Toronto Police want to Deploy Body-Worn Cameras Service-Wide
"The Toronto Police Service is seeking permission to start the process
for acquiring body-worn cameras for all officers, following a
high-profile pilot project amid rising tensions between police and
members of the public across North America.
The body-camera pilot project wrapped up in March, and the subsequent report was presented to the Police Services Board Thursday.
Among the report's findings is the fact that, although the technology
didn't meet officers' complete needs, body-worn cameras 'do provide the
unbiased, independent account of police/community interactions, as
expected,' a statement from Toronto police said....
...The pilot project and subsequent review found that as many as 95 per
cent of the public and 85 per cent of officers support the use of
body-worn cameras, according to the statement. The report noted that
support rose in both camps as the pilot project went on."
View the Report
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Showing posts with label Toronto Police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto Police. Show all posts
A Community-Based Assessment of Police Contact Carding in 31 Division. Final Report
"During the summer of 2014, the Community Assessment of Police Practices (CAPP) research project surveyed over 400 community members across 31 Division in order to determine community satisfaction with policing during the June to August, 2014 time period, measure the impact of the Community Contacts policy, and make recommendations for changes or improvements to the Community Contacts policy....
Through our research, we learned that very few members of the public are aware of the new policy or the formal procedures involved in 'carding'. We also learned that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the way that police interact with members of the community. In general, the level of trust in the police is low and many participants expressed negative views regarding the police. For example, a large number of respondents believe that police regularly abuse their power. In addition, there is a view that police racially profile members of the community. Compellingly, this belief was identified among both racialized and non-racialized groups. While a significant number of respondents identify small improvements in the relationship between police and community residents since June 2014, roughly 40% still feel that the relationship between police and the community is poor...."
"During the summer of 2014, the Community Assessment of Police Practices (CAPP) research project surveyed over 400 community members across 31 Division in order to determine community satisfaction with policing during the June to August, 2014 time period, measure the impact of the Community Contacts policy, and make recommendations for changes or improvements to the Community Contacts policy....
Through our research, we learned that very few members of the public are aware of the new policy or the formal procedures involved in 'carding'. We also learned that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the way that police interact with members of the community. In general, the level of trust in the police is low and many participants expressed negative views regarding the police. For example, a large number of respondents believe that police regularly abuse their power. In addition, there is a view that police racially profile members of the community. Compellingly, this belief was identified among both racialized and non-racialized groups. While a significant number of respondents identify small improvements in the relationship between police and community residents since June 2014, roughly 40% still feel that the relationship between police and the community is poor...."
Improper police 'carding' continues in Jane-Finch area, survey finds http://t.co/YQfcUeM0KM via @torontostar
— Crim Library UTL (@CrimLib) November 13, 2014
Police conduct back in spotlight after Toronto streetcar shooting
A video of Toronto police officers fatally shooting a knife-wielding
man in an empty city streetcar has gone viral and raised questions about
police protocol and behaviour.
The case surfaces as the Ontario coroner’s office delves into what role officers played in the deaths of three people, thought to be mentally ill, killed by Toronto police between 2010 and 2012.
In the latest case, early Saturday, witnesses said the suspect, Sammy Yatim, brandished a knife and exposed himself before ordering passengers and the driver off the streetcar as it approached Dundas Street West and Bellwoods Avenue.
The video, taken by a passerby, shows Mr. Yatim, 18, standing in the aisle near the front of the streetcar, its door open and interior lights on, as five police officers, four with weapons drawn, repeatedly order him to “drop the knife” over the wail of sirens.
When Mr. Yatim walks toward the door, nine gunshots ring out and he crumples out of view. As the sirens intensify, police close around the car and the sound of a taser can be heard
Read on...
The case surfaces as the Ontario coroner’s office delves into what role officers played in the deaths of three people, thought to be mentally ill, killed by Toronto police between 2010 and 2012.
In the latest case, early Saturday, witnesses said the suspect, Sammy Yatim, brandished a knife and exposed himself before ordering passengers and the driver off the streetcar as it approached Dundas Street West and Bellwoods Avenue.
The video, taken by a passerby, shows Mr. Yatim, 18, standing in the aisle near the front of the streetcar, its door open and interior lights on, as five police officers, four with weapons drawn, repeatedly order him to “drop the knife” over the wail of sirens.
