WATCH ABOVE: An investigation is underway after video surfaced of TTC employees in a violent altercation with transit riders on a subway platform. Mark Carcasole reports.
TORONTO – The Toronto Transit Commission has asked Toronto police to review a use-of-force incident recorded on video and posted on social media purporting to show its transit enforcement officers punching two men at Union Station earlier this year.
A statement released by the TTC said Chief Bill Blair has agreed to the request and has asked his Professional Standards Unit to lead the investigation.
“Under an agreement between the TTC and Toronto Police Services Board, complaints regarding the conduct of TTC special constables can be reviewed by the Professional Standards Unit,” read the statement.
“Nevertheless, given the seriousness of this matter, the TTC has requested the police to independently review the incident.”
Officials say two men became involved in a fight with TTC special constables on Jan. 29 on the concourse level at Union Station following a Toronto Maple Leafs game at the Air Canada Centre.
The video of the incident posted across several social media site shows a TTC officer appearing to punch a man in the stomach as he kneels face down on a subway platform.
A second TTC officer can be seen repeatedly punching another man in the face as a TTC employee tries to separate the two.
WATCH ABOVE: Josh Colle shocked by violent TTC video
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The roughly three-minute video which drew attention Tuesday night appears to have been edited down from a longer, six-minute version posted Jan. 29.
The original six-minute video, recorded by Florida tourist Jorge Pinzon and posted on YouTube, shows a struggle between several men, some in uniform, before the edited version begins.
“People said the fight started because the older gentleman and his son did not want to pay the toll,” Pinzon told Global News in an email.
“When confronted by the authorities, the father started resisting arrest and the son started punching the TTC officer.”
The TTC said a fare dispute did not precipitate the altercation and the “provocation remains unknown.”
Officials say the two men were later charged by police with assaulting the special constables and that no public complaints have been filed as a result of the altercation.
Police identified the two men as Jamie Gillman, 33, and Russell Gillman, 63, both from Toronto.
The two men have been charged with assault and uttering threats. Jamie faces an additional assault charge.
“The TTC wants to ensure any use-of-force by its officers is justified and that approved procedures are always followed,” the statement read.
WATCH ABOVE: Violent incident may hinder regaining special constable status: TTC chair
TTC CEO Andy Byford told reporters during a press conference Wednesday that it will provide police with its own CCTV footage that captured the entire incident to assist in the investigation.
“I’m very concerned whenever I hear of and see TTC staff involved in a fight. It’s not what we want to see,” said Byford.
Byford said the two officers involved filed reports on the incident and an internal review was conducted but no further action was taken.
“No complaint was filed against the officers,” said Byford.
Byford said special constables receive extra training designed to avoid violent altercations.
“Special constables get 54 days of training, including 8 days specifically built around deescalation, communication and ways to avoid incidents like this,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we don’t want our staff to get into a fight.”
Special constables have the ability to make arrests and use force when warranted but TTC Chair Josh Colle told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s council meeting that he finds it hard to fathom what context could make that acceptable in this situation.
“I can’t imagine what that might be. At a certain point you have a greater responsibility when you have certain powers,” he said. “You’re in uniform and have that role.”
Colle said the altercation will spark an internal review of TTC practices and training procedures for its officers.
“These are kind of things that force us as a board from that perspective to have a look at any of these programs we run and that extends to incidents that happen in our system,” said Colle.
Mayor Tory said he was disturbed by the video but “satisfied of the direction” the investigation is going.
The TTC said the two officers involved in the incident are still employed by the transit authority but have been placed on administrative duties.
“That is purely, partly for their protection, not to work until the investigation is complete,” said Byford.
–with files from Andrew Russell
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