Excellent news today on the handgun ban.
Toronto Sun Link
Toronto Star (Link)
Globe and Mail (Link)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
THE NOT SO GLOBAL SEARCH FOR POLICE RECRUITS
I wanted to engage in some thoughtful consideration before I commented on the article that appeared last week in the Toronto Sun (Link) about a so-called global search for cops.
The article didn’t sit well with me. The article claims that police forces are on a global search for recruits. In the case of the Toronto Police Service, this statement is entirely untrue.
In terms of the Toronto Police Service, all of our recruiting takes place in Ontario. We receive applications from around the world, and are always pleased to welcome qualified candidates from other jurisdictions. These foreign applications are a result of Toronto’s worldwide reputation as a great city to live and work in - and our benefits and compensation package – not as a result of foreign recruiting efforts.
For our part, the Toronto Police Service does do extensive local recruiting. As I have talked about in past blogs (Link to Blog 1, Blog 2), our recruiting is aimed at continuing to ensure that the Toronto Police Service is the employer of choice for the best and the brightest.
How do we attract the best and the brightest? By offering the most exciting job opportunities in law enforcement in the most diverse and exciting city in Canada. In addition, we provide a very appealing benefits and compensation package. You will see below, information from the recruiting section of the Toronto Police Service’s website (Link).
It is evident that the President of PAO has no knowledge of how successful our recruiting efforts continue to be. Our recruiters have brought the world to the TPS without going on expensive junkets to seek out foreign candidates, as he recommends. The diversity we want and need is in Toronto - one of the most diverse cities in the world. Our recruitment team recognizes the strength of the local community and has worked very hard to give meaning to the Board's commitment that our Service must reflect the world that is our community.
The article didn’t sit well with me. The article claims that police forces are on a global search for recruits. In the case of the Toronto Police Service, this statement is entirely untrue.
In terms of the Toronto Police Service, all of our recruiting takes place in Ontario. We receive applications from around the world, and are always pleased to welcome qualified candidates from other jurisdictions. These foreign applications are a result of Toronto’s worldwide reputation as a great city to live and work in - and our benefits and compensation package – not as a result of foreign recruiting efforts.
For our part, the Toronto Police Service does do extensive local recruiting. As I have talked about in past blogs (Link to Blog 1, Blog 2), our recruiting is aimed at continuing to ensure that the Toronto Police Service is the employer of choice for the best and the brightest.
How do we attract the best and the brightest? By offering the most exciting job opportunities in law enforcement in the most diverse and exciting city in Canada. In addition, we provide a very appealing benefits and compensation package. You will see below, information from the recruiting section of the Toronto Police Service’s website (Link).
It is evident that the President of PAO has no knowledge of how successful our recruiting efforts continue to be. Our recruiters have brought the world to the TPS without going on expensive junkets to seek out foreign candidates, as he recommends. The diversity we want and need is in Toronto - one of the most diverse cities in the world. Our recruitment team recognizes the strength of the local community and has worked very hard to give meaning to the Board's commitment that our Service must reflect the world that is our community.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
POLICING THE TTC
Policing the TTC: Update from the Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board
Prior to the meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday April 17, 2008, there had been media reports that the TTC was considering arming its Special Constables with Tasers. I would like to share with you details of how the TPSB has responded to this matter.
At its meeting last Thursday, the Board considered annual reports on Special Constables from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and the University of Toronto (U of T). Media reports about the TTC possibly providing Tasers to its Special Constables led Board members to ask many critical questions of representatives from the TTC Special Constable program. At the end, members of the Board wondered whether the TTC had the legal right to even engage in such decision-making.
Ultimately, the Board approved a motion that I brought forward, that the Chief present a report as soon as possible on the adequate and effective policing of public transit and public housing within the meaning and scope of the Police Services Act, and that the Board use this report to initiate a public discussion.
The motion reflects the Board’s concern about the proliferation in our city of different forms of policing, or multi-tiered policing as it is called.
All of it is paid for by the same public. However, only one form of it, that is, the police service, is covered by the Police Services Act, governed by an oversight body, and required to meet important standards of training, accountability and discipline.
