Police Board to hold Virtual Meeting on February 25, 2021

TORONTO:  The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on February 25, 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/a1sVqnOEE7A.
 
The agenda is available on the Board’s website at: https://tpsb.ca/meetings/meetings-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 Wednesday February 24, 2021. 
 
                                                                                                                              
Items of Interest at this virtual Board meeting include:
 
OVERVIEW OF WORK OF SERVICE’S CHILD EXPLOITATION SECTION
 
Superintendent Pauline Gray and Detective Sergeant Paul Krawczyk will deliver a verbal update to the Board providing an overview of the Service’s Child Exploitation Section, including its mandate, its work in this important area, and recent trends.
 
BOARD’S ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY PANEL – MEMBERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS
 
The Board will consider a report from the Co-Chairs of its Anti-Racism Advisory Panel (ARAP), recommending that the Board approve the individuals listed in this report as the new community members of ARAP.  In November 2020, the Board began a public recruitment and selection process for ARAP’s new membership, seeking applicants from a range of sectors, representing a vast span of expertise, experience and perspectives.  The report notes that following this comprehensive process, the Co-Chairs are recommending that 18 members of the community be named as ARAP members.  In addition, the report notes that Chief Ramer has selected four Service Members to participate as part of ARAP.  ARAP has been mandated to advise and support the Board in a number of important areas in relation to policing and racism, anti-Black racism and anti-Indigenous racism, and it is anticipated that its first meeting with the new membership will take place in March 2021.  As approved by the Board as part of its police reform report in August 2020, ARAP is now a permanent advisory panel to the Board. 
 
TORONTO POLICE SERVICE WELL-BEING STRATEGY
 
The Board will consider a report from the Chief recommending that the Board endorse the strategic direction for the modernization of the Service’s Wellness Unit and authorize the Chief to move forward with the implementation of the new Member Well-being Strategy.  The Strategy is premised on the themes of: Confidence, Trust and Access; Health Promotion and Illness/Injury Prevention; Ecosystem of Care and Support; and Culture and Behaviours and Member Experience.  The report states that once the Strategy is approved, the implementation plan will be developed with initial funding of $100,000 from the Service’s Wellness Reserve.  As the report notes, the Strategy will lay the foundation and path to enhancing the health, safety and well-being needs of the individuals providing policing services in Toronto, and optimizing programs and resources to support the Service’s strength and performance in being where the public needs us most.  The Strategy was developed on the basis of best practice research and extensive consultation with Members across the Service, as well as other key stakeholders and partners.
 
 
SENIOR OFFICER PROMOTIONS
 
The Board will consider a report from the Chief recommending the approval of the promotion of ten Superintendents and two Inspectors.  The officers were selected in accordance with the promotional process approved by the Board for the rank of Superintendent and Inspector.  Candidates recommended for promotion were reviewed on the basis of career history, education, awards and significant contributions to the Service and the community.  All candidates successfully completed an examination and interview process.
 
 
 
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.