Cops In Court After 20 Charged In Pot Grow Op Bust
Posted July 4, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The fate of two Toronto officers arrested as part of a marijuana grow op ring is now in the hands of the judicial system.
P.C. Kevin Bourne, a nine-year veteran of the force, and Det. Cst. Patrick Lee, who had served for eight years, are among 20 people charged. Three jail guards were also arrested.
In the picture, Bourne is wearing a brown hat and Lee is covering his face completely.
The officers were two of the first suspects arrested Thursday. They arrived at a Newmarket courthouse Friday just after 9am, in a van they’re more used to seeing from the outside: a prisoner transport vehicle.
Constable Bourne’s parents were there to offer moral support. There are unconfirmed reports that the marijuana was making its way from grow operations into the hands of prison inmates.
“Nobody wants to be in custody, especially when you’re used to being on the other side,” offered lawyer Gary Clewley.
He was hopeful they would receive bail.
“The hope is, of course, that we can work something out that everybody can live with. These people don’t have criminal records, and you know, there’s no threat of anybody leaving town and all of that sort of stuff. So [in] my opinion they’re excellent candidates for bail. I’m hoping the Crown will agree,” said Glewley.
The Crown did agree, and Bourne and Lee were among the first released Friday morning on $50,000 bail. They have been suspended with pay, a requirement under the law that has raised new questions and outraged some taxpayers.
“I don’t see why they should be punished in advance. You cut somebody’s pay off, you’re effectively terminating their employment before a single lick of evidence has been called,” Clewley argued.
Chief Bill Blair was not pleased with the allegations. He said that if they are proven in court, it’s a betrayal of the good men and women who serve as Toronto police officers.
” It is always a huge disappointment to us, as a group and individually, if any of our members come up short, and the evidence uncovered and revealed today certainly indicates that that may have been the case for these two individual officers,” Blair added.
Their next court appearance is scheduled for August 14.
Thursday’s raids were the culmination of a two month-long investigation that involved York Region, Peel Region, and Toronto Police.
To see the names of those accused and the complete list of 115 charges they face, click here.
