Police oversight review panel to hold first public meeting today

A far-reaching review of civilian oversight of policein Ontario kicks off a series of public consultations todayas critics of the status quo call for sweeping reforms.

Led by Justice Michael Tulloch, the review has a broad mandate torecommend ways to enhance oversight accountability and transparency,long an emotional bone of contention.

The clamour for change should work to Tulloch's advantage inforging a report the government will feel compelled to act on, AndreMarin, former Ontario ombudsman, saidTuesday.

"You have Black Lives Matter, you've got a public that's verycynical of the police," Marin said. "It's really a perfect stormfor reform and I've got my hopes up very high."

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Wednesday'swebcast forum in north Toronto will be the first of18 currently scheduled for across the province. Tulloch, who is toreport to the attorney general byMarch 31, 2017, will introduce thereview its budget has yet to be disclosed followed by hour-longdiscussion tables that will report back to him with suggestions.

The panel, which has already met privately with interestedparties such as police representatives and families of victims, isalso soliciting written input.

Danielle Robitaille, lead co-counsel, said she was confident thepanel will succeed where others have failed because the review isdesigned to be driven by community needs and expectations. Whileviews may be charged and polarized, Robitaille said Tulloch has theexperience to battle his way through them.

"What the community needs at this point in history is anauthoritative view on where do we go from here," Robitaille said.

Marin, who produced two reports on oversight which he said werethwarted by police opposition, warned Tulloch against trying to seeka watered-down compromise or consensus.

"Police resent oversight they'd just like to see itdisappear," Marin said. "So what he needs to do is just forge
ahead and come up with the best public policy there is."

Currently, three different bodies are responsible for civilianoversight of police in Ontario:

• The Special Investigations Unit, established in 1990, probescases of death, serious injury or sexual assault involving officers;
• The Office of the Independent Police Review Director,established in 2007, deals with public complaints about police;
• The Ontario Civilian Police Commission, also set up in 2007,adjudicates police discipline disputes and budget quarrels betweenpolice services and municipalities.

The Special Investigations Unit Marin was once its directorhas come in for fierce criticism from those who argue it is toosecretive and lacks the teeth or will to deal with officers whoresort to violence then thwart a proper investigation. Police haveslammed the unit as having second-rate investigators working with afuzzy mandate.

Among other things, Tulloch will look at whether the agencyshould release more information, including the names of officers,witnesses and victims involved in an incident.

Another controversial area is the staffing of the unit -- mostlyformer police officers. Critics argue that creates an inherentpro-police bias. Proponents says the expertise of ex-cops isinvaluable. Tulloch will also look at whether the bodies shouldcollect race and other demographic data.

Tulloch, the first black justice on Ontario's Court of Appeal,will not delve into individual cases but wants to hear about
personal experiences to enhance his understanding of the issues.

Pamela Grant, an adviser to Tulloch who will facilitate thepublic forums, said it's crucial that those dissatisfied with policeoversight are heard.

"The interests are entrenched on all sides," Grant said. "Formany of the communities involved, this is not the first time around,so it's important that we are very conscious of that."

Before the government announced the review in April, the groupBlack Lives Matter camped outside Toronto police headquarters afterthe investigations unit concluded an officer it refused to name wasjustified in shooting Andrew Loku, a man with mental illness.