Two veteran OPP officers, two civilians charged in tow truck corruption investigation

Instances of officers engaging in corruption for personal or financial gain, from accepting bribes to falsifying evidence. Motivated by power and profit, such actions undermine public trust and pervert justice.
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Two veteran OPP officers, two civilians charged in tow truck corruption investigation

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The complaint that triggered the charges was made in February 2019. Sgt. Terrence Reefer and Const. Roberto Visconti have been suspended with pay since January 2021.

Two veteran Ontario Provincial Police officers have been charged criminally with breach of trust as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption in the tow truck industry.

Two GTA civilian tow operators were also charged, the OPP announced on Thursday evening.

The charges follow what the OPP calls “an internal complaint alleging members of the OPP Highway Safety Division (HSD) were providing preferential treatment to tow operators within the Greater Toronto Area.”

The complaint that triggered the charges was made in February 2019, the OPP said.

Facing criminal code charges are Sgt. Terrence Reefer, 59, a 29-year OPP veteran and Const. Roberto Visconti, 36, a 12-year veteran, also of the Mississauga detachment.

Visconti is also charged with one count of obstructing a peace officer. No details of the alleged offence were given.

The OPP said in a prepared statement that Reefer and Visconti have been suspended with pay since January 2021.

They were arrested on Monday and released, with a scheduled court appearance on Jan. 6 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

Also charged were Douglas Polus, 49, of Vaughan and Janan Dinkha, 44, of Mississauga.

Polus and Dinkha were each charged with one count of aiding and abetting breach of trust.

They were also released and are scheduled to appear in court on January 6 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

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Two OPP officers charged with breach of trust in tow truck industry probe, two operators also charged

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Charges followed investigation into allegations of misconduct, OPP says

Two Ontario Provincial Police officers and two tow truck operators have been charged as part of an investigation into allegations of misconduct involving the towing industry.

In a news release on Thursday, the OPP said Sgt. Terrence Reefer, 59, and Const. Roberto Visconti, 36, are facing beach of trust charges. Both are members of the OPP's Mississauga detachment and its highway safety division. Visconti has also been charged with obstructing a peace officer.

The OPP said it also charged a Vaughan man, 49, and a Mississauga man, 44, with aiding and abetting breach of trust.

According to the OPP, its professional standards unit received an internal complaint in February 2019 that alleged members of the OPP's highway safety division were giving "preferential treatment" to Greater Toronto Area tow truck operators.

The professional standards unit and its criminal investigation branch began a joint investigation in October 2019.

The accused OPP officers, who were arrested three days ago, have been suspended with pay since January 2021. The accused tow truck operators were arrested recently, according to the OPP.

All four accused, who were released on undertakings with conditions, are due in court on Jan. 6 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.

Police are urging anyone with information about the investigation to call the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or CrimeStoppers anonymously.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ ... -1.6648644
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Two OPP officers charged in misconduct investigation involving the towing industry

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Two provincial police officers have been charged in connection with an investigation into misconduct allegations involving the 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.

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Two OPP officers charged after allegedly giving GTA tow operators 'preferential treatment'

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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.

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2 OPP officers charged in towing industry investigation

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Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged two OPP members and two individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct involving the towing industry.

In February 2019, the OPP Professional Standards Unit (PSU) received an internal complaint alleging members of the OPP Highway Safety Division (HSD) were providing preferential treatment to tow operators within the Greater Toronto Area. In October 2019, a joint investigation commenced with the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and the OPP PSU involving allegations of breach of trust. As a result of this investigation, two OPP officers have each been charged with breach of trust contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code:

- Sgt. Terrence Reefer, 59, OPP Mississauga Detachment (29 years of service)

- Provincial Const. Roberto Visconti, 36, OPP Mississauga Detachment (12 years of service)

Visconti is also charged with one count of obstructing peace officer, contrary to section 129(a) of the Criminal Code.

The accused OPP members have been suspended with pay since January 2021. The accused OPP members were arrested on Nov. 7, 2022 and have been released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in court on Jan. 6, 2023 at the Ontario Court of Justice located at 7755 Hurontario St. in Brampton.

