Ontario’s inspector general of policing will conduct a provincewide independent review of police in the wake of a corruption scandal involving more than half a dozen Toronto police officers.
Ryan Teschner said incidents of corruption “understandably shake public trust” and a thorough independent investigation is needed to answer the public’s questions.
“People most often encounter police at moments of crisis, when they are frightened, injured, grieving or in immediate danger,” he said. “In those moments, public trust is not abstract. It determines whether people will seek help, whether they will cooperate, tell the truth and accept protection.”
Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw and Shelley Carroll, chair of the Toronto Police Service Board held a news conference at 1:30 p.m. Monday following the announcement.
Teschner said said once the review is done, the findings will be made public online.
“I understand that the public is watching. I understand that these issues need to be dealt with and addressed swiftly, but I’m also committed to doing so properly, ” Teschner said.
Ontario’s inspector general of policing speaks in wake of Toronto corruption probe
All 45 police services in the province and their boards, including the Ontario Provincial Police, will be reviewed by an external investigator, he said.
“Although this issue originated with the Toronto Police Service, we have since learned that other organizations may be impacted,” Teschner said.
The inspector general’s investigation will focus on five specific areas, Teschner confirmed. This includes:
Teschner, who previously served as the executive director and chief of staff of the Toronto police board, said he would appoint an external person to lead the work as a “safeguard.”
The role of inspector general of policing was created two years ago as new legislation came into effect governing policing in the province. The Community Safety and Policing Act is also what allows the inspector general to appoint external investigators when required.
He said whoever he appoints will have the same statutory authorities as he does to obtain information relevant to the inspection. He said they must also have the right expertise, as well as ability and time to dedicate their attention to the matter.
“I think that there are some very qualified people right here in Ontario, and so I’m giving some immediate thought to who that may be,” Teschner said.
He said the external inspector will report back to him, at which point he will review to determine if there is any non-compliance with policing legislation. The external inspector’s report will be published online, Teschner said.
If any non-compliance is found, it will be up to Teschner to decide next steps.
When asked about a potential timeline of the investigation, Teschner said he will make sure it’s done “as expeditiously as possible” as it’s a top priority.
Teschner said he was briefed with his team “fairly recently” about the investigation, prior to the official request from Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw.
Breaking down what we know about the Toronto police corruption probe
“The policing oversight system in Ontario ensures independence and ensures oversight in a variety of circumstances including when a chief of police decides to give a criminal investigation and refer it to another police service,” he said.
Teschner confirmed Toronto police made a referral to York police, as part of the lengthy corruption probe.
Seven TPS officers were arrested after a months-long investigation by York Region police and officials have voiced concerns about the scandal undermining public trust in police. Since then, Peel police has suspended three of its own officers in connection with the case, although no charges have been filed.
News of the charges broke last Wednesday and more details were given by York Regional Police (YRP) at a news conference Thursday.
The officers are accused of having been involved in serious criminal activity including conspiracy to commit murder, shootings, extortion, robbery and drug trafficking, York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan said Thursday.
Hogan said the investigation started last summer after police uncovered a conspiracy to kill a corrections officer at an Ontario detention centre.
The list of charges includes bribery, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, theft of personal property, breach of trust and the unauthorized access and distribution of confidential information. Nineteen civilians have also been charged.
Demkiw is seeking suspension without pay for six of the officers, he said at a news conference Friday.
Sergeants and staff sergeants have been reassigned to 12 Division, which was at the heart of the scandal, since the corruption came to light, Demkiw said.
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In a letter last week, Demkiw asked the inspector general to conduct an independent review of the service and said the service will leave “no stone unturned.”
Demkiw said Monday that Ontario’s Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) is also assuming control of a separate conduct investigation into the Toronto police officers charged.
The conduct investigation will not interfere with any criminal investigations and LECA may coordinate with the inspector general investigation when appropriate, LECA said in a release Monday.
Following the investigation’s announcement, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow released a statement backing the decision.
“I want answers on how corruption could occur and continue undetected, and the systemic changes the Toronto Police Service must make to prevent this from happening again,” Chow said.
The Ontario Association of Police Service Boards (OAPSB) and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) put out a joint release on Monday welcoming the independent review.
“Corruption has no place in policing. It is a direct attack on public confidence, and protecting the public trust is non-negotiable,” the release states.
Meanwhile, the Ontario NDP also welcomed the review.
“Trust in our province’s law enforcement institutions must be carefully maintained through transparency and unobstructed public oversight; particularly in Toronto, which should demand much of this inspection’s focus,” said Jennie Stevens, shadow solicitor general, and Kristyn Wong-Tam, shadow attorney general, in a news release Monday.