I hope that the report the Board has requested from Chief Blair will result in a very vigorous and thoughtful public discussion of the kind of public police we want in our community. The time to have that discussion is now, before different approaches to policing have crept upon us and it is too late to do anything about it.
Prior to the meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday April 17, 2008, there had been media reports that the TTC was considering arming its Special Constables with Tasers. I would like to share with you details of how the TPSB has responded to this matter.
At its meeting last Thursday, the Board considered annual reports on Special Constables from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and the University of Toronto (U of T). Media reports about the TTC possibly providing Tasers to its Special Constables led Board members to ask many critical questions of representatives from the TTC Special Constable program. At the end, members of the Board wondered whether the TTC had the legal right to even engage in such decision-making.
Ultimately, the Board approved a motion that I brought forward, that the Chief present a report as soon as possible on the adequate and effective policing of public transit and public housing within the meaning and scope of the Police Services Act, and that the Board use this report to initiate a public discussion.
The motion reflects the Board’s concern about the proliferation in our city of different forms of policing, or multi-tiered policing as it is called.
All of it is paid for by the same public. However, only one form of it, that is, the police service, is covered by the Police Services Act, governed by an oversight body, and required to meet important standards of training, accountability and discipline.
I hope that the report the Board has requested from Chief Blair will result in a very vigorous and thoughtful public discussion of the kind of public police we want in our community. The time to have that discussion is now, before different approaches to policing have crept upon us and it is too late to do anything about it.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
VICTIM SERVICES
I was pleased to read about Victim Services, an important program that works closely with the TPS and the TPSB, in today’s Toronto Star. Earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking at the Chief's Gala in support of Victim Services. Here are my remarks.
Good evening.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am delighted to join all of you in this event to raise vital funds for an organization which, every day, works to support one of the most important groups in our midst, victims of violence and crime, and their families.
I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Vice Chair and Councillor Pam McConnell, who is here representing Mayor David Miller, Ms. Judi Cohen and Mr. Hamlin Grange.
For the Toronto Police Services Board, the work of the Victim Services Program of Toronto is of great importance. It constitutes a key plank in our vision of community safety. Community safety requires a multipronged approach including robust policing to deal strongly with perpetrators of violent and criminal activity, preventive interventions to build community capacity in the face of threats to social wellbeing, and, equally critically, meaningful and effective support for those individuals, groups, neighbourhoods and communities who suffer in the aftermath of violent and criminal acts.
The responsibility for carrying out this last piece falls largely on our Victim Services Program. It is a heavy burden, which, since 1979, the staff and volunteers of this organization have carried with tremendous caring, sensitivity, dedication and commitment. And they continue to do this on a budget that can only be described as modest and, even, precarious.
There are few services, as important as this, which provide the value for money that Victim Services does.
It is due to the responsiveness to evolving community needs as well as the resolve and resourcefulness of this agency’s Board, staff and volunteers, that a limited financial base has not kept it from doing important things. Today, it provides an impressive range of services to individuals, families and communities. These services reflect the important recognition that it is not individual members of a family alone who suffer when violent, criminal acts take place. There are times when an entire community is affected.
Through programs and projects like the Victim Crisis Response, Domestic Violence Emergency Response, Support Link, Victims of Gun Violence Response, Project PAIN to assist victims in high crime communities and Project TEAR, Victim Services fulfills its goal of restoring, rebuilding and enhancing victims’ quality of life, and preventing revictimization.
And it meets this goal through an impressive Volunteer Program. Volunteers donate in excess of 25,000 hours every year. It is indicative of the agency’s understanding of what it takes to serve all residents of this City that it has made a serious effort to enhance its cultural competency. With volunteers who come from many ethnocultural backgrounds and possess a combined ability to converse in 30 different languages, the organization is able to provide an inclusive program.
For these reasons, the Toronto Police Services Board is an avid and vocal supporter of the Victim Services Program. Last year, cognizant of the severe financial constraints faced by this critical service, the Board provided Victim Services with funding in the amount of $100,000.
I am grateful to the Province and the City for recognizing the importance of Victim Services by increasing their share of funding and providing additional financial support for specific programs.
And I want to thank all of you for your ongoing contribution, not only because of the money that you provide, which is critical, but also for the vote of confidence that it represents. And that is extremely important.
