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A Toronto police officer charged in a sweeping corruption probe last week is alleged to have trafficked police uniforms and mishandled a police-issued firearm, court documents allege.
Const. Timothy Barnhardt, 56, faces 17 charges in connection to the investigation by York Regional Police. His court charge documents provide greater detail on the charges he faces — which are more than any other officer — and go beyond what York Regional Police initially released.
That includes a charge to traffic property, “namely clothing and uniforms” that belonged to Toronto police, according to the court document.
Barnhardt is co-accused of this charge — and numerous others — with Brian Da Costa, 43. Da Costa, a civilian also arrested as part of the probe, is alleged to have connections with various criminal networks and is accused of leading a plan to run illegal cannabis dispensaries, according to his charges.
The court document also provides more detail on the three firearms-related charges Barnhardt faces, which are all related to his police-issued gun.
According to the document, Barnhardt kept his police-issued Glock 9-mm pistol “at a place where he was not authorized to do so,” stored the weapon in his vehicle in a “careless manner” and possessed the pistol “for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.”
Trafficking uniforms an ‘extreme violation’
Trafficking uniforms is a very serious allegation, said Patrick G. Watson, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Toronto.
“This is an extreme violation of that contract between the police officer and the service, and for that matter, the public that they are serving,” he said.
As for the firearm charges, Watson says he is “completely floored.”
“That we’re talking about police resources being used for criminal enterprise — this is very disturbing.”
Toronto police declined to comment on the charges and or say whether they have looked into their uniform inventory and distribution process.
“As these charges are before the courts, I’m not able to provide a direct comment,” spokesperson Nadine Ramadan said in an email.
Barnhardt the ‘genesis’ of the investigation: York police
York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan has called Barnhardt the “genesis” of the investigation. Police allege Barnhardt released confidential information to criminals, which helped facilitate targeted shootings.
He was denied bail in a Toronto courtroom last Friday but was granted protective custody. Court documents suggest he has nearly 20 years of experience with Toronto police.
Seven active Toronto police officers and one retired officer have been arrested in connection to a major corruption probe by police in York Region. CBC’s Greg Ross breaks down what we know about the accused.
The investigation by York police began last year after the service said it uncovered an alleged conspiracy to kill a corrections management member of an Ontario detention centre.
A total of 27 people across the Greater Toronto Area are now facing charges as part of the ongoing case. The charges include drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder, breach of trust by a public officer and obstruction of justice.
Last Friday, Peel Regional Police suspended three officers in connection to the investigation, but no charges have been laid against them, police said.
In response to the corruption probe, Ontario’s inspector general of policing said he will conduct a provincewide, independent review of all 45 police services in the province and their boards.
