Three Peel police officers suspended amid corruption, organized crime probe
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Three Peel Regional Police officers have been suspended in connection to a corruption and organized crime investigation that led to criminal charges against 27 suspects, including seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer.
Const. Tyler Bell-Morena says the force west of Toronto has administratively suspended three officers, pending further investigation by York Regional Police.
Bell-Morena says no Peel police officers have been charged in the case.
Officials said Thursday that the investigation led by York Regional Police uncovered allegations of bribery, conspiracy to commit murder and drug trafficking, among other offences.
York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan said the probe began last June after a vehicle rammed a marked York police cruiser parked at the home of a corrections facility officer, in what investigators allege was a conspiracy to commit murder involving two youth suspects and an adult.
Hogan said it was the third time within 36 hours that suspects had gone to the home, and the incident sparked an investigation that revealed Toronto officers had accessed personal information and leaked it to members of an organized crime group who then carried out crimes including shootings, extortions and robberies.
Investigators allege that Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt gave personal information to Brian Da Costa, a man suspected of several drug trafficking and bribery offences who was among several suspects allegedly seeking confidential information from officers.
Toronto police officers Derek McCormick, Elias Mouawad, John Madeley Jr. and his father, retired constable John Madeley Sr., are among those charged in the investigation.
Hogan said Toronto police officers Barnhardt, Robert Black, Saurabjit Bedi and Carl Grellette were also charged, and were allegedly involved in bribery schemes orchestrated by Da Costa.
In addition to Da Costa, 18 other suspects were arrested in the investigation, including two youths.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2026.