So, once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I would like to say a big and very sincere thank you to all of you.
Good evening.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am delighted to join all of you in this event to raise vital funds for an organization which, every day, works to support one of the most important groups in our midst, victims of violence and crime, and their families.
I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Vice Chair and Councillor Pam McConnell, who is here representing Mayor David Miller, Ms. Judi Cohen and Mr. Hamlin Grange.
For the Toronto Police Services Board, the work of the Victim Services Program of Toronto is of great importance. It constitutes a key plank in our vision of community safety. Community safety requires a multipronged approach including robust policing to deal strongly with perpetrators of violent and criminal activity, preventive interventions to build community capacity in the face of threats to social wellbeing, and, equally critically, meaningful and effective support for those individuals, groups, neighbourhoods and communities who suffer in the aftermath of violent and criminal acts.
The responsibility for carrying out this last piece falls largely on our Victim Services Program. It is a heavy burden, which, since 1979, the staff and volunteers of this organization have carried with tremendous caring, sensitivity, dedication and commitment. And they continue to do this on a budget that can only be described as modest and, even, precarious.
There are few services, as important as this, which provide the value for money that Victim Services does.
It is due to the responsiveness to evolving community needs as well as the resolve and resourcefulness of this agency’s Board, staff and volunteers, that a limited financial base has not kept it from doing important things. Today, it provides an impressive range of services to individuals, families and communities. These services reflect the important recognition that it is not individual members of a family alone who suffer when violent, criminal acts take place. There are times when an entire community is affected.
Through programs and projects like the Victim Crisis Response, Domestic Violence Emergency Response, Support Link, Victims of Gun Violence Response, Project PAIN to assist victims in high crime communities and Project TEAR, Victim Services fulfills its goal of restoring, rebuilding and enhancing victims’ quality of life, and preventing revictimization.
And it meets this goal through an impressive Volunteer Program. Volunteers donate in excess of 25,000 hours every year. It is indicative of the agency’s understanding of what it takes to serve all residents of this City that it has made a serious effort to enhance its cultural competency. With volunteers who come from many ethnocultural backgrounds and possess a combined ability to converse in 30 different languages, the organization is able to provide an inclusive program.
For these reasons, the Toronto Police Services Board is an avid and vocal supporter of the Victim Services Program. Last year, cognizant of the severe financial constraints faced by this critical service, the Board provided Victim Services with funding in the amount of $100,000.
I am grateful to the Province and the City for recognizing the importance of Victim Services by increasing their share of funding and providing additional financial support for specific programs.
And I want to thank all of you for your ongoing contribution, not only because of the money that you provide, which is critical, but also for the vote of confidence that it represents. And that is extremely important.
So, once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I would like to say a big and very sincere thank you to all of you.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
TORONTO’S GUN VIOLENCE STRATEGY
This morning, I presented to the Executive Committee at City Hall as part of their update on the Toronto Gun Violence Strategy. I spoke of the need for a handgun ban as part of an overall anti-violence strategy.
For those of you who read this blog regularly, you will know that this is an issue that is of extreme importance to the Toronto Police Services Board.
You can read my previous entries THE INACTION IS DEAFENING, BANNING HANDGUNS AND OTHER MEASURES - WE NEED ACTION NOW and ISN'T IT IRONIC?
Here is an excerpt of my presentation this morning.
I am pleased to say that the elements of your Gun Violence Strategy are entirely consistent with the position that the Board has articulated. You have, therefore, our full support in your efforts to rid our streets of illegal handguns.
We are heartened by the fact that in the three years between 2005 and 2007, there was a steady decline in shooting occurrences as well as in the number of victims. However, there were more deaths in 2007 than in the year before, and there were fewer occurrences last year in which there were no injuries. Shooting occurrences and injuries in 2008 to date, show a downward trend compared to 2006. Nevertheless, the number of deaths remains unacceptably high and must cause all of us concern.
We must also be concerned by the fact that the decline in the number of gun calls is not consistent or shared across the City. And it should worry all of us greatly that many of the accused and victims of gun violence are young people of colour who ought to be pursuing their future in schools and not chasing or dodging bullets on the streets. As your Update notes, “The rate of youth aged 12 to 17 accused of a firearm-related offence has risen in three of the past four years.”
