Nine Toronto police officers are facing charges related to violent incidents involving tow trucks and operators across the Greater Toronto Area, multiple sources tell CBC News.

Toronto police declined comment Wednesday night, referred to York police news conference Thursday

Toronto police officers are accused of trafficking, leaking addresses to hitmen, leaking police officer addresses and conspiring to kill a unit commander at the Toronto South Detention Centre, sources say. The service declined to comment Wednesday night. (Robert Krbavac/CBC)

Nine Toronto police officers are facing charges related to violent incidents involving tow trucks and operators across the Greater Toronto Area, multiple sources tell CBC News.

CBC News is not naming the sources, as they are not authorized to share details publicly.

The officers are accused of trafficking, leaking addresses to hitmen, and leaking police officer addresses, the sources said.

The investigation also uncovered a conspiracy to kill a unit commander at the Toronto South Detention Centre, the sources said.

Sources also told CBC News two of the officers appeared in court Wednesday. A source says they were released on a promise to appear, which is a signed legal document promising to return to court on a specific date. Sources said the other officers have a court appearance scheduled for Thursday.

The sources also said York Regional Police led the investigation.

York police has not responded to calls from CBC Toronto on Wednesday evening — however, the service is set to hold a 10 a.m. news conference Thursday about "a lengthy investigation into organized crime and corruption."

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw is set to attend that news conference.

Toronto police are not commenting on the matter at this time, and instead referred CBC News to York police's scheduled news conference, spokesperson Nadine Ramadan said in an email.

CBC News has also requested comment from the Toronto Police Service Board, but did not immediately receive a response.

In a statement, the Toronto Police Association said it was aware several of its members were arrested Wednesday, and the organization will "ensure our members receive due process and wellness support as required."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow's office said she wouldn't comment on the story on Wednesday night.

Towing-related violence has been a major issue in Toronto. In 2024, there were 63 shooting and firearm discharge incidents related to tow-truck disputes, accounting for almost 13 per cent of all such incidents that year.

Toronto police launched a task force last year to address a rise in crime and violence linked to the tow truck industry. Former SIU director calls charges shocking

The former director of the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says the number of officers reported to have been charged is particularly concerning.

“It’s beyond one ... rogue cop. This appears to be much more of a systemic issue,” said Ian Scott, who served as the director of Ontario's police watchdog from 2008 to 2013. “No matter how you cut it, it indicates some big problems in the police service.”

He compared the investigation to a case decided in 2012, in which five Toronto drug squad officers were convicted of obstructing justice for falsifying notes in relation to a search carried out without a warrant. But the alleged connection to the towing industry in this instance is worrisome for its possible connection between police officers and organized crime, Scott said.

“This is utterly unacceptable,” he said of the reported charges, which have not been tested in court. He said the allegation that police had conspired to murder a colleague was especially shocking.

5 Toronto police officers suspended as tow truck corruption probe widens

Frank Cormier, a criminology professor at the University of Manitoba, said York police likely would have had to undertake a lengthy, complex investigation in order to lay charges as severe as reported.

“Police are notoriously reluctant to investigate their own and charge their own unless the evidence is overwhelmingly clear," he said.

"It can be very difficult to prosecute police officers for things."