1997

Toronto police Sgt. Dave Eagleson alerts deputy chief Bob Molyneaux's office about numerous complaints against a group of Toronto drug squad officers.

November 1997

Montreal police complain to Toronto police after a confrontation with two drug officers who came to Montreal to seize cash from a drug suspect's bank safety deposit box.

1999

A group of defence lawyers send a letter to the Toronto Police Service, claiming that police from the Central Field Command drug squad stole drugs, money and jewelry from their clients during raids. Internal Affairs begins investigating.

November 2000

Eight police officers are slapped with 75 criminal and 98 disciplinary charges for theft, fraud, forgery and breach of trust. They are also accused of stealing money from the "fink fund," typically used to pay off informants in drug cases. The charges are stayed two years later, however, after a fresh investigation is launched.

The officers named are:

  • Staff Sgt. John Schertzer.
  • Det.-Const. Steven Correia.
  • Const. Sean McGuinness.
  • Const. James Leslie.
  • Const. Jonathon Reid.
  • Const. Raymond Pollard.
  • Const. Jaroslaw Cieslik.
  • Const. Joseph Miched.

2001

Then Toronto police chief Julian Fantino calls the allegations a "sad passage" in the Toronto Police Service's history.

He calls in RCMP Supt. John Neily to lead an internal probe called the Special Task Force. Internal Affairs recommended a special task force as a move to avoid a public inquiry. In a letter to Neily, Fantino gives him "unconditional authority" to investigate the allegations.

January 2004

The Special Task Force results in 40 criminal charges against six former drug officers. The charges include perjury, theft, extortion, assault causing bodily harm and obstructing justice.

The accused "deliberately betrayed the trust of some of those in the justice system, thereby victimizing the entire justice system," says special task force leader RCMP Supt. John Neily.

Charged are: Staff Sgt. John Schertzer, Const. Steven Correia, Const. Joseph Miched, Const. Raymond Pollard, Const. Ned Maodus, Const. Richard Benoit.

May 2006

After a six-month preliminary inquiry, six Toronto police drug officers are ordered to stand trial.

Jan. 31, 2008

Ontario Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer tosses the police corruption case out of court, finding it took too long to bring the drug squad officers to trial.

Aug. 31, 2009

The Crown appeals Nordheimer's decision, trying to get a trial back on track.