Johnny Cocksville
04-20-2004, 02:28 AM
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Payoffs, sexual favours at heart of police probe
Former police chief's son suspended
Bar owners say officers sought payoff
NICOLAAS VAN RIJN AND DALE ANNE FREED
STAFF REPORTERS
Transvestites, illegal gambling dens and alleged mob payoffs are at the heart of a major Toronto police Internal Affairs investigation into 52 Division's plainclothes unit.
So far, the probe has led to the suspension of one officer, and the scattering of the unit.
Both police and police association spokespersons remain tight-lipped about the 14-month investigation that began, according to police sources, when an officer was seen leaving an illegal gambling den. And it's the latest black eye for the police service, which was rocked earlier this year when the longest and costliest investigation into corruption on the Toronto force led to the suspension of six veteran drug squad officers.
Mark Pugash, a spokesperson for Toronto police, will only confirm the investigation exists, and Andrew Clarke, director of uniformed services for the Toronto Police Association, said there's little he can say.
"An officer has been suspended, and it's an ongoing investigation, so we can't comment at this time," Clarke said Friday. "No charges have been laid, and the officer involved is entitled to fair process."
Although no official police announcement has been made, police sources have told the Star that Const. Bill McCormack, a 52 Division plainclothes officer and the son of former Toronto police chief William McCormack, was suspended with pay last week after he refused to speak with Internal Affairs investigators.
Yesterday, Clarke said it's unusual that McCormack has been identified without being charged.
"This investigation is ongoing, and it's very unfortunate that the member has been suspend, although no charges have been laid." Clark said.
"It's kind of unusual to have this kind of information released, or leaked. Hopefully, the conclusion of the investigation can happen expeditiously, and the member can know whether or not he faces charges."
Internal Affairs investigators are expected to interview officers at 52 Division in the coming weeks. They've already executed search warrants on the lockers of some 15 officers at 52 Division, on Dundas St. W. near University Ave., and searched an officer's car and home in Uxbridge.
They've already interviewed more than a dozen members of 52 Division's plainclothes unit. Following those interviews, police sources told the Star, the officers were re-assigned to other divisions across Toronto.
"That suggests they're seen more as witness officers than as subject officers," said Gary Clewley, a lawyer for the police association.
Asked if police were looking at the tip of another huge scandal, Clewley said "Let the investigation unfold, and we'll see."
Sources have told the Star the investigation may have been sparked by an outside police probe into organized crime. During routine surveillance connected with that investigation, sources said, a Toronto police officer was seen coming out of an illegal gambling den.
As part of their probe, Internal Affairs investigators set up surveillance equipment and carried out other investigative techniques in the offices occupied by 52 Division's plainclothes unit.
They've also interviewed more than half a dozen transvestite prostitutes who say they've been involved with a 52 Division plainclothes officer, providing sexual favours.
Complaints have also been received from the owners of bars and clubs located in the downtown division after they allegedly received demands for cash, police sources said.
Plainclothes units focus on street crime and liquor act enforcement.
An officer must normally have at least five years' experience before being assigned to a plainclothes unit, which often involves dangerous and prolonged undercover work.
Officers sometimes aren't able to carry firearms because it could jeopardize their undercover role if they're searched, one former member of the unit told the Star.
"You can't wear a wire either — you're dead if they find it," he added.
The former plainclothes unit member said 52 Division's plainclothes officers "covered all the bars in the entertainment district, the gay ghetto, the strip of bars on Church and Wellesley Sts., the Yorkville area.
"Drugs would flow into a lot of the different bars," he added.
The officer said the 52 Division plainclothes unit, comprised of six detective constables — each supervised by a detective — would usually prowl downtown streets during a shift that ran from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
"You're expected to be a jack of all trades," the officer said. "You have to be a bit of an actor. You have to be able to assume a persona."
Payoffs, sexual favours at heart of police probe
Former police chief's son suspended
Bar owners say officers sought payoff
NICOLAAS VAN RIJN AND DALE ANNE FREED
STAFF REPORTERS
Transvestites, illegal gambling dens and alleged mob payoffs are at the heart of a major Toronto police Internal Affairs investigation into 52 Division's plainclothes unit.
So far, the probe has led to the suspension of one officer, and the scattering of the unit.
Both police and police association spokespersons remain tight-lipped about the 14-month investigation that began, according to police sources, when an officer was seen leaving an illegal gambling den. And it's the latest black eye for the police service, which was rocked earlier this year when the longest and costliest investigation into corruption on the Toronto force led to the suspension of six veteran drug squad officers.
Mark Pugash, a spokesperson for Toronto police, will only confirm the investigation exists, and Andrew Clarke, director of uniformed services for the Toronto Police Association, said there's little he can say.
"An officer has been suspended, and it's an ongoing investigation, so we can't comment at this time," Clarke said Friday. "No charges have been laid, and the officer involved is entitled to fair process."
Although no official police announcement has been made, police sources have told the Star that Const. Bill McCormack, a 52 Division plainclothes officer and the son of former Toronto police chief William McCormack, was suspended with pay last week after he refused to speak with Internal Affairs investigators.
Yesterday, Clarke said it's unusual that McCormack has been identified without being charged.
"This investigation is ongoing, and it's very unfortunate that the member has been suspend, although no charges have been laid." Clark said.
"It's kind of unusual to have this kind of information released, or leaked. Hopefully, the conclusion of the investigation can happen expeditiously, and the member can know whether or not he faces charges."
Internal Affairs investigators are expected to interview officers at 52 Division in the coming weeks. They've already executed search warrants on the lockers of some 15 officers at 52 Division, on Dundas St. W. near University Ave., and searched an officer's car and home in Uxbridge.
They've already interviewed more than a dozen members of 52 Division's plainclothes unit. Following those interviews, police sources told the Star, the officers were re-assigned to other divisions across Toronto.
"That suggests they're seen more as witness officers than as subject officers," said Gary Clewley, a lawyer for the police association.
Asked if police were looking at the tip of another huge scandal, Clewley said "Let the investigation unfold, and we'll see."
Sources have told the Star the investigation may have been sparked by an outside police probe into organized crime. During routine surveillance connected with that investigation, sources said, a Toronto police officer was seen coming out of an illegal gambling den.
As part of their probe, Internal Affairs investigators set up surveillance equipment and carried out other investigative techniques in the offices occupied by 52 Division's plainclothes unit.
They've also interviewed more than half a dozen transvestite prostitutes who say they've been involved with a 52 Division plainclothes officer, providing sexual favours.
Complaints have also been received from the owners of bars and clubs located in the downtown division after they allegedly received demands for cash, police sources said.
Plainclothes units focus on street crime and liquor act enforcement.
An officer must normally have at least five years' experience before being assigned to a plainclothes unit, which often involves dangerous and prolonged undercover work.
Officers sometimes aren't able to carry firearms because it could jeopardize their undercover role if they're searched, one former member of the unit told the Star.
"You can't wear a wire either — you're dead if they find it," he added.
The former plainclothes unit member said 52 Division's plainclothes officers "covered all the bars in the entertainment district, the gay ghetto, the strip of bars on Church and Wellesley Sts., the Yorkville area.
"Drugs would flow into a lot of the different bars," he added.
The officer said the 52 Division plainclothes unit, comprised of six detective constables — each supervised by a detective — would usually prowl downtown streets during a shift that ran from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
"You're expected to be a jack of all trades," the officer said. "You have to be a bit of an actor. You have to be able to assume a persona."