We know that a ban is not the only answer to a complex problem. The Board has long taken a multi-pronged approach to dealing with gun violence in this city. We have asked for, and ourselves worked to put in place, a combination of measures to promote strong enforcement as well as prevention. However, the Board has recognized that a handgun ban is, quite simply, an essential element of a comprehensive anti-violence strategy. Therefore, demand for strong and effective political, legislative, and judicial action to deal with the illegal importation, circulation and use of handguns has always been an important component of that approach.
In the past three years, I have communicated the Board’s position to our province’s and the country’s political leadership. We have, as well, enlisted the support of our provincial and national associations. I believe that there is widespread support among Canadians for a total ban on handguns for purposes other than law enforcement. These calls have come from many people, including Chief Blair, victims of gun crime, who know firsthand the shattering effect of handguns – and yourself, Mr. Mayor.
And because of this widespread support, I have, in the past, publicly conveyed my disappointment in Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day’s outright refusal to consider such a ban.
We need to send a clear message about handgun crime – it will not be tolerated. Anything less may placate the gun lobby but it will be of no help to those in our communities who continue to suffer from the devastating effects of handgun violence. And it will do absolutely nothing for the young victims and grieving families in certain parts of our City who, as we know, bear a disproportionate share of the social cost of this violence.
I believe that a handgun ban is an issue that requires non-partisan political leadership. The federal government must be persuaded of the necessity of concrete and immediate action so that we can rid our communities of handguns now and put an end to their tragic toll. And for this to happen, we need to build broad political and societal support.
Your letter to the Prime Minister and your call to all our national political leaders is a step that we very much support, Mr. Mayor. We support, as well, your intention to build a broad base of support across the country.
You can be assured that the Toronto Police Services Board will be a partner in this effort. It will continue to play a leadership role on this issue in the provincial and national organizations to which it belongs as well as in the political interactions in which it participates.
Thank you
For those of you who read this blog regularly, you will know that this is an issue that is of extreme importance to the Toronto Police Services Board.
You can read my previous entries THE INACTION IS DEAFENING, BANNING HANDGUNS AND OTHER MEASURES - WE NEED ACTION NOW and ISN'T IT IRONIC?
Here is an excerpt of my presentation this morning.
I am pleased to say that the elements of your Gun Violence Strategy are entirely consistent with the position that the Board has articulated. You have, therefore, our full support in your efforts to rid our streets of illegal handguns.
We are heartened by the fact that in the three years between 2005 and 2007, there was a steady decline in shooting occurrences as well as in the number of victims. However, there were more deaths in 2007 than in the year before, and there were fewer occurrences last year in which there were no injuries. Shooting occurrences and injuries in 2008 to date, show a downward trend compared to 2006. Nevertheless, the number of deaths remains unacceptably high and must cause all of us concern.
We must also be concerned by the fact that the decline in the number of gun calls is not consistent or shared across the City. And it should worry all of us greatly that many of the accused and victims of gun violence are young people of colour who ought to be pursuing their future in schools and not chasing or dodging bullets on the streets. As your Update notes, “The rate of youth aged 12 to 17 accused of a firearm-related offence has risen in three of the past four years.”
We know that a ban is not the only answer to a complex problem. The Board has long taken a multi-pronged approach to dealing with gun violence in this city. We have asked for, and ourselves worked to put in place, a combination of measures to promote strong enforcement as well as prevention. However, the Board has recognized that a handgun ban is, quite simply, an essential element of a comprehensive anti-violence strategy. Therefore, demand for strong and effective political, legislative, and judicial action to deal with the illegal importation, circulation and use of handguns has always been an important component of that approach.
In the past three years, I have communicated the Board’s position to our province’s and the country’s political leadership. We have, as well, enlisted the support of our provincial and national associations. I believe that there is widespread support among Canadians for a total ban on handguns for purposes other than law enforcement. These calls have come from many people, including Chief Blair, victims of gun crime, who know firsthand the shattering effect of handguns – and yourself, Mr. Mayor.
And because of this widespread support, I have, in the past, publicly conveyed my disappointment in Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day’s outright refusal to consider such a ban.
