Ontario’s inspector general of policing has announced an independent inspection into police corruption within the province, just days after seven Toronto officers and one former member were charged as part of an organized crime investigation.
Ontario Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner announced on Feb. 9 a province-wide inspection would be launched to examine police integrity and anti‑corruption practices across all 43 municipal police forces along with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Anishinabek Police Service (APS).
Teschner made the announcement during a morning press conference at Queen’s Park after receiving a request last week from Toronto Police Service Board chair Shelley Carroll and Police Chief Myron Demkiw for an independent external investigation into the Toronto force.
Seven current and one former member were charged last week in connection with an investigation by York Regional Police (YRP) in which the officers have been accused of feeding information to criminals. Two additional Toronto police officers and three from the Peel Regional Police have also been suspended in connection with Project South, the YRP’s ongoing investigation.
Teschner said the inspection will not just focus on the Toronto-area police because corruption can just as easily infiltrate other forces.
“Although this issue originated with the Toronto Police Service, we have since learned that other organizations may be impacted,” he told reporters. “Incidents like these understandably shake public trust in policing more broadly. It’s important to acknowledge the real questions the public is asking and the potential effect these questions may have on their confidence in Ontario’s policing system.”
The assessment will be performed by an independent inspector assigned under the authority of Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act, the statute that governs policing in the province. Teschner said the person who will lead the investigation has yet to be appointed, while adding that “there are some very qualified people right here in Ontario.”
Scope
Teschner stressed that the inspection is not intended to reveal specific corruption cases, but is designed to assess how effectively police services and boards are preventing, detecting, responding to, and reinforcing their organizations against corruption.The inspection will look at five key areas including how officers are supervised and how effective that supervision is, Teschner said. The inspector will also evaluate the screening and vetting processes for police officers at the time of recruitment and on a continual basis, while also investigating access to police databases and information systems, including permissions, controls, and clearances.
Evidence and property management practices and substance abuse and fitness for duty will also be examined.
Teschner said the evaluation will be designed to address any areas of concern identified during the process promptly rather than waiting for the entire process to be complete.
He did not provide a timeline for the inspection but said the process would be “transparent” and an inspector’s report would be released publicly upon completion.
Project South
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she welcomed news of the province-wide investigation planned by Ontario’s Inspectorate of Policing.Teschner did not comment directly on officers being charged, but he said more must be done to thwart organized crime as well as to ensure police forces remain above reproach.
“Organized crime is insidious. And we have to ensure that our organizations are sufficiently strong … and where necessary, detect and intervene,” he said.
York investigators allege the officers relayed confidential police information to criminals who used the information to carry out serious crimes, including attempted murder and extortion.
Some have been accused of accepting bribes and drug trafficking, and one officer is facing theft charges.
