Port Hope Police Chief shocked at Toronto Police officer charges

By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative.

Port Hope Police Chief Tim Farquharson said he was shocked and dismayed to learn that seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer were arrested following a months-long investigation by York Regional Police into corruption allegations.

“The allegations are profoundly troubling. When organized crime penetrates policing, the harm extends far beyond the individuals involved and risks undermining confidence in the institution itself,” Farquharson said. “The findings strike at the very heart of public trust — trust that police professionals rely on to serve communities effectively and keep people safe. Corruption has no place in policing. It is a direct attack on public confidence and protecting that trust is non-negotiable.”

Ontario’s inspector general of policing has announced a provincewide review of police services, which will include Cobourg and Port Hope. This is expected to be an independent review conducted by an external investigator.

“A thorough, independent external review is essential — not only to understand what happened, but to address what allowed it to occur and to prevent it from happening again,” Farquharson explained. “Our collective goal must be to strengthen oversight, enhance accountability, and reinforce public confidence.”

Farquharson said the charges and allegations facing the accused officers is not a wider reflection of policing, where an overwhelming majority of police officers serve with integrity, professionalism, and pride, while trying to strengthen public trust each day.