A seismic shockwave ripped through the Toronto Police Service this week with charges leveled against seven current officers and one retiree. The allegations – extortion, drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder – paint a disturbing picture of corruption at the heart of law enforcement, marking one of the most significant scandals in the city’s history. This isn’t an isolated incident, but a chilling echo of misconduct that has stained the force for decades.
The case of Constable Boris Borissov is a descent into escalating betrayal. It began in 2022 with accusations of stealing from a missing person, a breach of public trust that quickly spiraled. A debit card allegedly taken from the missing individual was used for unauthorized purchases, leading to charges of theft, breach of trust, and fraud. But the story didn’t end there. Further investigation revealed Borissov allegedly provided the card to another man who then fraudulently obtained vehicles.
Borissov’s attempts to evade justice became increasingly desperate. A year after the initial accusations, he faced charges for violating his bail conditions. Then, in a brazen act, he allegedly attempted to flee the country, intercepted at the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. Each charge piled on, revealing a pattern of disregard for the law he was sworn to uphold.
The shadows of systemic issues emerged in 2021 with the demotion of Superintendent Stacy Clarke, the first Black female superintendent in Toronto Police history. Found guilty of discreditable conduct for assisting Black officers in cheating on promotion exams, her actions were rooted in a desperate attempt to combat perceived anti-Black racism within the service. She argued qualified candidates were routinely overlooked, and her actions were a response to a deeply flawed system.
Despite acknowledging Clarke’s leadership qualities, the disciplinary hearing officer ruled her actions an abuse of power, resulting in a two-year demotion. Clarke appealed, deeming the punishment “excessive,” a testament to the complex layers of injustice at play. The case ignited a fierce debate about fairness, representation, and the challenges faced by marginalized groups within the police force.
In 2014, a routine traffic stop unravelled into a damning indictment of police misconduct. Officers pulled over a driver for running a red light, claiming to find heroin in the vehicle. But the case imploded when Ontario Superior Court Judge Edward Morgan concluded the officers had “obviously colluded” and planted the drugs. The judge meticulously detailed inconsistencies in their testimonies, exposing a fabricated narrative.
The judge’s ruling was scathing: “There is too much falsehood…I conclude from all this that the loose heroin was placed on the console of the Toyota by the police after their search.” The drug charges were stayed, and the four officers involved faced charges of their own. The incident served as a stark reminder of the potential for abuse of power and the fragility of justice.
Decades earlier, in February 1981, Toronto witnessed the infamous “Project Soap” – a raid on four bathhouses that resulted in the arrest of nearly 300 men. Police collected deeply personal information, including employment details and the names of spouses, in what critics decried as a blatant violation of privacy and a targeted attack on the LGBTQ+ community.
The raid sparked immediate outrage, culminating in a protest march that descended into clashes with police. While authorities claimed the operation wasn’t intended to intimidate the gay community, the public outcry was deafening. The vast majority of those arrested were ultimately found innocent, leaving a legacy of distrust and a painful reminder of a time when basic rights were denied.
These scandals, spanning decades, aren’t isolated incidents. They represent a pattern of misconduct, abuse of power, and systemic failings within the Toronto Police Service. Each case chips away at public trust, demanding accountability and a fundamental re-evaluation of the principles that govern those sworn to protect and serve.
