Tory doubles down on call for probe into police handling of missing persons cases linked to Gay Village

Mayor John Tory doubled down Wednesday on his call for an independent review into Toronto police's handling of missing persons cases, including the men who have disappeared from the city's Gay Village area.

"We have to look into this and work to make it better," Tory toldCBCRadio'sMetro Morning.

Toronto police have come under fire fromsome members of the LGBTcommunity following the arrest of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur. Since January, questions have emergedabout howpolice dealtwith the disappearances of of six men, most of whom vanished from the Gay Village. McArthuris charged with first-degree murder in their deaths.

LGBTadvocates have also criticized certain elements of the homicide investigation. Whilepolice began investigating the disappearances in 2012, reports that McArthurmay have been interviewed years before his arrestas part of adivisional probe, which was not connected to either Project Houston or Project Prism, have fuelled suspicions of police inaction in dealing with the LGBT community's concerns about a possible serial killer.

The Toronto Police's professional standards unit hassince launched an internal investigation, though the force has not confirmed if an interview with McArthurduring that probe did, in fact, take place.

"I sawthe terror and hurt that was causing pain in theLGBTcommunity," Tory said of the vigilshe attended for McAthur'salleged victims. "There's a feeling that some [missing persons cases] have gone forgotten, or perhaps hadn't been treatedin an appropriate way."

Tory's renewed call for an external inquiry into how police handle missing persons files follows one he made earlier this monthalongside Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi. At the time, Tory said he was "deeply disturbed" by the ongoing developments in the missing men cases and urged the province to hold an inquiry at the close of any criminal proceedings.

Last month, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders was blastedfollowing comments published in the Globe andMail. HesuggestedMcArthurcouldhave been caught sooner if people who knew him had been more forthcoming with police. The comments were widely seen byLGBTleaders and community membersas victim blaming.

Tory, who defended the chief at the time, told Metro Morningwhile Saunders used "awkward language" in the interview he supports him as a leader who can help mend fractiousrelationships with communities in the city.

The mayor went on the explainthe external review will probe missing persons cases more broadly to assess how they were handled.

The McArthurhomicide case will not be included in the first probe because the investigationis ongoing and would risk key evidence being released to the public, Tory said.

Protocol for the external reviewis set to be debated at Thursday's Toronto Police Services Board meeting.