HFU HF Underground
General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: myteaquinn on June 22, 2020, 1555 UTC
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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-police-tow-truck-radios-1.5622069;
Toronto police have laid further charges against an officer who allegedly took part in a scheme to provide encrypted police radios to tow truck drivers.
A total of 11 people are facing more than 50 charges as a result of the investigation, which has been underway since August 2019.
The accused Toronto police officer, Const. Ronald Joseph, is facing a series of charges including fraud and trafficking of property obtained by crime. Police announced last week that Joseph was facing charges of breach of trust and fraud over $5,000.
Investigators say the criminal operation put encrypted police scanners in the hands of "several" tow truck drivers working for multiple companies around Toronto.
"They used the radio's encrypted transmissions to learn about and arrive at traffic collisions before other tow truck drivers for financial gain," said police in a news release.
There are further allegations that calls made over the encrypted channels were broadcast to other tow truck drivers, who paid a monthly fee for access to the information.
Police say at least one of the radios was stolen by an officer.
Investigators from the force's Professional Standards Unit executed search warrants and made arrests over the last two months.
They have so far seized three radios, various other radio parts, six tow trucks and one loaded gun.
The Greater Toronto Area's tow truck industry has become a frequent target of police investigations over the past several years, with allegations of rampant violence and arson among drivers and companies.
Police announce arrests after probe into organized crime and violence in tow truck industry
In late May, police in York region announced multiple arrests due to an alleged turf war between companies.
York police say at least four homicides and 30 arsons over the past three years can be traced to organized crime groups operating within the industry.
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Based upon my personal experience traveling on the QEW/403 from Niagara Falls to the Greater Toronto Area is like witnessing "The Lemmings to the Sea" suicide myth. The tow truck drivers wait by the roadside for the crash victims.
On June 15, Toronto police Const. Ronald Joseph was arrested and charged in relation to the theft of one of the radios.
Joseph, who is currently suspended with pay, owned two tow trucks and a car rental agency.
Police allege Joseph received kickbacks from a network of tow truck drivers for the provision of stolen police radios, and got referrals to his car rental agency from people involved in collisions.
Police were always aware of Joseph’s car rental agency but did not know he owned two tow trucks. ......https://www.cp24.com/news/toronto-cop-deeply-involved-in-tow-truck-corruption-ring-police-1.4994559
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I have not traveled that stretch of highway in ages, but in the late 80s and early 90s I made quite a few trips from Buffalo to Hamilton for field service work. I used to find it amusing (well, and useful) how the radio station traffic reports would sometimes mention the locations of radar speed traps, something I do not think I have ever heard here in the US.
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See, if dispatch was in the clear (as it should be) this kind of racketeering wouldn't exist.
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