The OPP has also charged Douglas Polus, 49, of the City of Vaughan and Janan Dinkha, 44, of the City of Mississauga with one count each of aiding and abetting breach of trust contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code. The accused were arrested and have been released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in court on Jan. 6, 2023 at the Ontario Court of Justice located at 7755 Hurontario St. in Brampton.

If anyone has information regarding this ongoing investigation, they are urged to call the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers.

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Special Favours: Two GTA OPP officers arrested for special treatment to certain tow operators

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Toronto, Ontario — Details from an internal investigation from the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Professional Standards Unit have uncovered that two Mississauga, Ont.-based police officers, Sgt. Terrence Reefer and Const. Roberto Visconti, were arrested for allegedly giving preferential treatment to certain tow truck operators within the GTA.

The two officers, both from the OPP’s Mississauga detachment, had been on paid suspension since January 2021 while an investigation, first spawned from a February 2019 internal complaint, was carried out to determine their culpability.

36-year-old Visconti, an officer of 12 years, has been charged with breach of trust and obstructing a peace officer while Reefer, 59 and with 29 years in the service, has been charged with breach of trust.

Arrested alongside the two officers were 49-year-old Douglas Polus of Vaughan and 44-year-old Janan Dinkha of Mississauga, both of whom were charged with aiding and abetting breach of trust.

The pair were released on undertakings and are scheduled to attend a Brampton court next year.

This is far from the first time the OPP has been pitted against itself for the involvement of officers in towing corruption schemes—schemes that have been linked to allegations of sexual coercion on the part of some officers, the filing of fraudulent insurance claims and theft of encrypted police radios.

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The Ontario Provincial Police have charged two officers with misconduct in tow truck industry

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In February 2019, the OPP received an internal complaint claiming members of the Mississauga detachment were giving preferential treatment to tow operators.

In October 2019, a investigation began involving allegations of breach of trust and as a result of this investigation, Sgt. Terrence Reefer, 59, with 29 years of service, and Const. Roberto Visconti, 36, with 12 years of service have both been charged with breach of trust.

Visconti has also been charged with obstructing a peace officer.

Both officers were suspended with pay since January 2021.

They were arrested on Monday and have been released on undertakings with conditions.

They are expected appear at the Brampton courthouse on Jan. 6, 2023.

Police have also charged Douglas Polus, 49, of Vaughan and Janan Dinkha, 44, of Mississauga with one count each of aiding and abetting breach of trust.

They have been released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in Brampton court on the same day as the officers.

Tow truck wars in the GTA have led to numerous arrests and charges that include murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

During the wars, tow truck operators have been involved in fraudulent accident insurance claims.

Police have said unscrupulous tow companies have taken advantage of a lack of oversight to defraud consumers and insurance companies.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or, call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

https://o.canada.com/news/local-news/op ... stry-probe
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2 OPP officers charged in towing industry misconduct investigation, police say

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Two Ontario Provincial Police officers are among four people who have been charged in an investigation into alleged misconduct involving the towing industry.

In an OPP news release issued Thursday, officials said two towing operators were also charged.

Police said that in February 2019, the OPP Professional Standards Unit received an internal complaint that alleged members of the force’s Highway Standards Division were giving preferential treatment to towing operations in the Greater Toronto Area.

In October 2019, the OPP’s criminal branch and professional standards launched a joint investigation.

Two OPP officers based out of the Mississauga detachment have since been charged with breach of trust: 59-year-old Sgt. Terrence Reefer, who has 29 years of service, and 36-year-old Const. Roberto Visconti, who has 12 years of service.

Visconti was also charged with one count of obstructing a peace officer.

They were arrested on Monday and later released on undertakings. They are set to appear in court in early January.

The OPP said the officers have been suspended with pay since January 2021.

The statement also said 49-year-old Vaughan resident Douglas Polus and 44-year-old Mississauga resident Janan Dinkha were each charged with one count of aiding and abetting breach of trust.

