Sammy Yatim killing: Report on lethal force by police out today

A former Supreme Court of Canada justice reports today on hisinvestigation into the use of lethal force by Toronto police sparkedby the killing of a disturbed teenager on an empty streetcar lastsummer.

Frank Iacobucci's report comes amid a lawsuit by the family of18-year-old Sammy Yatim against the officer who shot him and anotherwho tasered him as he lay dying.

• Sammy Yatim's family files lawsuit against Toronto police
• Related:Officer to stand trial in Sammy Yatim death

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair asked the former justice lastAugust to take a broad look at how officers interact with people incrisis and to come up with recommendations.

Among other things, the report analyzes ways of reducing the useof lethal force by police especially when it comes to responding to calls involving people with emotional or mental difficulties thatmay require urgent care or put themselves or others at risk of harm.

In all, the report has 84 recommendations covering a wide arearanging from training and policies to equipment, supervision andoversight.

The provincial Police Services Act required Blair to do a reviewafter police gunned down Yatim on a streetcar. In a rare suchprosecution, Const. James Forcillo was also charged withsecond-degree murder.

However, Blair opted for "extraordinary" review beyond Yatim's case to include several other fatal police shootings in recent yearsalong with a look at international best practices.

"There's an overwhelming recognition this is important," Blairsaid of the review.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Toronto in two marchesafter Yatim's death, which was captured on surveillance andcellphone videos.

Nine shots could be heard on the videos following police shoutsfor Yatim to drop a small fold-up knife he was carrying. The finalsix shots appeared to come after Yatim had already fallen backwardsto the floor of the streetcar.

Fired nine shots

In a lawsuit filed with Ontario Superior Court last October,Yatim's mother and sister are seeking more than $7 million fromForcillo, the police services board and two other officers.

According to the lawsuit which is not proven and to which no defence has been filed Forcillo fired at Yatim in theearly hoursof July 27, 2013. At the time, Yatim was alone on the streetcar,which was surrounded by about 20officers.

In all, Forcillo fired nine shots, hitting Yatim eight times, thesuit states.

"After Sammy had been mortally wounded and lay defenceless onthe floor of the streetcar, Officer John Doe fired his Taser intoSammy," the suit alleges.

What should have been obvious to the responding officers was thatYatim was suffering from "an emotional disturbance," the suitstates.

The plaintiffs allege Yatim never approached the officers ortried to leave the streetcar, and Forcillo shot and killed himeither "without justification or excuse" or was reckless andnegligent in doing so.

Police spokesman Mark Pugash would not comment on the suit andsaid no statement of defence had been filed.

Forcillo is expected to stand trial next year. He was released on$510,000 bail and is currently working with Crime Stoppers.