TORONTO POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED IN DRUG RING

Trafficking Alleged

TORONTO - Two Toronto police officers and three correctional officers
were among those swept up by a massive crackdown on marijuana grow
operations yesterday that led to raids on 63 homes and businesses
across the Greater Toronto Area and the breakup of what police are
calling an elaborate drug operation.

Chief Bill Blair, of Toronto police, said he was very disappointed to
learn that two of his officers were allegedly involved in a drug
trafficking operation that involved marijuana, Ecstasy, steroids and
money laundering.

"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," the Chief told a news conference.

"All of us need to maintain the trust of the people that we serve,
and the conduct alleged by these two individual officers -- and quite
frankly, also by those corrections officers who are accused in
today's investigation -- that trust is challenged, and we are very
disappointed by this investigation."

Constable Kevin Bourne, with nine years of service, and Detective
Constable Patrick Lee, with eight years on the force, are charged
with participating in a criminal organization, breach of trust,
producing, possessing and trafficking marijuana. Det.-Const. Lee is
also charged with obstruction of justice, money laundering and
additional drug charges. Both were scheduled to appear in a Newmarket
court today.

Officers from York, Peel and Toronto police arrested 19 people and
seized three houses, five vehicles, $60,000 and almost eight
kilograms of marijuana in yesterday's raids, the culmination of
several months of investigation.

Chief Blair admitted the case was difficult because of the alleged
police involvement, but insisted it was done by the book. He said the
investigation into the gang, which has been operating for at least
two years, took "extraordinary investigative measures" to bring together.

The 63 pre-dawn and early-morning raids smashed a major source of
illegal drugs in the city, Chief Blair said.

In 2007, the Toronto police services board awarded Const. Bourne a
"teamwork commendation," citing him for "exceptional performance of
duty, community policing initiatives or innovations or initiatives
that enhance the image or operation of the [police] service."

If the two officers are released on bail, they will be suspended with
pay until their case is decided.

"The law in Ontario... requires that even though the criminal conduct
alleged has virtually nothing to do with their job and is contrary to
every aspect of our oath of office, the protection is extended ... to
those two persons, because they are police officers, that they can
only be suspended with pay," Chief Blair said.