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Supervisor Accused of Falsifying Records to Cover Up On-Duty Drinking
29 Jul
Summary
- Toronto police officer pleaded guilty to impaired driving in 2023
- Supervisor faces disciplinary charges for alleged on-duty drinking and falsifying records
- Allegations could undermine criminal cases where supervisor's evidence is key
In January 2023, a Toronto police officer, Jason Boag, pleaded guilty to impaired driving after a collision north of the city. However, the story took a surprising turn when disciplinary charges were brought against Boag's superior, Det. Mark Beson, in November 2023.
Beson, the supervisor of a "Clandestine Lab Team," is accused of spending January 30, 2023, drinking alcohol with five detective constables under his supervision while they were on duty. Knowing the incident would be investigated, Beson allegedly falsified shift records to make it appear the group had started and finished work earlier than they actually had.
Criminal defense lawyers say these allegations, if proven true, could seriously undermine any criminal cases where Beson's evidence is key. "If there's a lot of meat to this allegation ... I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of charges get stayed wherever this officer's evidence is key," said Adam Weisberg, vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers' Association.
Toronto police have stated they are not aware of any cases that have been dropped due to the allegations against Beson, but the potential impact on past and future investigations remains a concern. Beson's disciplinary hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2023, and the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the integrity of the Toronto Police Service's investigative drug teams.