We need to send a clear message about handgun crime – it will not be tolerated. Anything less may placate the gun lobby but it will be of no help to those in our communities who continue to suffer from the devastating effects of handgun violence. And it will do absolutely nothing for the young victims and grieving families in certain parts of our City who, as we know, bear a disproportionate share of the social cost of this violence.
I believe that a handgun ban is an issue that requires non-partisan political leadership. The federal government must be persuaded of the necessity of concrete and immediate action so that we can rid our communities of handguns now and put an end to their tragic toll. And for this to happen, we need to build broad political and societal support.
Your letter to the Prime Minister and your call to all our national political leaders is a step that we very much support, Mr. Mayor. We support, as well, your intention to build a broad base of support across the country.
You can be assured that the Toronto Police Services Board will be a partner in this effort. It will continue to play a leadership role on this issue in the provincial and national organizations to which it belongs as well as in the political interactions in which it participates.
Thank you
Sunday, April 6, 2008
THE BEST OF THE EDITORIALS
This insightful editorial from today's Toronto Sun is a good addition to my ongoing series on diversity.
Toronto is a global city now
By SUN MEDIA
Okay, StatsCan. We get it. We get it, we get it, we get it.
Almost half of Toronto's population (46.9%), according to the 2006 census results, is visible minority.
Yawn. That's old news.
It's so old that for years the city erroneously reported on its website that Toronto's visible minority population was greater than 50%, after the Toronto Star erroneously jumped the gun in 1998, wrongly predicting in screaming headlines that would happen by 2000.
In fact, other communities in the GTA have already gone over the 50% mark, with their visible minority populations growing even faster than ours.
The real question is, what does it mean for all of us?
First, many good things -- a diverse workforce able to compete in a global economy, an incredible array of cultural, entertainment and sporting events, great restaurants, exciting stores and businesses offering us food, produce, goods and services from around the world.
Forget the outdated idea of Toronto as a "world-class" city, which speaks to a sense of envy of others and an inferiority complex.
Toronto today is a global city and for all its challenges, a city that works, from its quality of life to its relatively low crime rate to the ability of its citizens to get along.
But diversity has also brought problems and challenges.
Among them, a chronic lack of English as a second language teachers in our schools, contributing to low student achievement, because Ottawa sets immigration policy largely in isolation from Toronto, which, along with the GTA, accepts about half of all immigrants to Canada.
Our school board has foolishly decided to set up a token "Africentric" school for a few hundred students more than a year from now, instead of confronting and addressing an unacceptable, system-wide failure rate of up to 40% for black students. Then the board becomes indignant when one of its own trustees, Josh Matlow, rightly asks how it plans to address similarly high failure rates among students of Portuguese, Hispanic and other origins.
Well? ... How?
We have too many foreign-trained engineers driving cabs, too many foreign-trained doctors not allowed to practice here despite a doctor shortage because we've been slow to recognize their credentials and integrate them into our system.
We avoid, out of misguided notions of political correctness, honest discussions about the reality of racism, the problem of black crime, the resentment many whites -- often immigrants themselves -- feel toward "equity" programs they believe discriminate against them and their children, in order to make up for past sins against others they had nothing to do with.
It's time for honest talk about these issues.
The statistical question is over -- Toronto is a diverse city and its increasing diversity will be marked by every new census.
The challenge now is to make Toronto work for all of us, regardless of where we come from.
Toronto is a global city now
By SUN MEDIA
Okay, StatsCan. We get it. We get it, we get it, we get it.
Almost half of Toronto's population (46.9%), according to the 2006 census results, is visible minority.
Yawn. That's old news.
It's so old that for years the city erroneously reported on its website that Toronto's visible minority population was greater than 50%, after the Toronto Star erroneously jumped the gun in 1998, wrongly predicting in screaming headlines that would happen by 2000.
In fact, other communities in the GTA have already gone over the 50% mark, with their visible minority populations growing even faster than ours.
The real question is, what does it mean for all of us?
First, many good things -- a diverse workforce able to compete in a global economy, an incredible array of cultural, entertainment and sporting events, great restaurants, exciting stores and businesses offering us food, produce, goods and services from around the world.
Forget the outdated idea of Toronto as a "world-class" city, which speaks to a sense of envy of others and an inferiority complex.
