NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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A 47-year-old York Regional Police officer was sentenced today to 7.5 years in jail following his November 2021 conviction on eight corruption-related charges.
Const. Richard Senior is also subject to a 10-year weapons prohibition, a lifetime ban on restricted/prohibited weapons and must submit his DNA. He has initiated an appeal from conviction and is expected to be released on bail until that process is complete.
A 10-month long investigation initiated by the York Regional Police Major Projects Unit in January 2018, alleged the officer was involved in a number of criminal enterprises, including the attempted armed robbery of a quantity of cocaine; the theft and illegal possession of a York Regional Police shotgun; the trafficking of steroids to another officer; trafficking cocaine; and the disclosing of confidential police information.
On Oct. 9, 2018, he was arrested and charged with numerous criminal offences. He was ultimately prosecuted on 14 charges in the Superior Court of Justice.
On Nov. 10, 2021, he was convicted of the following offences:
- Traffic a Controlled Substance - Cocaine
- Traffic a Controlled Substance – Testosterone (steroids)
- Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Unauthorized Use of Computer (two counts)
- Breach of Trust (two counts)
Const. Senior has been a member of York Regional Police for 16 years. He has worked in uniform patrol in Markham and most recently worked in the No. 5 District Community Oriented Response Unit.
Police Chief Jim MacSween has now suspended the officer without pay. Under the Police Services Act, the chief of police cannot withhold pay from a suspended officer unless that officer is convicted of an offence and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
“This unacceptable criminal behaviour is not tolerated by our organization and my thanks go to the members who investigated this case and the prosecutors who secured the convictions,” said Chief MacSween. “This is not a reflection of the hard-working, dedicated and professional members working each day to keep our community safe. We remain committed to being transparent and accountable to our community.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Professional Standards Bureau at 1- 866-876-5423, ext. 6676, the Special Investigations Unit at 1-800-787-8529 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
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