‘It is very, very hard to terminate a police officer’

A man protesting the shooting death of Sammy Yatim by Toronto police confronts
officers outside police headquarters during a public protest in Toronto

In the wake of the Sammy Yatim shooting, the chairman of the Toronto Police Services Board says legislation is constraining its ability to ensure accountability, as he renewed calls for stiffer disciplinary powers for police chiefs.

“Right now it is very, very hard to terminate a police officer,” Alok Mukherjee, board chair, said Tuesday. “There are occasions when you say: ‘How in God’s name is this person working here?’”

He made the startling admission following a police board meeting, during which he read a second statement on the police shooting of Mr. Yatim, 18 — an incident that continues to stoke rage on the streets of Toronto. The Yatim family marched to police headquarters surrounded by supporters and had a private audience with Chief Bill Blair in his office.

Mr. Mukherjee also announced the board will seek “independent legal standing” at the upcoming coroner’s inquest into the deaths of three GTA residents who were suffering from mental health issues and were shot by police.  (more...)

‘It is very, very hard to terminate a police officer’