe, traffic in substance, conspiracy to commit public mischief – falsely accuse person, and two counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Bedi was assigned to 12 Division, and has served Toronto Police for 12 years.

Const. Derek McCormick

McCormick, 57, of Toronto, has been charged with six offences: breach of trust by public officer, obstruction of justice and four counts of theft under $5,000.

In January, McCormick was accused of stealing bank cards, passports and government-issued IDs, some of which were reported stolen to Toronto police. Police said the thefts repeatedly occurred throughout October last year.

• READ MORE: Toronto police officer accused of stealing bank cards, passports

He was charged with four counts of theft under $5,000, breach of trust and obstruction of justice in January.

McCormick has served TPS for 28 years and was assigned to TPS’ 52 Division. He has been suspended with pay since his arrest last month. It is unclear if he remains suspended with pay following Thursday’s news conference.

Const. Elias Mouawad

Mouawad, 24, of Mississauga, is facing two charges, including breach of trust by public officer and unauthorized use of computer.

Toronto police confirmed Mouawad has been an active member for a year-and-a-half, and was assigned to the 11 Division.

• READ MORE: Independent investigation called for after Toronto officers charged in organized crime probe

The charges have not been tested in court.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw confirmed Thursday that four of the seven officers charged have been suspended without pay but did not specify which.

The Police Association of Ontario called suspension without pay “the most serious interim measure available,” saying it results in financial, professional and reputational consequences for those officers.

In a post on X, the Toronto Police Association said legal support is not guaranteed for its members charged in criminal cases, as that is provided on a case-by-case basis.

With files from CP24’s Joanna Lavoie and CTV News Toronto’s Phil Tsekouras