A THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING

There has been a tremendous amount of media coverage related to the G20 Summit and the different reviews that have been established following. On July 23, the Toronto Star ran an editorial No substitutes for full inquiry that stated “[t]he police services board should be commended for stepping into the vacuum and doing what it can.” You can read my letter to the editor regarding this editorial and other coverage here.

To further expand on my Letter to the Editor, the issues related to policy, governance and oversight that it has raised are among some of the most important that the Toronto Police Services Board has faced in recent time.

This is why, on July 6, 2010, the Board announced the establishment of an Independent Civilian Review (ICR) to conduct a review of the issues raised by the public and Board members in the context of the governance role and policies of the Toronto Police Services Board.

Since the Board’s announcement of the Independent Civilian Review, both the Ontario Ombudsman and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director have announced that they will undertake their own reviews. These are in addition to the SMAART review, which is an internal review of operational issues being conducted by the Toronto Police Service.

Our Board welcomes these reviews and, as evidenced by the motions approved at our meeting on July 22, we will cooperate with these other reviews. We believe that there is considerable merit in having more than one inquiry or investigation. Each agency will be able to pay close attention to the specific issues that fall under its mandate. Together, the results of these exercises should provide a thorough and comprehensive understanding of what went on with respect to policing during the Summit.

The Independent Civilian Review is an important piece of the entire post-G20 Summit accountability process. Alongside the other inquiries into individual conduct, police operations and decision-making, the Toronto Police Services Board is doing its part to ensure effective accountability as an integral part of its mandate of civilian oversight.

INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN REVIEW: SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT

I believe that questions related to the policy, governance and oversight aspects of the policing of the G20 Summit are among some of the most important issues that the Toronto Police Services Board has faced in recent times. In order to better understand and address these issues, at our special Board meeting on July 6, 2010, we established the Independent Civilian Review of the Oversight of G20 Policing (ICR).

For the last two weeks the Board has been focussed on establishing a process for the ICR. In this time, we have spoken and received input from members of the public, stakeholders, elected officials and the senior command. At its upcoming meeting next week on Thursday, July 22nd, the Board will consider a report from me which elaborates further the process to be followed in getting to the ICR.

I am confident that the Board will have for its consideration the most reasoned and effective approach for the ICR to be done (July 16 release). In developing this process, we have paid attention especially to the importance of receiving suggestions from members of the community at the front end – and not after the fact.

The first task is the development of a set of clear and precise Terms of Reference. In order to do so, I am recommending that the Board engage a lawyer with expertise in policy and governance to work with the Board and interested members of the public. Once completed, the Terms of Reference will be provided to the Independent Civilian Reviewer, to be named in the future.

It will be expected that in writing the Terms of Reference, this person will take into consideration recommendations from members of the public. Accordingly, I encourage anyone interested in providing input into the Terms of Reference for the Independent Civilian Review to request to make a deputation at the Toronto Police Services Board meeting on Thursday July 22, 2010. Alternatively, people may forward a written submission to the Board. Any requests for deputations and written submissions must be forwarded by email to deirdre.williams@tpsb.ca.

The Board will not hear deputations with respect to personal experiences at the G20 Summit or deputations which may be complaints about the conduct of police. These are outside the Board’s statutory role.

Copies of the agenda for the July 22, 2010 meeting will be posted to http://www.tpsb.ca/ by Friday, July 16, 2010.

As we continue through this process I look forward to keeping you apprised and I look forward to your input at the July 22 meeting.

INDEPENDENT CIVILIAN REVIEW OF THE OVERSIGHT OF G20 POLICING

Earlier today at a special Board meeting the Board approved a recommendation to establish an Independent Civilian Review.

This is an Independent Civilian Review. It is not a public inquiry nor is it being conducted under The Public Inquiries Act. The Terms of Reference will be developed by the Reviewer in consultation with the Board.

Once the Terms of Reference are in place, we expect that this comprehensive review will identify issues and concerns raised by the public and Board members, regarding oversight, governance, accountability, transparency and the communications and supervision issues arising from a multi-jurisdictional model of policing in the context of the governance role and policies of the Board

When the Independent Civilian Review is complete, the Reviewer will submit a report to the Board with recommendations related to policy, structural and systemic issues for consideration and any action, as deemed necessary.

I look forward to keeping you informed as the Independent Civilian Review progresses.