Toronto today is a global city and for all its challenges, a city that works, from its quality of life to its relatively low crime rate to the ability of its citizens to get along.
But diversity has also brought problems and challenges.
Among them, a chronic lack of English as a second language teachers in our schools, contributing to low student achievement, because Ottawa sets immigration policy largely in isolation from Toronto, which, along with the GTA, accepts about half of all immigrants to Canada.
Our school board has foolishly decided to set up a token "Africentric" school for a few hundred students more than a year from now, instead of confronting and addressing an unacceptable, system-wide failure rate of up to 40% for black students. Then the board becomes indignant when one of its own trustees, Josh Matlow, rightly asks how it plans to address similarly high failure rates among students of Portuguese, Hispanic and other origins.
Well? ... How?
We have too many foreign-trained engineers driving cabs, too many foreign-trained doctors not allowed to practice here despite a doctor shortage because we've been slow to recognize their credentials and integrate them into our system.
We avoid, out of misguided notions of political correctness, honest discussions about the reality of racism, the problem of black crime, the resentment many whites -- often immigrants themselves -- feel toward "equity" programs they believe discriminate against them and their children, in order to make up for past sins against others they had nothing to do with.
It's time for honest talk about these issues.
The statistical question is over -- Toronto is a diverse city and its increasing diversity will be marked by every new census.
The challenge now is to make Toronto work for all of us, regardless of where we come from.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
CANADA'S BEST DIVERSITY EMPLOYERS
I am extremely pleased that the Toronto Police Service has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers . You can see the full list and read about the criteria in the Toronto Star special section in today’s paper.
As I mentioned in previous blogs, diversity plays a large part in our drive to be the employer of choice for new recruits – uniform and civilian alike – and those transferring from other services.
The Toronto Police Service has an ongoing commitment to continue and improve on the good achievements we have made so far. Having been named as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers means success, but should not be taken as an invitation to rest on our laurels. We are continuing to work with and within our community to ensure the Toronto Police Service reflects the diversity that is Toronto.
The following article from today’s Toronto Star highlights how we do this.
Police are on the lookout for top recruits
Officers staff booths at job fairs, community events to meet and encourage prospective new applicants
April 03, 2008
Paul IrishStaff Reporter
The Toronto Police Service is no longer content to sit on its hands and admire the mountain of job applications it gets every year.
If you demand the best, then sometimes you have to go out and look for it yourself.
And that's exactly what police staff have been doing the past few years – attending community functions, job fairs and other events looking for potential officers who may not have thought of policing as a career.
Staff-Sgt. Riyaz Hussein, 41, the officer in charge of recruiting, says there will always be enough people coming to headquarters with resumés, but that often the "cream" doesn't apply.
By attending community events and other social functions, Hussein says the force can meet one on one with potential candidates, especially members of the city's various cultural and ethnic communities.
He points out that, although the police service does not have specific quotas on visible minority hires, it does want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that Toronto has become.
"Each individual is hired on his or her own merit as a person," says Hussein, who grew up in Scarborough but was born in Tanzania. "We're just looking for the top men and women."
Police forces across North America realize that policing may not be the career of choice for many cultures, but they know that if they can connect with them in person at such things as job fairs, they may be able to make an impression.
Amaan Dawood, 32, is an example of a newly minted constable who joined the service after chatting with recruitment officers during a community event.
Born in Kenya but raised in the GTA, Dawood holds a degree in urban and regional planning from Ryerson University. Because of a glut in his field, he worked in clothing retail for 10 years.
A police officer friend planted the seed for a career change, but it wasn't until early 2006 when, by pure chance, he pursued the idea. Dawood, a Muslim, was participating in the annual Ismaili charity walk, a function where Hussein was manning the information booth.
"We had a great talk," Dawood says. "I had a lot of my questions answered. He made me feel comfortable and I was pretty well sold."
Dawood has now became part of the force's one-on-one mentorship program, guiding other potential recruits through the process.
Hussein says visible minority recruits are not necessarily expected to become links to their ethnic communities, although anything they can bring to the table – such as a different language – is a plus.
He stresses that all Toronto police officers have "cultural competency," which allows them to conduct their jobs fairly and efficiently, and with sensitivity to all involved.
