‘Dark day’: Former cop gets 7 years for selling drugs, photographing dead woman

WINNIPEG – A former Winnipeg police officer who sold drugs to colleagues and took a photo of a dead woman has been handed a seven-year prison sentence in a case that rocked the force and had a judge questioning the extent of police corruption.

“Today is a dark day for public confidence in the administration of justice,” Justice Kenneth Champagne told Court of King’s Bench Friday while sentencing Elston Bostock.

“For eight years, Bostock committed criminal offences, operating with impunity under the cover of his uniform and badge.

“The breach of trust is staggering.”

Bostock, 49, previously pleaded guilty to an extensive list of criminal charges, including breach of trust, attempting to obstruct justice, drug trafficking and offering an indignity to human remains.

The Crown had argued that a seven-year sentence was fitting, while the defence urged two years plus a short consecutive sentence for the drug charge.

During Friday’s hearing, Champagne initially told lawyers that he was “inclined” to go higher because the two sides did not put forth a joint sentencing recommendation. After a short break, Bostock’s lawyers advised the court that the former constable now consented to seven years.

Bostock was arrested in November after serving on the force for 22 years. The service’s professional standards unit started a lengthy investigation into Bostock and three other officers after colleagues came forward with concerns.

The internal probe included audits, analysis of GPS data, surveillance by RCMP and the searching of Bostock’s cellphone, which revealed the extent of his criminal conduct and corruption, said Champagne.

Police found several messages relating to the selling of various drugs, looking up police information for friends and bribing other officers with gift certificates, liquor and cigars to void traffic tickets.

“Officers willing to void tickets are complicit in this corruption,” said Champagne. “The extent of police corruption is unknown.”

As part of their investigation, Winnipeg police also staged an event in which Bostock seized a backpack with narcotics, cash and cigarettes that belonged to an alleged criminal.

Court heard surveillance cameras were installed in Bostock’s cruiser without his knowledge. Videos show both Bostock and another officer rifling through the bag and taking cash and cigarettes. They eventually put the items and some cash back into the bag after suspecting it was an “integrity test.” The bag was later seized from Bostock’s locker with some of the items missing.

Champagne also noted an incident where Bostock, called to attend the scene of an overdose, took photos of a partially clothed dead woman for his own “sexual gratification.”

“Bostock’s conduct is offensive and shocking. Any member of the community fully apprised of the circumstances of this offence would be outraged,” said Champagne.

Court heard the woman in the photo was of Indigenous ancestry and had died from the overdose. Bostock sent the photo to two other officers with comments that sexualized and degraded her.

During an earlier hearing, Bostock apologized to the woman’s family, saying he regretted his actions. He was removed from the job late last year. Court heard he still gets to keep his pension.

Winnipeg Police Chief Gene Bowers, in a statement, said, “This case is a stain on our service’s reputation. (It’s) one that will serve as a reminder of our responsibility to uphold our values of integrity and accountability.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2026.