Police Board to meet April 25, 2019

TORONTO: The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on Thursday April 25, 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/czjbWBi_vtQ

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:

ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY PANEL (ARAP) – QUARTERLY UPDATE
The Board will consider a quarterly update on the work of the Board’s Anti-Racism Advisory Panel (ARAP). In this report, presented by Uppala Chandrasekera and Notisha Massaquoi, Co-Chairs, the meetings and work of ARAP over the last three months is detailed, along with a discussion of how ARAP’s mandate has been expanded to include thedevelopment of a new race-based data collection policy. As noted in the report, this has been a lengthy and very comprehensive process, involving considerable research, analysis, discussion and deliberation. The report also discusses the broad consultation process that will unfold with respect to the draft policy. It is expected that a draft policy will be brought forward for the Board’s consideration at its September 2019 meeting.

2018 ANNUAL HATE CRIME STATISTICAL REPORT
The Board will consider a report from the Chief on the 2018 Hate Crime Statistical Report. As the report notes, the Toronto Police Service Intelligence Services - Hate Crime Unit has collected statistics and has been responsible for ensuring full and thorough investigation of hate/bias crime offences since 1993. The report details that in 2018, in comparison to 2017, the number of reported occurrences decreased from 186 to 137, representing a difference of approximately 26%, a fluctuation that can be attributed to multiple factors, including: international events, community educational programs, and hate crime training. The report states that underreporting also continues to present a challenge. The report highlights that in 2018, the Jewish community, followed by the Muslim community, the Black community, and the LGBTQ community were the groups most frequently victimized.

ANNUAL REPORT – PUBLIC SECTOR SALARY DISCLOSURE
The Board will consider a report from the Chief with respect to the 2018 Annual Report on public sector salary disclosure. In accordance with the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996, the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Police Services Board is required to disclose the names, positions, salaries and taxable benefits of employees who were paid $100,000 or more in a year. In 2018, 4963 employees earned more than $100,000; this includes 4466 employees whose base salary was greater than $100,000. The report notes that salaries have increased over the years due to contract settlements and arbitration awards, and that, as a result of the 2015 to 2018 contract settlement, members of the Toronto Police Association received a 1.75% salary increase on January 1, 2018, with the members of the Senior Officers Organization receiving the same salary increases.

CIVIL LITIGATION PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING HISTORICAL CONTACT DATA
The Board will consider a report from Ms. Wendy Walberg, City Solicitor, with respect to civil litigation proceedings where Historical Contact Data is relevant or at issue. This report is provided pursuant to a Board request made in November 2016. Historical Contact Data includes various records that have been characterized as “carding” or street checks, and submitted to the Service’s records management systems prior to January 1, 2017. The Board, at its meeting of March 26, 2019, also considered the issue of street checks. At that time, the Board approved recommendations that the Board: direct Board Staff to lead a review of options concerning historical data, and report back to the Board with recommendations; consider the current training concerning the Street Check Regulation being delivered by the Service and identify for the Board any recommendations for improvement; and, work with and support a community organization in developing a robust public education and communication strategy concerning the Regulation, street checks and carding, for the Board’s future consideration.