Toronto officer arrested in Project South investigation pleads guilty to 2 charges
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Named sources
Outcome reported
- A former Toronto police officer, Derek McCormick, pleaded guilty to two charges related to theft and breach of trust.
- He will serve a 10-month conditional sentence, including house arrest and curfew.
- McCormick's lawyer stated he took responsibility for his actions, separate from a broader corruption investigation.
Former Toronto police constable Derek McCormick has pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from the "Project South" investigation, which probed corruption within the police force. McCormick admitted to stealing a cellphone and breaching trust by taking "found property." He will serve a 10-month conditional sentence, which includes a period of house arrest followed by a curfew.
McCormick was initially charged with four counts of theft under $5,000, one count of breach of trust by a public officer, and obstruction of justice. York Regional Police alleged his involvement centered on the theft of personal property, such as driver's licenses, health cards, and passports, from a police facility. A significant portion of these items was reportedly recovered.
He thought it was the right thing to do, so he did it. I think he wanted to acknowledge that what he did was wrong and, as you heard today … he stepped up and took his punishment.
His lawyer, Gary Clewley, told reporters outside the court that McCormick accepted responsibility for his wrongdoing. "He thought it was the right thing to do, so he did it," Clewley said, adding that his client wanted to acknowledge his mistakes and accept the punishment. Clewley emphasized that McCormick has no connection to the wider alleged conspiracy within Project South, stating, "He got roped in by that guy, but he’s got nothing to do with that."
McCormick resigned from the Toronto police force last month. His arrest was part of a larger investigation into alleged links between a drug network, police officers, and jail guards. Project South was initiated after an alleged attempted murder of a high-ranking employee at the Toronto South Detention Centre in June 2025. Court documents suggest a pattern of corruption, misuse of police authority, and facilitation of criminal activity.
(He) doesn’t have one; he had nothing to do with that. He got roped in by that guy, but he’s got nothing to do with that.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Global News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
