Police Board to meet Thursday September 19, 2019

 
TORONTO:  The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on Thursday September 19, 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/Ew3JLx0Zt14.
 
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:
PRESENTATION: TORONTO POLICE SERVICES BOARD’S RACE-BASED DATA COLLECTION POLICY
 
The Board will hear a presentation from the Co-Chairs of its Anti-Racism Advisory Panel (ARAP), Uppala Chandrasekera and Notisha Massaquoi, and will consider a report recommending the approval of a new Race-Based Data Collection, Analysis and Public Reporting Policy.  The report states that the Board recognizes the importance of collecting, analyzing and publicly reporting on data related to the race of those with whom police interact.  Collecting, analyzing and reporting on this data is also critically important to the Board’s goal of promoting equity, fairness and non-discriminatory police service delivery.  As the report notes, ARAP took a lead role in the development of this Policy, which included a consideration of expert opinions, independent research and a review of international best practices with respect to race-based data collection in policing.  ARAP also held a variety of community and police stakeholder consultations in the development of the proposed Policy, as well as posting a draft of the Policy on the Board’s website for public input.  The proposed Policy takes a phased approach, beginning with collecting race-based data in Use of Force incidents and then expanding to a wide range of other interactions between Service Members and members of the public, including stops, searches, arrests, among many other interactions. 
 
DASHBOARD PRESENTATION
 
The Board will hear a presentation from Ian Williams, Manager of Analytics & Innovation, Toronto Police Service, with respect to a new Board Dashboard that has been developed to provide the Board and the public with data and statistical information concerning the Toronto Police Service’s operations.  The Dashboard will include statistical indicators, year-over-year comparisons, and trend analysis for a variety of operational areas, including calls for service, human resources, budget, and others.  The Dashboard has been designed to provide the Board with more detailed information as it engages in its governance and oversight functions.  The Dashboard will be presented at the Board’s public meetings on a quarterly basis.
 
TORONTO POLICE SERVICE RESPONSE TO OIPRD STRIP SEARCH REPORT
 
The Board will consider a report from the Chief with respect to the Toronto Police Service response to recommendations from the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD)’s report,  “Breaking the Golden Rule: A Review of Police Strip Searches in Ontario.”  The OIPRD’s systemic review was conducted between July 2016 and March 2019, and resulted in 50 recommendations; of these, it was determined that 45 of the 50 recommendations would be assessed and considered for potential implementation by the Service.  As the report states,  the Service has assessed and implemented 30 of the recommendations, with the remaining 15 recommendations requiring further research and assessment for potential implementation. The report confirms that this work will continue and a further update brought before the Board at a future meeting. The recommendations deal with a range of issues involving strip searches, including: training, enhanced information-keeping and accountability, and ensuring respect for individual and Charter rights in carrying out searches of this kind.
 
OPERATING BUDGET VARIANCE – TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
The Board will consider a report from the Chief regarding the operating budget variance for the Toronto Police Service for the period ending June 30, 2019.  The report recommends that the Board approve a revised 2019 Service net operating budget of $1,050.9M (gross $1,196.9M), and notes that the adjustment is due to the impact of the new collective agreement, costs associated with the Gun Buy Back Program, and the reduction in the contribution to the City Insurance Reserve Fund.  The report notes that as at June 30, 2019, the Service is projecting a final variance of zero, and that despite the fact that preliminary projections are indicating an unfavourable variance, these are based on estimates and the Service is working to stay within its approved budget through ongoing monitoring and reviews, a variety of actions and mitigations, and reassessment of both non-salary expenditures and contribution strategies.
 
QUARTERLY REPORT ON CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPON (C.E.W.) USE
 
The Board will consider a report from the Chief containing the most recent Quarterly Report for Conducted Energy Weapon (C.E.W.) use.   At its meeting of February 22, 2018, the Board approved expansion of C.E.W.s to front-line police constables and in doing so, the Chief agreed to provide the Board with quarterly reports as well as an annual report of C.E.W. use.  While this quarterly report shows that police constable use of C.E.W.s is above that of supervisors, it is explained that this continues to be an expected outcome of expansion to the front line.  The report also notes that police constables used demonstrated force presence (that is, where the C.E.W. is shown but not deployed) in 78.4% of incidents where they felt that the use of a C.E.W. was the most viable and least injurious force option. 
 
 
Contact:      
Sandy Murray
sandy.murray@tpsb.ca 
416-808-8090