A police corruption investigation that began with Toronto officers has spread to Peel Region, where three Peel Regional Police officers have been suspended, and to Mississauga, where several of the people charged live. On Monday, Ontario's inspector general of policing said he will order an independent inspection of how every police service in the province guards against corruption.

The investigation, called Project South, was led by York Regional Police and announced last Thursday. It has led to charges against 27 people, including seven serving Toronto police officers and one retired officer. York police allege that Toronto officers looked up personal information in police systems and passed it to members of an organized crime group, who then used it in shootings, extortions and robberies. Other allegations include bribery, drug trafficking and a conspiracy to commit murder.

York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan said the case started last June, after a vehicle rammed a marked York police cruiser parked outside the home of an Ontario corrections officer. Investigators allege it was part of a murder plot.

The Mississauga connection

Two of the Toronto officers charged are listed as Mississauga residents. Const. Timothy Barnhardt, 56, faces a long list of charges, including accepting a bribe as a peace officer, breach of trust, unauthorized use of a computer, several counts of drug trafficking and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Const. Elias Mouawad, 24, is charged with breach of trust by a public officer and unauthorized use of a computer.

Two other Mississauga residents who are not police officers were also named. Brandi Dixon, 35, faces drug and firearm charges, and Median Jackson, 32, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and reckless discharge of a firearm. None of the allegations has been tested in court.

On Friday, Peel police confirmed that three of their own officers had been placed on administrative suspension while York police continue to investigate. The force did not say where the officers work. Three of Peel's five divisions are in Mississauga: 11 Division, 12 Division and the Toronto Pearson Airport Division.

No officers from Peel Regional Police have been charged in connection to Project South.

— Const. Tyler Bell-Morena, Peel Regional Police

The force described the York investigation as wide-reaching and ongoing, and said it would not comment further so as not to compromise it.

A province-wide inspection

Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner announced on Monday that he will name an outside inspector to examine whether Ontario's police services and police boards can prevent, detect and respond to corruption. The review will cover all 44 municipal police services, including Peel, as well as the Ontario Provincial Police and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service.

Although this issue originated with the Toronto Police Service, we have since learned that other organizations may be impacted.

— Ryan Teschner, inspector general of policing

The inspection will not look for individual wrongdoing. Instead, it will focus on five areas: how officers are supervised, how they are screened and vetted, who can get into police databases, how evidence and property are handled, and substance use and fitness for duty. Teschner did not give a timeline but said the findings will be made public.

The Ontario Association of Police Service Boards and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police said they welcome the review. The Toronto Police Association said it is concerned the inspection is too broad, given that the allegations involve a small number of officers.

York police have said Project South is continuing and further charges are possible.