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.<\/p>\n
In a report to the Toronto Police Service (TPS) Board<\/a>, Chief Myron Demkiw provided an update on what he is doing to respond to \u201cProject South,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n The report going before the board on Wednesday stated that the chief is starting two \u201ccorporate projects\u201d that are expected to be in place for two years.<\/p>\n They are the \u201cChief\u2019s Anti-Corruption Project\u201d and \u201cOne TPS Project.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the report, the anti-corruption project will strengthen TPS\u2019s \u201ccapacity to prevent, detect and respond to potential corruption through coordinated system-level safeguards.\u201d<\/p>\n The project features five \u201cwork streams,\u201d which include ensuring that \u201cclear permissions, controls, and safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized access or misuse.\u201d Another focuses on making wellness supports accessible to members and ensuring they can complete their shift without putting themselves or others in danger.<\/p>\n The other \u201cwork streams\u201d 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. <\/p>\n The \u201cOne TPS\u201d project, meanwhile, \u201creinforces the professional culture that underpins ethical behaviour, accountability, and public trust,\u201d the report stated.<\/p>\n The projects will be staffed by small teams made up of uniform and civilian members of TPS.<\/p>\n In addition to the two projects, the report stated that the Professional Standards Unit\u2019s capacity will be improved. <\/p>\n That will include the establishment of a dedicated Inspection Team \u201cto ensure compliance with Service procedures, processes, and practices and to better identify and address risks\u201d and the forming of the Anti-Corruption Enhancement Team.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough enhanced external inspection, strengthened internal accountability mechanisms, and the launch of two complimentary corporate projects\u2014the Chief\u2019s Anti-Corruption Project and the \u201cOne TPS\u201d Project\u2014the Service is taking both immediate and sustained action to address identified risk areas and reinforce public confidence,\u201d Demkiw said in the report.<\/p>\n Ontario\u2019s inspector general of policing confirmed last month<\/a> that he would be conducting an independent inquiry into police corruption in the province due to the revelations from Project South.<\/p>\n