OPP "Project Octagon" Team Wins Investigative Award

3.5 years of work on Ontario's largest mass murder

ORILLIA, ON, May 7 /CNW/ - Commissioner Julian Fantino is offering his congratulations to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigative team that helped convict six outlaw motorcycle gang members for eight homicides near London, Ontario.

Members of the Project Octagon team were presented with the prestigious Major Case Management Award from the Ontario Homicide Investigators Association (OHIA) at a ceremony last night in Niagara Falls. The OHIA Major Case Management Award is presented to the individual, team or service that has exhibited outstanding innovation and achievement in case management in a homicide investigation.

In April 2006, eight members of the Toronto chapter of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club were found dead in abandoned vehicles in the countryside near Shedden. All of the victims had been shot. The ensuing investigation and year-long prosecution culminated in October 2009 with the conviction of six persons for first-degree murder and three persons for manslaughter.

More than 700 OPP members were utilized to support this complex investigation. The investigation also required the dedicated efforts of eleven domestic and 12 international police agencies in the United States and Europe to conduct surveillance, interview witnesses, develop intelligence, execute search warrants, provide logistical support and make arrests.

"The OPP case managers were routinely faced with situations and issues that had not been encountered by any other investigation in the history of law enforcement in Ontario. The group worked long and hard to create innovative solutions to ensure Ontario communities are safe from these lawless thugs, and are highly deserving of this recognition," added Commissioner Fantino.

For further information: Detective Inspector Paul Beesley, Case Manager - Criminal Investigation Branch, [phone], www.opp.ca, Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/OPP_News