A former Winnipeg police officer has been handed a seven-year sentence, with a Manitoba Court of King’s Bench justice saying he was inclined to go further than recommendations made by both Crown and defence counsels.
On Friday, Elston Bostock learned his fate in a Manitoba courtroom after pleading guilty last week to charges including breach of trust, attempting to obstruct justice, drug trafficking and offering an indignity to human remains.
“Today is a dark day for public confidence in the justice system,” Justice Kenneth Champagne told the court.
The judge said he was initially considering 13.5 years, saying he felt both Crown and defence recommendations were too low.
Upon hearing Champagne’s comments in court, the 49-year-old accused let out an expletive from the prisoner’s box.
The Crown had asked for seven years in prison, while the defence recommended about two years.
After a recess, the Crown and defence made the joint recommendation of seven years with 257 days reduced for time served, which Justice Champagne accepted.
Bostock will also be subject to a DNA order and a 10-year weapons prohibition.
‘Serious, sustained, intentional criminal activity’
Bostock was arrested in November 2024 along with two other officers, with new charges added last August. A fourth officer was also arrested.
Bostock was removed from his job late last year.
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“For the last eight years of his employment, Bostock was involved in serious, sustained and intentional criminal activity,” Justice Champagne told the court, noting the accused was a 22-year veteran of the service who will keep his pension.
Court heard an internal probe by the Winnipeg Police Service carried out audits, GPS data analysis, RCMP surveillance and searches of Bostock’s cellphone.
There was also a staged event where Bostock seized a backpack with drugs, cash and cigarettes that belonged to an alleged criminal.
Surveillance cameras were installed in Bostock’s cruiser without his knowledge, court heard. Videos that became a court exhibit showed Bostock and another officer searching the bag and taking cash and cigarettes.
“The evidence demonstrates that Bostock and a few other officers have normalized the trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs. The extent of this illegal and corrupt activity is unclear,” the judge told the court.
They eventually suspected it to be an integrity check and returned the items and some cash.
The Crown said Bostock also had traffic tickets dismissed and looked up police information for friends and associates.
“The extent of police corruption is unknown, but the evidence implicating Bostock confirms it involves other officers,” Justice Champagne said of the traffic tickets.
“This is a serious offence, and his moral culpability is at the highest level.”
Court also heard that while responding to a call, Bostock took a photo of a partially clothed woman of Indigenous ancestry, who had died from an overdose. He sent it to two other officers, court heard, with comments that sexualized and degraded her.
The woman’s daughter wrote in a victim impact statement that Bostock’s actions continue to cause her pain.
“My mom was a good person and she deserved to be treated kindly even after she passed away. Thinking about what happened makes my heart hurt more. Because of this, I don’t trust the police anymore,” she said.
Work underway to rebuild public trust: police chief
In a written statement, Winnipeg Police Chief Gene Bowers acknowledged Bostock’s actions have shaken public confidence.
He pointed to initiatives launched by police in August aimed at restoring trust and accountability. He said an update will be given in March on their progress.
“I want residents of Winnipeg to know that the overwhelming majority of members of the WPS serve with pride and professionalism, with the understanding that the actions of Elston Bostock are unacceptable,” he said.
“This case is a stain on our service’s reputation; one that will serve as a reminder of our responsibility to uphold our values of integrity and accountability.”
- With files from CTV’s Danton Unger and The Canadian Press
