This week, we’re diving into stories of police officers who broke the law they were supposed to uphold. And if you’ve ever tried to Google “cop arrested,” you’ll know it’s a useless search term—after all, “arrested” pops up in nearly every crime story. But if you search for “cop arrested suspended,” that’s when you find the stories we’re talking about. Why? Because every time a police officer is arrested, they get suspended from duties while the case awaits court resolution. Here are the highlights of some officers who ended up on the wrong side of the badge.
California Cop’s Cannabis Side Business
In Antioch, California, officers raided an illegal marijuana grow-op (a facility for growing cannabis) and were in for a surprise. One of the three houses they targeted belonged to Oakland Police Officer Samson Liu. The raid, part of a broader operation targeting organized crime’s involvement in illegal cannabis, uncovered $1 million worth of marijuana at Liu’s property. Liu, now on administrative leave (suspended from work but still paid), is under investigation for his role in this sophisticated grow-op. Even in states where marijuana is legal, Liu’s case shows how some can’t resist getting involved in the black-market (illegal) side of the business.
Edmonton Officer’s Cash and False Records
In Edmonton, Officer Collin Smart was caught keeping $80,000 in his locker at work. But that wasn’t all—he had also falsified (made false or altered) 19 appearance notices (documents summoning someone to court) for traffic offenders. Smart, who spent nearly 33 years in law enforcement, was found guilty of breach of trust (violating the trust of the public) and sentenced to house arrest (serving his sentence at home instead of prison). While his stash of cash raised eyebrows, it wasn’t tied to his criminal acts, and he claimed it was for a truck purchase. Still, falsifying records is no small deal, and Smart’s actions caused a mess within the justice system.
Toronto Drug Cop: From Trafficking to Trying to Flee
In Toronto, Detective Constable Boris Borissov of the drug squad found himself facing multiple charges after being arrested for impaired driving (driving under the influence of alcohol)—and that’s just the start of his trouble. Police found him in possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, which led to trafficking (selling illegal drugs) charges. But Borissov’s story didn’t end there. Awaiting sentencing for stealing items from a missing person during an investigation, Borissov tried to flee the country, only to be arrested at the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. This veteran officer, suspended with pay, seemed to believe he could outrun justice, but the law caught up with him. With 15 charges to his name, Borissov is now facing the full weight of the justice system he once represented.
This week’s Weird and Wacky is a stark reminder that even those in positions of authority aren’t immune to bad decisions. From grow-ops to falsifying records and drug trafficking, these cops learned that bending the law doesn’t come without consequences. And the next time you want to find stories like these, remember to add “suspended” to your search—because a cop being arrested almost always comes with a suspension.
