A senior member of the Winnipeg Police Service, Const. Elston Bostock, has been rearrested and charged with a series of grave criminal offenses following a 16-month internal investigation into his conduct, police announced Thursday.
Bostock, a 22-year veteran of the force, faces numerous new allegations, including trafficking cocaine, Oxycodone, and amphetamines in approximately 84 transactions dating back to 2016. He is also charged with accessing confidential police data, obstructing justice, stealing ammunition, and taking and distributing an intimate photo of a deceased, partially clothed woman in 2021.
The photo, reportedly taken during a sudden death call on Osborne Street, was later shared with another officer, police said. In a separate case, Bostock and Const. Vernon Strutinsky are accused of unlawfully evicting residents from a home in March 2023 while in uniform, leading to additional charges of extortion and breach of trust.
“This is not a proud moment for our service,” said Deputy Chief Cam Mackid. Chief Gene Bowers called the allegations “deeply serious,” acknowledging the damage to public trust and the police service’s reputation.
Both officers remain off duty. Bostock is in custody, while Strutinsky has been released on an undertaking.
In response to the scandal, Chief Bowers is calling for reforms, including the introduction of a uniform code of conduct and the public disclosure of disciplinary actions. He has formally appealed to Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe to amend the Police Services Act to enforce these changes.