When Mr. Yatim walks toward the door, nine gunshots ring out and he crumples out of view. As the sirens intensify, police close around the car and the sound of a taser can be heard
Read on...
Police who lie: False testimony often goes unpunished
The first time Toronto police Det. Scott Aikman deceived the court, a
judge denounced his “misleading” testimony and threw out a cocaine
charge against a man.
The second time, Det. Aikman’s story explaining why he and his partner searched a minivan led to the acquittal of four suspects accused of masterminding an international credit-card data-theft ring.
Aikman “either fabricated or concealed evidence” to justify the van search, the judge said. The four suspects, charged with a total of 321 offences, walked free. Was Aikman disciplined for his conduct in court?
“No. Of course not,” said Aikman, explaining to the Star that he had done nothing wrong.
A coast-to-coast Toronto Star investigation found more than 120 police officers have been accused by judges of outright lying, misleading the court or fabricating evidence since 2005. Many of the officers have gone unpunished.
Read on...
The second time, Det. Aikman’s story explaining why he and his partner searched a minivan led to the acquittal of four suspects accused of masterminding an international credit-card data-theft ring.
Aikman “either fabricated or concealed evidence” to justify the van search, the judge said. The four suspects, charged with a total of 321 offences, walked free. Was Aikman disciplined for his conduct in court?
“No. Of course not,” said Aikman, explaining to the Star that he had done nothing wrong.
A coast-to-coast Toronto Star investigation found more than 120 police officers have been accused by judges of outright lying, misleading the court or fabricating evidence since 2005. Many of the officers have gone unpunished.
Read on...
Police who lie: How officers thwart justice with false testimony
Visibly nervous, papers shaking in their hands, Toronto police
officers Jay Shin and Joseph Tremblay testified under oath that they
stopped Delroy Mattison's Chrysler Intrepid on the afternoon of July 18,
2011, because they saw him using a cellphone.
The officers were lying, just not very well.
In Mattison's trunk that summer day were a stainless steel .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and 31 bullets. Mattison, who had a previous conviction for armed robbery, was on his way to a drug deal. Under the law, these officers needed a reason to stop and detain Mattison. Without one, they would never have found the gun.
The problem is they never seized a cellphone or noted the existence of one in paperwork filled out at the scene. That night, a third officer snapped photos of the impounded Chrysler's interior, none showing a phone.
Read on...
The officers were lying, just not very well.
In Mattison's trunk that summer day were a stainless steel .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and 31 bullets. Mattison, who had a previous conviction for armed robbery, was on his way to a drug deal. Under the law, these officers needed a reason to stop and detain Mattison. Without one, they would never have found the gun.
The problem is they never seized a cellphone or noted the existence of one in paperwork filled out at the scene. That night, a third officer snapped photos of the impounded Chrysler's interior, none showing a phone.
Read on...
Chief Blair says 1,000 cops could be axed to meet budget target
n what appears to be a looming budget showdown, Police Chief Bill Blair has suggested as many as 1,000 front-line officers — far more than previously discussed — may have to be laid off to meet the city’s demands.
That’s double the number floated earlier this year when the police services board asked the chief to investigate the impact of cutting 500 officers.
Blair told Citytv on Wednesday the cuts would “have a very significant impact on public safety and our ability to keep the city safe. I would be very concerned about our ability to absorb that type of loss.”
Councillor Michael Thompson, vice-chair of the police board, said they “are extremely disappointed” Blair used the media to discuss these issues when the board hasn’t seen his full report.
New poll finds ‘monumental shift’ in public perception of Toronto police because of G20 actions
Most Torontonians now believe police actions during the G20 summit were unjustified, signalling “a monumental shift” in public perception, according to an Angus Reid Public Opinion poll commissioned by the Toronto Star.
Immediately following last year’s summit, 73 per cent of Torontonians said police were justified in their response to demonstrations. One year later, that figure has dropped to only 41 per cent — a dramatic, 32-point percentage drop.
“Nearly half the people who said they supported the police actions a year ago have changed their minds,” said pollster Jaideep Mukerji, vice-president of Angus Reid. “It’s on that magnitude.”
