Former Toronto police officer Derek McCormick pleads guilty to theft and breach of trust

Derek McCormick, a retired Toronto police officer, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to breach of trust and one count of theft under $5,000 in Ontario Court of Justice. The other four charges he was facing—three more counts of theft under $5,000 and one count of obstruction of justice—are set to be withdrawn.

McCormick is the first of seven Toronto police officers charged in Project South, a sweeping corruption and organized crime investigation, to enter a guilty plea. Justice Jonathan Bliss is expected to sentence him Tuesday morning.

The Crown and defence have proposed a joint submission for a 10-month conditional sentence, which would include five months of house arrest and five months of a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.

According to an agreed statement of facts, McCormick stole a cellphone that was turned in to him at the front desk of 52 Division and provided it to Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt, who had asked him to obtain burner phones. Crown prosecutor Vlatko Karadzic told the court that McCormick had a painkiller addiction and was suffering from PTSD at the time of his crimes, purchasing Percocet pills from Barnhardt. Karadzic said there is no evidence McCormick knew how the phone he provided was used, describing him as "a peripheral player in this project."

McCormick was suspended without pay from Toronto police in May and retired at the beginning of July. Barnhardt, who has been described as the "genesis" of the investigation, is also charged in Project South; the allegations against him have not been tested in court. The other six current police officers and a retired constable charged in Project South are expected to make their first appearance in Superior Court on Wednesday.