Two OPP officers charged after allegedly giving GTA tow operators 'preferential treatment'
Two provincial police officers have been charged in connection with an investigation into misconduct allegations involving the Ontario towing industry.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said members of its Professional Standards Unit (PSU) received an internal complaint in Feb. 2019 that alleged OPP Highway Safety Division members were giving preferential treatment to tow operators within the Greater Toronto Area.
Nine months later, in October, the PSU and the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch launched a probe into the allegations.
As a result, on Thursday, more than three years since the investigation commenced, police announced that they had arrested Sgt. Terrence Reefer and Const. Roberto Visconti.
The officers, who both worked at the OPP Mississauga Detachment, have been charged with breach of trust. Visconti, a 12-year member of the service, is facing an additional charge of obstructing a peace officer.
Police said 59-year-old Reefer, a member of the force for 29 years, and 36-year-old Visconti were released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in a Brampton court in January.
The two have been suspended with pay since Jan. 2021, police said.
Meanwhile, two other people, identified as 49-year-old Douglas Polus of Vaughan and 44-year-old Janan Dinkha of Mississauga, have been charged with aiding and abetting breach of trust.
They were also released on undertakings and are scheduled to attend a Brampton court next year.
Police continue to ask anyone with information to call 1-888-310-1222 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.