They were also released on undertakings and are scheduled to appear in court in January.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9271112/2-op ... stigation/
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OPP officers charged with misconduct in tow truck industry probe

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The Ontario Provincial Police have charged two officers with misconduct involving the towing industry.

In February 2019, the OPP received an internal complaint claiming members of the Mississauga detachment were giving preferential treatment to tow operators.

In October 2019, a investigation began involving allegations of breach of trust and as a result of this investigation, Sgt. Terrence Reefer, 59, with 29 years of service, and Const. Roberto Visconti, 36, with 12 years of service have both been charged with breach of trust.

Visconti has also been charged with obstructing a peace officer.

Both officers were suspended with pay since January 2021.

They were arrested on Monday and have been released on undertakings with conditions.

They are expected appear at the Brampton courthouse on Jan. 6, 2023.

Police have also charged Douglas Polus, 49, of Vaughan and Janan Dinkha, 44, of Mississauga with one count each of aiding and abetting breach of trust.

They have been released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in Brampton court on the same day as the officers.

Tow truck wars in the GTA have led to numerous arrests and charges that include murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

During the wars, tow truck operators have been involved in fraudulent accident insurance claims.

Police have said unscrupulous tow companies have taken advantage of a lack of oversight to defraud consumers and insurance companies.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or, call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/ ... stry-probe
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Two Mississauga Ontario Provincial Police officers facing breach of trust charges

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Two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers from the Mississauga detachment are facing charges for breach of trust for allegedly providing preferential treatment to some tow truck operators.

According to the OPP, in February 2019, the Professional Standards Unit received an internal complaint about police officers in the Highway Safety Division favouring certain tow truck operators in the Greater Toronto Area. In October 2019, the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch and Professional Standards Unit started a joint investigation.

On Nov. 7, 59-year-old Sgt. Terrence Reefer and 36-year-old Const. Roberto Visconti were charged with breach of trust.

Visconti was also charged with obstructing a peace officer.

Both officers have been suspended with pay since January 2021.

“Public trust and confidence is the cornerstone of the OPP and all members of the organization are held to a higher standard of behaviour,” said Bill Dickson, speaking on behalf of the OPP. “Regrettably, there are instances when OPP employees have been charged with criminal offences or have contravened the Police Services Act. The OPP treats and investigates police officers accused of breaking the law in the same manner as it investigates any other individual.”

Reefer has served 29 years on the force and Visconti has been with the OPP for 12.

Two civilians, a 49-year-old from Vaughan and a 44-year-old from Mississauga, were charged with aiding and abetting.

The accused individuals are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 6 at the Brampton courthouse.

https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/ ... t-charges/
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Two OPP Members Charged With Breach Of Trust

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The OPP has charged two OPP members and two individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct involving the towing industry.

In February 2019, the OPP Professional Standards Unit (PSU) received an internal complaint alleging members of the OPP Highway Safety Division (HSD) were providing preferential treatment to tow operators within the Greater Toronto Area. In October 2019, a joint investigation commenced with the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and the OPP PSU involving allegations of breach of trust. As a result of this investigation, two OPP officers have each been charged with Breach of Trust contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code:

- Sergeant Terrence Reefer – aged 59 years – OPP Mississauga Detachment (29 years of service)

- Provincial Constable Roberto Visconti- aged 36 years – OPP Mississauga Detachment (12 years of service)

Visconti is also charged with one count of Obstructing Peace Officer/

The accused OPP members have been suspended with pay since January 2021. The accused OPP members were arrested on November 7, 2022 and have been released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in court on January 6, 2023, at the Ontario Court of Justice located at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton.

The OPP has also charged Douglas Polus, aged 49 years of the City of Vaughan and Janan Dinkha, aged 44 years of the City of Mississauga with one count each of Aiding and Abetting Breach of Trust contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code. The accused were arrested and have been released on undertakings with conditions and are expected to appear in court on January 6, 2023, at the Ontario Court of Justice located at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton.

https://muskoka411.com/two-opp-members- ... -of-trust/
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