The pendulum has swung sharply in the opposite direction. Just after the summit, 23 per cent of those polled felt the police response to G20 demonstrations was unjustified. That figure now has grown to 54 per cent.
Chief Blair told by civilian board to consider police layoffs
Confronted with the possibility of a $1 billion operating budget next year, the Toronto Police Services Board is considering police layoffs to cut costs.
The civilian oversight board has asked Chief Bill Blair to investigate the safety impact and possible savings associated with reducing the force by 500 officers. Earlier this year, Blair agreed to delay the hiring of 200 officers in order to balance the 2011 budget.
At a Monday board meeting, Blair presented his preliminary 2012 operating budget of $969.7 million (net) — a 4.2 per cent increase, about 85 per cent of which is tied up in salary and benefits.
Board vice-chair, Councillor Michael Thompson, said later Toronto may be forced to follow the lead of many American police services and lay off officers.
“It’s something we have to look at if we want to address the issue about the police budget (and) in the case of policing, 90 per cent of the policing cost is the bodies,” said Thompson.
Toronto Police detail Taser use
Toronto Police used their Tasers 236 times last year, during which the device was fired 130 times by officers against suspects in life-threatening situations, says Chief Bill Blair.
The chief said his officers relied on Tasers as a threat 106 times — 45% of the total number times they were used.
Blair’s report — to be presented to the police services board on Thursday — said 545 Taser X-26s were issued in 2010 to supervisors of the Emergency Task Force and other high-risk units, such as the hold-up and drug squads.
“The device is used strictly to gain control of a subject who is at risk of causing harm,” Blair said in a submission that was released on Monday. “The
weapon is used in full deployment or drive stun mode when the subject is assaultive.”
The report notes an incident where a cop threatened to Taser two suspects’ testicles to obtain information. Const. Christopher Hominuk has pleaded guilty to threatening bodily harm and will be sentenced in June.
The report said Tasers were used in 210 incidents involving 226 subjects. It said officers at 31 Division were the highest users of the devices having relied on them 26 times last year. Officers from 41 Division were next with 24 times and 23 Division used them 11 times.
The report said 56 suspects in incidents where police used Tasers were believed to be emotionally disturbed.
Toronto Police Accountability Bulletin No. 53, May 19, 2010.
Toronto Police Accountability Bulletin No. 53, May 19, 2010.
May 19 2010
1. Two recent Toronto deaths
2. Making sure the evidence fits
3. Taser use in Toronto
4. The G20 meeting and police consolidation
5. Assessing the Human Rights project
Toronto Police Accountability Bulletin No. 53, May 19, 2010.
This Bulletin is published by the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, a group of individuals and organizations in Toronto interested in police policies and procedures, and in making police more accountable to the community they are committed to serving. Our website is http://www.tpac.ca
***
In this issue:
1. Two recent Toronto deaths
2. Making sure the evidence fits
3. Taser use in Toronto
4. The G20 meeting and police consolidation
5. Assessing the Human Rights project
6. Subscribe to the Bulletin
***
Read on...
Some interesting stuff in this issue about Taser use in Toronto and G20 security. Interesting that the leaders of the world need all this security to protect them from their own citizens. Even in nice little old Toronto. Tom
Boys, 15, Tasered by police, stats show
122 people zapped in Toronto last year, including senior citizen
Mar 20, 2009 04:30 AM
Michele Henry
Crime Reporter
A 71-year-old man and two 15-year-old boys were among the people Tasered by Toronto police last year, new figures indicate.
While a police report says 122 people were Tasered in 2008, it fails to reveal where and when each incident took place and more explicit details of the events leading up to the confrontations.
Police are refusing to comment on the contents of the 21-page report until it is presented at a March 30 Toronto Police Services Board meeting.
Read on...
Everybody's getting tasered. Tom
Mar 20, 2009 04:30 AM
Michele Henry
Crime Reporter
A 71-year-old man and two 15-year-old boys were among the people Tasered by Toronto police last year, new figures indicate.
While a police report says 122 people were Tasered in 2008, it fails to reveal where and when each incident took place and more explicit details of the events leading up to the confrontations.
Police are refusing to comment on the contents of the 21-page report until it is presented at a March 30 Toronto Police Services Board meeting.
Read on...
Everybody's getting tasered. Tom
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