GROW-OPS POP COPS

Dawn Raids Bust 63 Marijuana Crop Operations and Lead to Arrests of
Two Toronto Officers

The hunters became the prey.

Two Toronto Police officers are accused of producing and selling pot
after dozens of marijuana grow operations were uncovered in dawn
raids across the GTA yesterday.

Working with officers from Peel and York, Toronto Police sprang into
action around 6 a.m. executing 63 search warrants on homes and
businesses, mostly in York Region, arresting 23 people, including the
two cops, three jail guards and a real estate agent.

"It's certainly disappointing...," an obviously upset Chief Bill
Blair said yesterday at police headquarters of learning two of his
officers were allegedly involved in a major crime ring. "It is more
than merely a betrayal of their oath of office," Toronto's top cop
added. "It is frankly a betrayal of all of the hard-working and
decent men and women of the Toronto Police Service and the policing
profession in this country and right across Ontario."

Toronto Police's Professional Standards unit began looking into
allegations of corruption within its force several months ago after
York police informed them Toronto Const. Patrick Lee had been linked
to a grow-op they uncovered north of the city in February 2007.

Professional Standards Supt. Jim Ramer said the investigation into
Lee revealed a "large-scale operation" that allegedly involved a
second cop, Const. Kevin Bourne, three corrections officers, a real
estate agent and numerous other citizens working together to grow and
sell pot, and to launder the proceeds. "This was a very elaborate
criminal organization," Ramer said, explaining the group had been
operating for at least two years.

Although the final tally was not immediately available, he alleged
they were responsible for dozens of grow houses. Police seized three
homes, five vehicles, $60,000 in cash, 8 kilos of marijuana, and lots
of drug-making equipment in yesterday's raids, Ramer said. Small
amounts of other drugs, such as Ecstasy and steroids, were also found.

They arrested 23 people, but so far only 20 of them -- 19 adults and
one youth -- have been charged. Only the two officers, who are both
in their 30s, have been identified. They were arrested at their homes
in York Region.

"They know each other," Ramer said, refusing to comment on how Lee,
who has been on the force for eight years, and Bourne, with nine
years service, became acquainted. Ramer alleged the officers used the
accused real estate agent to buy and sell homes north and west of the
city in order to launder the money that was made from the sale of the drugs.

He would not say if the three corrections officers were distributing
marijuana to inmates at the West Detention Centre, where they work.
But he did confirm investigators discovered at least one incident of
drugs being shipped south of the border.

The accused are all expected to appear in a Newmarket courtroom
today. Blair said he understands that public confidence in the city's
force may be shaken by the alleged conduct of the two officers, but
he pointed out that an extensive investigation has been conducted and
no other officers were involved.

Bourne, who works out of 51 Division, is charged with participating
in an offence for criminal organization, breach of trust, conspiracy
to produce marijuana, possession of marijuana for the purpose of
exporting and possession of marijuana.

Lee, who is assigned to 31 Division but works at the North Collision
Centre because he is on stress leave, is charged with participating
in an offence for criminal organization, breach of trust, obstructing
justice, laundering the proceeds of crime, production of marijuana,
conspiracy to produce marijuana, conspiracy to traffic marijuana and
possession for the purpose of trafficking.