Toronto police chief to launch anti-corruption project in response to Project South

The chief of Toronto police is launching an anti-corruption project in the wake of a bombshell investigation that resulted in seven officers being charged.

In a report to the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Board, Chief Myron Demkiw provided an update on what he is doing to respond to “Project South,” which revealed that several officers allegedly accessed confidential information to facilitate a murder plot against a manager at an Ontario correctional facility, took bribes, and protected illegal cannabis dispensaries for drug traffickers.

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The report going before the board on Wednesday stated that the chief is starting two “corporate projects” that are expected to be in place for two years.

They are the “Chief’s Anti-Corruption Project” and “One TPS Project.”

According to the report, the anti-corruption project will strengthen TPS’s “capacity to prevent, detect and respond to potential corruption through coordinated system-level safeguards.”

The project features five “work streams,” which include ensuring that “clear permissions, controls, and safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access or misuse.” Another focuses on making wellness supports accessible to members and ensuring they can complete their shift without putting themselves or others in danger.

The other “work streams” will focus on how members are supervised, how officers are screened and vetted during hiring, and on ensuring the required procedures and practices are in place for evidence handling.

The “One TPS” project, meanwhile, “reinforces the professional culture that underpins ethical behaviour, accountability, and public trust,” the report stated.

The projects will be staffed by small teams made up of uniform and civilian members of TPS.

In addition to the two projects, the report stated that the Professional Standards Unit’s capacity will be improved.

That will include the establishment of a dedicated Inspection Team “to ensure compliance with Service procedures, processes, and practices and to better identify and address risks” and the forming of the Anti-Corruption Enhancement Team.

“Through enhanced external inspection, strengthened internal accountability mechanisms, and the launch of two complimentary corporate projects—the Chief’s Anti-Corruption Project and the “One TPS” Project—the Service is taking both immediate and sustained action to address identified risk areas and reinforce public confidence,” Demkiw said in the report.

Ontario’s inspector general of policing confirmed last month that he would be conducting an independent inquiry into police corruption in the province due to the revelations from Project South.

The Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, the province’s independent civilian oversight agency dealing with police misconduct complaints, is also conducting its investigation.