POLICE CHIEFS WANT TO HALT PAY TO SUSPENDED COPS

In July I wrote an op ed in The Toronto Star and blogged here and here on the need to allow for suspension without pay of police officers in certain circumstances. This is an issue that is of paramount importance to the Toronto Police Services Board.

In fact,since 1997, the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service have made numerous recommendations to politicians for amendments to the Police Services Act that would allow for suspension without pay in certain circumstances. The last time our Board did this was on September 28, 2006.

The Hamilton Spectator's Susan Clairmont very clearly lays out the issue and Ontario's unique position in today's paper.

CRIME. CRIME. CRIME. CRIME.

It is day six of the federal election campaign and, as usual, I am watching it with great curiosity and interest.

 

The federal party leaders are out and about, everyone making their first of a large number of stops in the vote-rich GTA.

 

They talk about issues like infrastructure, manufacturing and families.

 

They also talk about crime.

 

If the party leaders want to get serious about crime, they can do what the Toronto Police Services Board and Mayor Miller (who is a member of our Board) have repeatedly called on Ottawa to do – impose a handgun ban.

 

This issue goes far beyond the election.  It is an issue that I have frequently blogged on (here, here and here) because it is one significant thing that the federal government can do quickly to address the issue of gun violence in this country. 

 

I will continue to watch this election with great interest in the hope that all party leaders will make the issue of a handgun ban a priority  

DIVERSITY AND THE TORONTO POLICE SERVICE

Yestderday, 77 new recruits joined the Toronto Police Service.  I would like to share with you this article from today's Toronto Sun on the diversity of people who are coming to work for the Toronto Police Service.  As I have said in previous blogs, here and here, the demographics of our recruits are changing to reflect the diversity that is Toronto.

And that's a good thing.

SPARKING PUBLIC DEBATE

Today The Toronto Sun has called for a review of the practice of paid duty by police officers in Toronto with its editorial on the subject.  It appears that this is becoming a matter of significant public interest.  

This morning, on CFRB 1010, Jim Richards and his listeners also weighed in on the topic during the "Jim Richards Showgram."

In Wednesday's blog I mentioned John Barber's column on paid duty in the Globe and Mail.  

PAID DUTY

In today's Globe and Mail, columnist John Barber deals with the subject of paid duty.  He raises some thought provoking questions on a matter that has attracted considerable public attention.  Here is the link to Barber's column.