TORONTO: The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on
June 19, 2020 at 9:00 AM.
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, and to protect the health and wellbeing of all involved while adhering to provincial emergency orders, 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/iG3_1yGlNFM. The agenda is available on the Board’s website at:
https://tpsb.ca/meetings/meetings-past.
Please note that it is anticipated that an additional item, which will include recommendations for the Board related to current events will be added to the agenda by Wednesday June 17, 2020. This report will include recommendations with respect to the Board’s Anti-Racism Advisory Panel (ARAP), the Board’s Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel (MHAAP), the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) program, and other matters.
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 Thursday June 18, 2020. Once registered, deputants will be contacted directly by email with instructions as to how to provide their deputation. When registering, deputants must ensure that they provide an up-to-date e-mail address and telephone number so that they may be reached for follow-up. Individuals who are unable to join the meeting virtually, and require an accommodation should contact the Board’s Administrator, Ms. Diana Achim, at
diana.achim@tpsb.ca.
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.
In addition, in response to the thousands of messages that the Board has received, we are working to create a forum to hear directly from the public on matters concerning police accountability, reform, and community safety priorities. Amid the current pressures created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board acknowledges that the last three weeks have been particularly difficult for residents of Toronto and the global community, as it relates to police-community relations. We are listening and commit to creating the appropriate venue to hear from residents on these matters and more. We will be sharing the details of this shortly.
Items of Interest at this virtual Board meeting include:
ANNUAL REPORT – CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT
The Board will consider a report from the Chief containing the 2019 Corporate Risk Management annual report. This report provides statistical comparisons and trend analyses on a number of topics, including awards, civil litigation, public complaints, use of force reporting, S.I.U. investigations, and suspect apprehension pursuits. This reports shows, among other things, that in 2019, there was 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., a decrease in the number of public complaints, an increase in the number of Use of Force incidents, and an increase in the number of Suspect Apprehension Pursuits initiated. It also reports on the achievements of Service Members as recognized through Service awards.
ANNUAL REPORT – HATE CRIMES
The Board will consider a report from the Chief containing the 2019 Annual Hate Crime Statistical report. The Service’s Hate Crime Unit (H.C.U.) is a sub-unit of Intelligence Services - Security Section. This report provides statistical data about criminal offences that are committed against a person or property that are motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate, based on the victim’s (either perceived or real) race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or expression or any other similar factor within the City of Toronto. As the report notes, the total number of hate crimes reported to the Service in 2019 increased over the previous year from 137 to 139, representing a difference of approximately 1.5%, and mischief to property, assault, and utter threats were the three most frequently reported criminal offences motivated by hate in 2019. As the report also notes, in 2019, the Jewish community, followed by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community, the Black community, and the Muslim community were the most frequently victimized groups.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BOARD’S PROCEDURAL BY-LAW
The Board will consider a report from the Chair recommending a number of changes to the Board’s Procedural By-law. The changes to the Board’s Procedural By-law will bring it in line with the changing role of the Board’s Executive Director and allow for meetings at different locations and translators as needed. It will also include provisions for the holding of electronic meetings, something the Board has done recently during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
The Toronto Police Services Board is the civilian body responsible for governing the Toronto Police Service. The Board is responsible for ensuring the provision of adequate and effective police services in the City of Toronto, setting priorities and objectives for the Toronto Police Service, approving the annual police budget and selecting the Chief of Police.
Contact: Sandy Murray
sandy.murray@tpsb.ca
416-808-8090