According to Hussein, the latest graduating class of 89 recruits in January was composed of 20 per cent women and 33 per cent visible minorities. About 64 per cent have completed post-secondary education and 18 per cent have previous policing or military experience. And 62 per cent speak languages other than English, including Albanian, Arabic and even American Sign Language.
As I mentioned in previous blogs, diversity plays a large part in our drive to be the employer of choice for new recruits – uniform and civilian alike – and those transferring from other services.
The Toronto Police Service has an ongoing commitment to continue and improve on the good achievements we have made so far. Having been named as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers means success, but should not be taken as an invitation to rest on our laurels. We are continuing to work with and within our community to ensure the Toronto Police Service reflects the diversity that is Toronto.
The following article from today’s Toronto Star highlights how we do this.
Police are on the lookout for top recruits
Officers staff booths at job fairs, community events to meet and encourage prospective new applicants
April 03, 2008
Paul IrishStaff Reporter
The Toronto Police Service is no longer content to sit on its hands and admire the mountain of job applications it gets every year.
If you demand the best, then sometimes you have to go out and look for it yourself.
And that's exactly what police staff have been doing the past few years – attending community functions, job fairs and other events looking for potential officers who may not have thought of policing as a career.
Staff-Sgt. Riyaz Hussein, 41, the officer in charge of recruiting, says there will always be enough people coming to headquarters with resumés, but that often the "cream" doesn't apply.
By attending community events and other social functions, Hussein says the force can meet one on one with potential candidates, especially members of the city's various cultural and ethnic communities.
He points out that, although the police service does not have specific quotas on visible minority hires, it does want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that Toronto has become.
"Each individual is hired on his or her own merit as a person," says Hussein, who grew up in Scarborough but was born in Tanzania. "We're just looking for the top men and women."
Police forces across North America realize that policing may not be the career of choice for many cultures, but they know that if they can connect with them in person at such things as job fairs, they may be able to make an impression.
Amaan Dawood, 32, is an example of a newly minted constable who joined the service after chatting with recruitment officers during a community event.
Born in Kenya but raised in the GTA, Dawood holds a degree in urban and regional planning from Ryerson University. Because of a glut in his field, he worked in clothing retail for 10 years.
A police officer friend planted the seed for a career change, but it wasn't until early 2006 when, by pure chance, he pursued the idea. Dawood, a Muslim, was participating in the annual Ismaili charity walk, a function where Hussein was manning the information booth.
"We had a great talk," Dawood says. "I had a lot of my questions answered. He made me feel comfortable and I was pretty well sold."
Dawood has now became part of the force's one-on-one mentorship program, guiding other potential recruits through the process.
Hussein says visible minority recruits are not necessarily expected to become links to their ethnic communities, although anything they can bring to the table – such as a different language – is a plus.
He stresses that all Toronto police officers have "cultural competency," which allows them to conduct their jobs fairly and efficiently, and with sensitivity to all involved.
According to Hussein, the latest graduating class of 89 recruits in January was composed of 20 per cent women and 33 per cent visible minorities. About 64 per cent have completed post-secondary education and 18 per cent have previous policing or military experience. And 62 per cent speak languages other than English, including Albanian, Arabic and even American Sign Language.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
As part of this series on diversity, I would like to share with you an excerpt from my speech on the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, held at the Headquarters on March 20, 2008.
Many years ago, the great African-American scholar, W E B DuBois, had said that the greatest problem of the twentieth century is “the problem of the color line”. Well, we have left the twentieth century behind. Sadly, as events locally and globally daily remind us, we have not left behind the problem of denial of many people’s basic rights to life, liberty, dignity and equal treatment because of racism, bigotry and ethnocentrism. This is why this day that we are commemorating is so very important. On this day, declared by the United Nations, we remember the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination that so many countries have signed and yet so few have fully enforced. On this day, we take stock of how well we have done in eliminating this scourge from the organizations for which we are responsible. For this reason, I am extremely pleased that since last year, we have begun to observe this day here at Headquarters.
For the Toronto Police Services Board, eliminating racism and building an equitable and inclusive organization is a matter of the highest priority.
