Evidence of meeting #38 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was summit.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chief, Toronto Police Service
Well, let me tell you what I do agree with, if I may. I have reviewed the circumstances of that arrest. I have discussed with the Ministry of the Attorney General the legal reasons for why those charges were not proceeded with. I don't disagree with the determination made by the Ministry of the Attorney General.
At the same time, I am aware of the circumstances that led to the arrest of those individuals, and I believe that the officers were acting properly.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Who, Chief, made the decision to burst into that gym and arrest those 70 sleeping students? Whose decision was that?
Chief, Toronto Police Service
The investigators who were investigating that case. I must tell you that it's a very complicated case involving a great deal of evidence, which I'm not going to be able to disclose and discuss with you here today.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Can I get the names of the investigators who made that decision, Chief?
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Can we have the names of the investigators who made that decision?
NDP
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thanks.
Now, in terms of accountability, I also understand that a number of police had their name badges covered up in the exercise of their duties. You are on record, sir, as saying that you're aware of that.
Whose decision was it for officers to be conducting their duties with their name badges and numbers covered up?
Chief, Toronto Police Service
Okay. First of all, I have a rule in the Toronto Police Service--it's my rule; it's in accordance with the policy of my Police Services Board--that our officers will wear their names displayed on their uniforms. You'll notice that I wear mine.
Chief, Toronto Police Service
All of our officers have this affixed. It's done with Velcro; it has first initial and last name. It is a rule that they wear it. If an individual officer chose not to wear it, he would be breaking a rule.
What I have stated is that if they have made a choice to engage in misconduct by disobeying a rule of the service, they will be held accountable and be disciplined.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
And be disciplined, yes, and you said a few months ago to Mr. Paikin that they would in fact be disciplined. Have any officers in fact been disciplined to this date?
Chief, Toronto Police Service
Approximately 90 officers. We had 13 public complaints, but I directed that an investigation be conducted. We reviewed those thousands of hours of videotape that I made reference to earlier, and we identified approximately 90 officers who were not wearing their name badges as required by our rule. Disciplinary processes have been initiated against everyone who was there by--
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
So, sir, that couldn't have been an individual decision of officers, if 90 officers decided to—
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
You think that 90 officers just by coincidence all decided at the same time, without talking to each other, to cover up their names and badges when it's a rule of the chief of police of Toronto that they keep them displayed? Is that your evidence?
Chief, Toronto Police Service
I think individual officers make that choice. They are all issued a name tag that has their name on it. If they chose to remove that name tag contrary to the rule, then they're held individually—