Police Board to hold Virtual Meeting on Tuesday November 23, 2021

TORONTO:  The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on Tuesday November 23, 2021 at 9AM.   
 
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, and to protect the health and well-being of all involved while adhering to provincial and Toronto Public Health orders and guidance, this Board Meeting will proceed as a virtual meeting.  Members of the public and media are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting through our livestream at: https://youtu.be/QgRX3FjSCOw.
 
The agenda is available on the Board’s website at: https://www.tpsb.ca/meetings/meetings-current-and-past.  
 
Members of the public who wish to make a deputation may register using the regular process, at https://www.tpsb.ca/meetings/making-a-deputation.  The request must be received no later than 12:00pm on Monday November 22, 2021. 
                                                                                                                              
Items of Interest at this virtual Board meeting include:
 
SafeTO: TORONTO’S TEN-YEAR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING PLAN
 
The Board will consider a report from Ryan Teschner, the Board’s Executive Director and Chief of Staff, with respect to SafeTO: Toronto’s Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.  SafeTO is a comprehensive, ten-year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan that brings together City agencies, boards, commissions and corporations; government partners; sector leaders; school boards; and community leaders and organizations, in approaching community safety and well-being collaboratively and holistically. 

The report recommends that the Board endorse and adopt the Plan, commit to its continued engagement and involvement with the further development of SafeTO, and direct the Chief to continue its active engagement, ensure alignment between SafeTO, and the Board/Service, and report back to the Board regarding implementation of the Plan. SafeTO is premised on seven strategic goals to advance community safety and well-being in Toronto, and is underpinned by an approach focused on integrated local mandates, resources and data-driven outcomes.
 
AWARDING OF MEDALS OF MERIT
 
The Board will consider a report from Chief Ramer recommending that the Board award a Medal of Merit to Detective Constables Satbir Kullar and Deanna Jovanovich, Police Constable Michael Phaneuf and Sergeant Duane St. Jean.  As noted in the report, a Medal of Merit is the second highest award that can be granted to a police officer or civilian member. It is awarded in response to an outstanding act of personal bravery or in recognition of highly meritorious police service.
 
The incident giving rise to this recommendation involved an investigation into a reported missing person, which evolved into a violent confrontation with a man who used a knife, and stabbed two of the officers, causing significant injuries.  The officers responded decisively and courageously, in the face of imminent danger to their partners and themselves.  As Chief Ramer states, the officers are commended for their bravery and swift actions that resulted in this violent individual being subdued without any harm coming to him or any other individuals. The officers risked their lives to stop this attack immediately as it began. Many of the other residents who were home at the time could have been injured or worse by the violence carried out by the accused.  
 
CHIEF’S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT INTO THE CUSTODY INJURY TO MR. DAFONTE MILLER
 
The Board will consider a report from Chief Ramer regarding the Chief’s Administrative Investigation of the Custody Injury to Mr. Dafonte Miller – an investigation that was conducted by Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) to ensure an independent assessment was undertaken.  Whenever the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) investigates an incident involving serious injury or death, provincial legislation requires the chief of police of the relevant police service to conduct an administrative, or “Section 11”, investigation.  The WRPS report is included in the material Chief Ramer has transmitted to the Board.
 
As the WRPS report notes, recommendations were made for changes to Toronto Police Service Procedure 13-16 (Special Investigations Unit, or SIU)) and there were findings regarding the conduct of Service Members who were involved in this case.  The Chief’s covering report to the Board details the various procedural changes that have been implemented, and notes that the procedural issues identified in the WRPS investigation have been clarified and clearly addressed through changes in procedure, practice, training and more recent legislation.
 
The Chief’s covering report to the Board also notes that the changes made will bring clarity and consistency to the issue of notification of the SIU in the future, and ensure that the SIU is contacted in unclear situations, leaving it, ultimately, to the SIU to decide whether to invoke its mandate after being contacted by the Service.  The report from the WRPS also outlines conclusions in respect of the conduct of certain Members of the Service, including now-retired Members. 
 
As with all meetings, a recording of this meeting will be posted and archived to the Toronto Police Service YouTube account at https://www.youtube.com/TorontoPolice for members of the public to access later at their convenience.