It is always a difficult time when we lose a member of the Toronto Police Service, regardless of the circumstances. It’s even more difficult when the circumstances of a specific loss leave us with more questions than answers.
On Tuesday, April 10, 2017, Constable Michael Thompson, a member of the Toronto Police Service Drug Squad, was found in his home in medical distress. He was rushed to hospital where he passed away three days later. He died of a fentanyl overdose; the quantity of which was too large to have been caused by mere contact with that drug.
As a Service, we started an investigation into how this could have happened. Many questions remain unanswered but here is what is known today:
- Constable Thompson was a good police officer who was respected by his colleagues;
- he was a Drug Squad Officer who had regular access to street-level drugs;
- some of the cases that he was involved in will be in court, starting Monday, November 20th, 2017; and,
- by working with the Crown, the Service has learned that because of his death, and the circumstances under which it happened, changes will be made to how these cases proceed, or not, through the justice system.
The wellness of its members is a significant priority for the Service. There are many resources at the TPS to help members deal with personal crises, health problems, PTSD, and an array of other issues. While these resources are being used, we need to better understand if we can provide additional support to members.
Our condolences remain with his colleagues, including the dedicated and professional members of the Drug Squad, Michael’s family and friends who have all been devastated by his passing.
On Tuesday, April 10, 2017, Constable Michael Thompson, a member of the Toronto Police Service Drug Squad, was found in his home in medical distress. He was rushed to hospital where he passed away three days later. He died of a fentanyl overdose; the quantity of which was too large to have been caused by mere contact with that drug.
As a Service, we started an investigation into how this could have happened. Many questions remain unanswered but here is what is known today:
- Constable Thompson was a good police officer who was respected by his colleagues;
- he was a Drug Squad Officer who had regular access to street-level drugs;
- some of the cases that he was involved in will be in court, starting Monday, November 20th, 2017; and,
- by working with the Crown, the Service has learned that because of his death, and the circumstances under which it happened, changes will be made to how these cases proceed, or not, through the justice system.
The wellness of its members is a significant priority for the Service. There are many resources at the TPS to help members deal with personal crises, health problems, PTSD, and an array of other issues. While these resources are being used, we need to better understand if we can provide additional support to members.
Our condolences remain with his colleagues, including the dedicated and professional members of the Drug Squad, Michael’s family and friends who have all been devastated by his passing.