Toronto officer charged after allegedly unlawfully accessing private police databases

A Toronto Police patch shown in Toronto on Aug. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

A Toronto police officer has been charged after allegedly unlawfully accessing private police databases on various occasions over a year and a half.

Police say these alleged instances occurred between January 2025 and April 2025.

They did not disclose what sort of information the officer allegedly accessed.

In a news release issued Wednesday, police say they arrested Const. Abbas Popal and charged him with unauthorized use of a computer.

He has been suspended with pay.

Police did note that his arrest is unrelated to Project South, the sprawling corruption investigation into one former and seven current Toronto police officers and involved allegations of confidential information being leaked to criminals.

Following the news of Popal’s arrest, Mayor Olivia Chow told CP24 that police needs to “earn the trust” of the city again.

“We need them to protect and serve us ordinary folks,” Chow said.

“Anyone that violates the law, if proven, they should be punished severely I think because we trust police in protecting us and if they violate people’s privacy, then it’s just not acceptable.”

Popal has been serving the Toronto Police Service for around three years and is assigned to the 55 Division.

The charge has not been tested in court.