A Winnipeg officer, who was accused of several crimes at the end of last year, now faces more charges after a 16 -month -old police investigation alleges that he trafficked illegal drugs, distributed a photo of a dead woman and revealed confidential information.
Constant Elston Bosock, a 22 -year -old member of the Winnipeg Police Service, was accused on Wednesday of criminal crimes that include committing indignity with human remains, the traffic of a control substance, the obstruction of justice and distributing to knowing an intimate image.
“These are very serious accusations, which go directly against the values of the Winnipeg police service, tarnishing our reputation and eroding the public’s confidence within our service,” Chief Gene Bowers said Thursday at a press conference.
“We take this very seriously and I guess we take it personally. It’s a very sad day for service.”
The charges against Bosock are derived from an investigation caused after other force members informed concerns regarding the breach of confidence in early 2024.
Bosock and two other officers were arrested in November and accused of crimes, including breach of trust. Bosock was also accused at that time of robbery below $ 5,000, being illegally in a house and obstruction of a police officer.
He was released in a company, and the police continued his investigation with an order to look for the telephone and Bosock’s house.
That research found five new incidents and led to 10 more positions, said Deputy Director Cam Mackid.
“This is not a proud moment for our service,” he said.
More than 80 illicit drug transactions: Police
The established positions against Bosock on Wednesday are related to incidents, both in service and out of service, for a period of time that dates back to 2016.
Researchers believe Bosock made around 84 illicit drug transactions between January 2016 and November 2024, according to Mackid. Drug trafficking included cocaine, oxycodone and amphetamine, police said.
Cocaine and psilocybin were seized from their locker at the Eastern District station, according to the police, but Mackid said there are no indications that drugs were obtained from Winnipeg police stores or that Bosock was involved at any highly organized drug trafficking level.
“There are not many policies, policies or regulations that we can bring to avoid this type of activity,” he said. “They are just bad decisions.”
Bosock has also been accused of causing indignity to human remains after going to a house on Osborne Street in response to a sudden death on May 21, 2021.
Police alleged that he used his cell phone to take an intimate photo of a dead woman who was partially dressed and then distributed the image to another officer.
Chief Bowers said he met with the woman’s family to apologize and express the “consternation” of the service for accusations against Bosock.
Accused of canceling traffic tickets, stealing ammunition
In addition, Bosock is accused of obstructing justice by trying to obtain traffic tickets issued to other people canceled between February 2016 and August 2024.
He is also accused of accessing confidential police information on November 2 last year and giving it to unauthorized people. Mackid said the information was provided to the members of the public, and that there is no criminal aspect to receive it, but refused to comment why it was shared.
The police also claim that Bosock stole ammunition and gave it to a friend three times after he attended several days of firearms training for a period of five years from September 2019.
Winnipeg Police chief Gene Bowers, and Deputy Director Cam Mackid share details about charges.
Another officer, const. Vernon Strutinsky, a 15 -year -old force member, was also arrested on Wednesday, police said. Both he and Bosock are accused of breaking and entering extortion, as well as breach of trust, while they were associated.
Police say that they went to the block 300 of Mountain Avenue on March 16, 2023, on a marked and uniform cruise, and entered the house, where they evicted the residents of the unit without authorization on behalf of someone who Bosock knew, according to Mackid.
He said that at this point, the police do not anticipate exposing more criminal charges against Bosock, “except anything unforeseen that comes to light.”
Bosock is detained after his arrest on Wednesday. Strutinsky has been launched in a company.
Both have been removed from duty. When journalists asked him, Bowers declined to comment on whether any of the officers are still paid while they are licensed.
Bosock received the exemplary service award from the General Governor Police in 2024.
A spokesman for the secretary of the general governor said that the prize was revoked on June 13, and that he is modifying his online list of honor recipients to reflect the cancellation.
The spokesman said that the office cannot provide more information about the revocation and that he does not comment on the details of the individual cases.
Main publication of disciplinary actions
Bowers said the police service is taking measures to guarantee responsibility among its members, including the addition of three investigators to their unit of professional standards to ensure that accusations against the officers are investigated.
“[The] Trust, we can’t simply ask for it, “said Bowers.” We have to show it by action … the actions we have taken show that we will make our members accounts in criminal crimes and other misconduct. “
Currently, the unit that investigates the complaints of professional standards has six members, and Bosock research went beyond what this unit could handle, Mackid said.
The officers from other areas had to be seconded to help the team, a “recurring topic” with larger investigations that the force is dealing with, he said.
“They are just the short staff there,” Mackid said. “The addition of a supervisor and two researchers will help.”
Bowers has also sent a letter to the Minister of Justice of Manitoba, Matt Wiebe, asking for the Manitoba Police Services Law to establish a code of conduct for officers.
He has also asked Wiebe to change the legislation to demand the publication of disciplinary actions against officers who commit misconduct.
Winnipeg is one of the few jurisdictions that remain in Canada that does not publish that information, because a regulation that prohibits the force does. A change in legislation could cancel the statute, Bowers said.
Wiebe would not commit to making the change when CBC News asked him on Thursday.
In a statement, the mayor of Winnipeg, Scott Gillingham, said he supports the call to a code of conduct, and for the requirement of publicly revealing disciplinary actions.
“These are important steps to strengthen responsibility,” said Gillingham’s statement.
Lawyer Markus Chambers, who presides over the Winnipeg Police Board, said he has already considered the release of disciplinary results in the past. The Board would support the change in interest of “responsibility and transparency,” he said.
But Bowers said that most police service “do the right thing.”
“My message for Winnipeg citizens is that you may be sure that most of our members really care about this community,” he said.
A 22-year-old Winnipeg police service agent was accused of numerous crimes, including drug trafficking, stealing police ammunition, sharing police information, breaking and entering to commit an extortion, trying to convince other police to discard traffic tickets and take a semi-naked photo of a dead woman and share her.
