A young officer arrested with a disgraced Winnipeg police constable for stealing cash and items believed to be evidence during a 2024 “integrity test” has entered a guilty plea. Matthew Kadyniuk, 34, pleaded guilty to breach of trust and theft under $5,000 in a Winnipeg court on Friday. The arrest followed an internal investigation into Elston Bostock, who had been suspected of associating with individuals engaged in illicit activities and sharing police information with them.
The investigation led to a setup in which the officers were recorded responding to a staged vehicle break-in. Kadyniuk, who is currently suspended without pay from the Winnipeg Police Service, faces a pending sentencing hearing. Defense lawyer Josh Weinstein indicated the possibility of requesting a suspended sentence for Kadyniuk.
During the orchestrated incident, an undercover RCMP officer posed as a victim, leading to the arrests of Kadyniuk and Bostock. Video footage showed the officers taking cash and other items from a backpack, which they later used to pay for a meal. Suspicion arose that the incident was a test of integrity, prompting the officers to return the items to the backpack and bring it to the police station.
Following their arrests, it was revealed that several items from the backpack were missing, including cash, a vest, a toothbrush, lighters, and a package of marijuana. Bostock, a veteran officer with over 20 years of service, has been removed from the force. Two other officers are also facing charges related to their interactions with Bostock while on duty.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and trust within law enforcement agencies.