We believe that there must be an absolute intolerance of any systemic policies, practices or procedures as well as of any individual expressions or actions that have an adverse impact on any member of our society because of race, colour, ethnicity, culture, language, nationality or religion.
We believe also that we must include people from different backgrounds at all levels of the police service, so that members of all the communities in this City are full participants in the work of this organization.
And we believe as well, that all members of the public are entitled, at all times, to courteous, fair and equitable services from us, with full recognition of and respect for their background and identity.
The Board has shown its commitment to the principles of equity, inclusion and anti-racism through its policies and through its expectation of meaningful results in relation to these principles. To this end, I am very proud particularly of the Race and Ethnocultural Equity Policy that this Board has approved unanimously. This policy supersedes our previous Race Relations Policy. And as its wording indicates, our emphasis is on equity of results or outcomes. As far as I am concerned, it is only by results that organizations must be judged, not by their good intentions or demonstrations of generosity.
I encourage you to take a look at our policy, which is on display in this foyer.
Because of our emphasis on results, I am heartened by the remarkable progress that has taken place in changing the very face of this organization. From enhanced outreach, that extends into all of Toronto’s diverse communities, to a strong and visible recruitment effort, to our focus on the promotional process – we are taking active steps to ensure that our police service truly reflects our City.
Through initiatives such as a comprehensive employment systems review and an ambitious Human Rights Charter project to bring about organizational change, we will create an inclusive, anti-racist organization in which all our policies, procedures and practices will comply with the tenets of our Race and Ethnocultural Equity Policy.
We should take pride in the progress that we have made. At the same time, we know well that a great deal of critical work remains to be done to ensure that our Service is free from discrimination of any kind.
I am hopeful that our collaborative attempt to eliminate racial discrimination from our midst will succeed.
Many years ago, the great African-American scholar, W E B DuBois, had said that the greatest problem of the twentieth century is “the problem of the color line”. Well, we have left the twentieth century behind. Sadly, as events locally and globally daily remind us, we have not left behind the problem of denial of many people’s basic rights to life, liberty, dignity and equal treatment because of racism, bigotry and ethnocentrism. This is why this day that we are commemorating is so very important. On this day, declared by the United Nations, we remember the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination that so many countries have signed and yet so few have fully enforced. On this day, we take stock of how well we have done in eliminating this scourge from the organizations for which we are responsible. For this reason, I am extremely pleased that since last year, we have begun to observe this day here at Headquarters.
For the Toronto Police Services Board, eliminating racism and building an equitable and inclusive organization is a matter of the highest priority.
We believe that there must be an absolute intolerance of any systemic policies, practices or procedures as well as of any individual expressions or actions that have an adverse impact on any member of our society because of race, colour, ethnicity, culture, language, nationality or religion.
We believe also that we must include people from different backgrounds at all levels of the police service, so that members of all the communities in this City are full participants in the work of this organization.
And we believe as well, that all members of the public are entitled, at all times, to courteous, fair and equitable services from us, with full recognition of and respect for their background and identity.
The Board has shown its commitment to the principles of equity, inclusion and anti-racism through its policies and through its expectation of meaningful results in relation to these principles. To this end, I am very proud particularly of the Race and Ethnocultural Equity Policy that this Board has approved unanimously. This policy supersedes our previous Race Relations Policy. And as its wording indicates, our emphasis is on equity of results or outcomes. As far as I am concerned, it is only by results that organizations must be judged, not by their good intentions or demonstrations of generosity.
I encourage you to take a look at our policy, which is on display in this foyer.
Because of our emphasis on results, I am heartened by the remarkable progress that has taken place in changing the very face of this organization. From enhanced outreach, that extends into all of Toronto’s diverse communities, to a strong and visible recruitment effort, to our focus on the promotional process – we are taking active steps to ensure that our police service truly reflects our City.
Through initiatives such as a comprehensive employment systems review and an ambitious Human Rights Charter project to bring about organizational change, we will create an inclusive, anti-racist organization in which all our policies, procedures and practices will comply with the tenets of our Race and Ethnocultural Equity Policy.
We should take pride in the progress that we have made. At the same time, we know well that a great deal of critical work remains to be done to ensure that our Service is free from discrimination of any kind.
I am hopeful that our collaborative attempt to eliminate racial discrimination from our midst will succeed.
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