Law and Order: Toronto edition (wherein five former Toronto drug squad officers stand trial for corruption)

Five former Toronto drug cops go on trial today in what the CBC is calling “the largest case of alleged police corruption in Canadian history.” The case dates back to the late ’90s, when the officers were busting high numbers of drug dealers and allegedly beating up suspects, stealing drugs and cash and working together to cover it all up. The officers were charged way back in 2004, but some nifty legal acrobatics slowed the case’s progress to a standstill. A judge even stayed the charges in 2008 before the province’s court of appeal decided the five would stand trial. Former mayor and head of the city’s Police Accountability Coalition John Sewell says legal stalling can often go on so long that witnesses die or leave the country, which has already happened with two witnesses in this case. Okay, maybe it won’t be quite the high drama of Law and Order, but we’re still looking forward to watching the story unfold. Read the entire story [CBC] »