A veteran Winnipeg police officer is set to face imprisonment after pleading guilty to a range of charges involving corruption and other inappropriate activities that date back several years. Const. Elston Bostock, with over 20 years of service in the Winnipeg Police Service, confessed to various offenses, including getting traffic tickets dismissed in exchange for alcohol and gift cards, stealing cannabis from a crime scene, sharing confidential police information, and sending lewd messages regarding a photo he took of a deceased woman.
The charges stemmed from an extensive investigation, known as Project Fibre, which commenced in April 2024. Bostock’s guilty pleas encompass breach of trust, obstruction of justice, theft under $5,000, and disrespecting human remains. The probe was initiated following reports from confidential sources alleging Bostock’s involvement with non-police entities engaged in illicit activities.
Despite some early allegations surfacing, additional misconduct came to light only after the analysis of Bostock’s personal cellphone following his arrest. The guilty pleas were made in front of Justice Kenneth Champagne as part of a plea agreement that will result in Bostock’s legal team seeking a penitentiary sentence with a maximum of six years. Bostock is also anticipated to plead guilty to federal drug charges, with prosecutors seeking an additional consecutive year.
Winnipeg Police Service Chief Gene Bowers stated that Bostock remains suspended without pay, emphasizing that such individuals have no place within the organization. Bostock is scheduled for sentencing in January pending completion of a psychological evaluation. He was initially charged alongside two other officers last year, and additional charges were brought in August when another officer was arrested. Bostock has been in custody since then, while the charges against the other officers remain unproven.
The agreed facts presented in court revealed details of Bostock’s admitted misconduct, such as quashing traffic tickets in exchange for various items over multiple years. He used his position to intervene in over 20 cases involving his associates or their acquaintances, receiving payments ranging from liquor and cigars to gift cards. Furthermore, Bostock was involved in sharing confidential police data and making inappropriate comments about a deceased woman’s photo among other infractions.
In a related development, Bostock’s guilty pleas follow recent correspondence sent by the Manitoba Prosecution Service to defense attorneys involved in cases where Bostock or his co-accused officers were implicated. The letters highlighted Bostock’s convictions and potential implications on previous cases, urging a review for possible miscarriages of justice. Bostock, who was honored with the Governor General’s Police Exemplary Service Award in June 2024, had the accolade revoked earlier this year.
