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A Public Response to Toronto Police Services - “What it’s like during Black History Month in a city where a black man is 20 times more likely to be killed by police.”


To whom it may concern,

As result of the self investigation of a police complaint of violence, threats, intimidation and 29872343 I am sending you this written response.


As someone whom is in the role of a community liaison, community members where I am active have told me in person, that they have witnessed the police continue a long history of harassing black men, assaulting women and people of First Nations ancestry in the alleyways this as well as other Toronto communities. And it seems that is exactly what happened on this day.


In the police complaint report, an assault of lone woman they had claim ed to have been observed by officers to be using elicit drugs. The justified police response to assault the individual for what a police report justifies as a response to “passive resistance” is nothing less than a deplorable physical assault. In the same way that Toronto Police feel entitled to threaten and intimidate black men for merely commenting on what was and is obvious and evident Police brutality.


It seem the Toronto Police have enjoyed a wonderful Black History month with African dancing and drumming to kick off the month and gave lip service to diversity and inclusion. Disturbingly this month also saw TPS videos talking about reporting racism and hate crimes with some leaving some to leave ironic statements/posts to YouTube like “What happens if the police hate crime me?”.  


Using intimidation and threatening language and behaviour on people they believe to be beneath them while wearing Blue Lives Matters gang patches, not unlike the Proud Boys, One Percenters or the KKK. Yet, they are far more dangerous because of their impunity, lawlessness,  and exorbitant pay checks. Not to mention the use of police unions, internal investigations and police written OPIRD(police complaints) reports. Police are able to use threatening language, behaviour and weaponize the law against those whom would hold them accountable.


Toronto police are still holding onto the same mistruths that they are unbiased and acting fair, even in light of more that 50% of the women’s jail population is occupied by Indigenous women and black men being some twenty times more likely to be killed by police. This is how TPS is failing black and indigenous communities. Leading some with the reality that the public are not safe in the hands of unlawful officers. Even more so is your safety in danger if you are having mental health issues, unsheltered, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, marginalized, stigmatized or a visible minority, the Police have a clear historical legacy of oppression in these communities. This bias also seems to be rearing its ugly head in the criticism of Toronto Police Services’ handling of the Israel - Palestine protests. 


It is not surprising that the police Services of Toronto still are poorly attempting to use the police complaints department to hide its misconduct and criminal abuses. The office of the OPRID(police complaints) is by no means independent in my experience as well as the experience within these communities. It’s been reported that some 60-70% of police complaints are being handled by the police themselves. This was my experience as well. A publicly accountable and truly independent auditor of the TPS is needed.


Now with the Human Rights Commission of Ontario being charged with its own internal racism claims. It’s not hard to see why more charges against the TPS have not come forth aside from the past issue of racial carding practices. All of these factors would certainly affect the accountability or lack there of in the TPS.


It seems that with the levels of the scandals the police department are involved in, that it is clear that there is little to no accountability in the Toronto Police services. As the investigation of Superintendent Stacy Clark and the promotion scandal surfaces, it’s clear to the public now how bad officer are likely getting promotions instead of being fired and how the public have no bearings on who runs the Toronto Police Services Board. It seems we granted and allowed to be permitted to vote on School Board Trustees but taxpayers don’t get or deserve or vote on who oversees the armed enforcement of laws. Let us not forget that in 2022, Toronto Police Services and others have admitted to being racist in its policing numbers, yet feels like they have done nothing to address it. Coupling this information along with calling themselves Canada’s largest gang can only lead one to believe that this is Canada’s largest racist gang as their history and own admissions show.


Being that Ontario’s Premiere Doug Ford has claimed that there is no systemic racism in Canada and then over-funds a admittedly racially bias police force with little to absolutely zero substantive reforms is the very epitome of hypocrisy and lies. To fund a police force that almost is always profiling, carding and brutalizing poor, black and indigenous peoples is a direct attack on those very communities and their children and loved ones. Public safety seems only intended for those whom have money, power or property.


Since these issues have now become a greater matter of public safety, corruption and ethics, many organizations, activists and everyday residents of the city are demanding answers. It’s far too long for these entities to not be held accountable to the public it claims to serve. The need for public safety is also to address the rise in police violence when public crime and violence have been in overall decline despite a few minor spikes in numbers. Toronto needs it’s police chief to be elected by the public to stop unfair usage and weaponization of Toronto police to evict unsheltered people, the policing of petty crimes and carding practices, Intimidation of witnesses, complainants, detractors, protestors, the unfair targeting and investigations of people whom record video of misconduct. All of these issues need to be addressed. The Toronto Police services need to be transparent and at service to the public and not of the public to be in subjugation to systemic police authoritarianism, corruption and discrimination.


Being twenty times more likely to be killed by police is criminal. Or is it just acceptable? And will it be just acceptable when it’s your children, family or loved one? When is my safety the public safety?


Written by B.duQuesnay

Beau_D Feb 29
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