Retired supreme court justice to lead review of Toronto police use-of-force policies

TORONTO – Retired Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci will lead the review into the Toronto Police Service’s use-of-force policies.

Chief Bill Blair made the announcement from a press conference at Toronto Police Headquarters Friday afternoon.

“My request to Justice Iacobucci is in the nature of a forward-looking review that will lead to improvements in the policies and procedures that guide our officers, the training that provides them with the skills and competencies to respond effectively and the equipment that will enable them to resolve these critical incidents safely,” he said.

The review was sparked by the death of Sammy Yatim, a knife-wielding 18-year-old who was shot multiple times alone aboard a TTC streetcar by a Toronto Police officer. Constable James Forcillo has been charged with second-degree murder in connection to the Yatim shooting.

While Blair is mandated under the Police Services Act to conduct a review following the death of Yatim, he said the scope of Iacobucci’s review will be “extraordinary” and will carefully examine several other recent police shootings.

Iacobucci served on the Supreme Court of Canada from 1991 to 2004. Since retiring, he was appointed the interim President of the University of Toronto from 2004 to 2005. He also served as a facilitator in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into Canada’s residential schools.

Iacobucci is the second person to be appointed lead of the review. Retired Justice Dennis O’Connor recused himself Wednesday due to a potential conflict-of-interest. The potential conflict arose after it became public his law firm represents the insurers of the Toronto Police Service in civil suits.

Blair said O’Connor’s withdrawal has not set the review back and preliminary work investigating international best practices has already begun.

No deadline for the review has been set and Blair said Iacobucci will need to determine how long will be necessary. He added however, the findings of the review will be made public upon its completion.

“I think there’s an overwhelming recognition this is important,” Blair said. Hundreds of people marched in protest through Toronto, stopping at the site of Yatim’s shooting and at the local police division to show their anger after several videos of the shooting appeared online.

Blair’s review is one of three investigation launched since the teen’s death. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) launched an investigation that resulted in charges being laid against Forcillo, and Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin has launched a review of the province’s guidelines for police de-escalation techniques.

–        With files from The Canadian Press