Hamilton Police officer charged in yesterdays raids

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A Hamilton Police officer has been charged in connection with yesterday’s raid involving some of the most violent gangs in the GTHA. 41 yearl old Craig Ruthowsky faces four charges, including breach of trust, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and two counts relating to organized crime.

He was taken into custody yesterday and is awaiting bail. It’s the second time the 17 year veteran Hamilton Police officer has faced criminal charges.

“The Hamilton Police service take any and all allegations of misconduct and wrongdoing very seriously. We have been working cooperatively with the Toronto Police service assisting with this investigation. The member that faces charges with the Hamilton Police service has been suspended with pay since June of 2012. Since that time the member has had no contact with the public as a police officer.” Said Hamilton Police Inspector Dan Kinsella.

Ruthowsky is suspended with pay after being charged in 2012 following a five month investigation into alleged misconduct in Hamilton’s gangs and weapons enforcement unit.
At that time Ruthowsky was charged with breach of trust and obstruction of justice. Those charges were later stayed because prosecutors feared that if they had gone to trial the identity of a police informant would be revealed.
Federal Prosecutors were also forced to drop charges in 50 other criminal cases Ruthowsky had been investigating because they feared his credibility would be challenged in court.

Even with these latest charges Ruthowsky will continue to draw a full salary. A salary which in 2012 was posted on the annual sunshine list at 117 thousand dollars a year.