Police Board to meet May 30, 2019

TORONTO:  The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on Thursday May 30, 2019 at 1:30 PM in the Auditorium, 40 College Street.  Copies of the agenda are available on the Board’s website at www.tpsb.ca, from the Board office and limited copies will be available at the meeting.

The Board meeting may be viewed via LiveStream on YouTube using the following link:   https://youtu.be/VoilZiiT2JM.

Those members of the public who would like to make a deputation to the Board regarding an item on the agenda should refer to the Notice for Making a Deputation at this link.

Items of interest include:

BEYOND THE BLUE
The Board will hear a presentation from Ms. Dilnaz Garda, Beyond the Blue, regarding Mental Health Awareness Month.  Toronto Beyond the Blue is an independent, registered charity, with the support of the Toronto Police Service and the Toronto Police Association, dedicated to serving spouses and families of Service Members, both uniform and civilian. 

COMMUNITY SURVEY REGARDING PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF POLICE AND IMPACT OF CHANGES FROM REGULATED INTERACTION REGULATION
The Board will hear a presentation by Dr. Gervan Fearon and Dr. Carlyle Farrell
and consider a report regarding public perception of the Toronto Police Service (the Service) and the impact of the changes resulting from the Regulation governing regulated interactions, also known as street checks.  The purpose of the survey was to examine public perceptions of the Service and to better understand the community’s views on issues such as racial profiling, bias in policing and public trust in the city’s law enforcement officers.

MEMBERSHIP FOR THE BOARD’S MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS ADVISORY PANEL
The Board will hear a presentation from Jennifer Chambers, Community Co-Chair, Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel (MHAAP), and consider a report regarding the recommended candidates for membership on the Board’s Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel (MHAAP).  MHAAP was established by the Board in February 2019 to review, provide advice and make recommendations to the Board related to monitoring and evaluating the implementation of a forthcoming Mental Health and Addictions Strategy for the Toronto Police Service, and other matters related to the intersection between policing, mental health and addictions issues.  The report outlines the application and interview process, noting that an emphasis was placed on applicants with a background in mental health and addictions, as well as those with lived experience. 

UPDATE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WAY FORWARD
The Board will hear a presentation by Inspector Greg Watts and consider a report from Chief Saunders concerning the first quarterly report for 2019 providing a status update of the implementation of The Way Forward, the report prepared by the Transformational Task Force and approved by the Board in February 2017.  As the report notes, of the 33 recommendations, nine are completed, and the remaining are in various stages of planning, design and implementation.  The report outlines progress in a number of areas, including a new policing model, service reallocation, technological improvements, culture change, and accountability and engagement. 

ANNUAL REPORT FOR CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT
The Board will hear a presentation and consider a report from the Chief regarding the annual report from Corporate Risk Management for 2018.  This report contains information about public complaints, civil litigation, charges under the Police Services Act (P.S. A.), use of force, Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and suspect apprehension pursuits.  The report also includes achievements by Service Members as recognized through Service Awards.  The Annual Report for 2018 shows, among other things, a decrease in the number of incidents in which the S.I.U. invoked its mandate, an increase in the number of officers charged under the P.S.A, and a decrease in the number of public complaints.

Contact: Sandy Murray
sandy.murray@tpsb.ca
416-808-8090