Update: see previous posts – May 17, 2012 G20: Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair Must Own Up to G20 Mistakes or Resign, May 16, 2012 G20: G20 Systemic Review Report by Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), May 15, 2012 G20: Byron Sonne Found “Not Guilty” On All G20 Explosives Charges, May 14, 2012 G20 – RCMP Acted Reasonably at G8 & G20 Summits According to the Public Complaints Commission, March 28, 2012 G20 – Senior Toronto Police Officers Receive Their June 14-28/10 G20 Overtime, March 15, 2012 Kettling – Kettle’em and Control’em, Ok in Europe, March 14, 2012 G20 – As Officer’s Are Unmasked and Finally Identified, Lawsuits Continue to Climb, March 7, 2012 G20 – Toronto Police Pay Paraplegic Man After Human Rights Complaint is Filed, February 24, 2012 G20 – Kelly Pflug-Back Pleads Guilty to 1 Count of Wearing a Disguise with Intent & 7 Counts of Mischief over $5,000., February 22, 2012 ‘Secret’ G20 Law To Be Scrapped, February 14, 2012 Toronto Police Service Senior Officers’ Union “Where is Our Overtime from the June 14-28/10 G20?”, February 8, 2012 G20 – Deaf Man Arrested and Not Provided Professional Interpreters Offered by Canadian Hearing Society, January 25, 2012 Toronto Police Chief Delays the Inevitable, January 22, 2012 Five Officers Should be Charged in G20 Protester’s Arrest, Police Watchdog Says, January 18, 2012 G20 Lawsuit Emerges After Largest Mass Arrest in Canadian History, December 22, 2011 G20 Activist Unapologetic As She Receives a Sentence of 10 Months, December 10, 2011 McGuinty to Declare the1939 Public Works Protection Act Null & Void in the New Year, November 23, 2011 11 G20 Defendants Set Free, November 3, 2011 G20 – Chair of Toronto Police Services Board concerned about G20 Photo’s (June, 2010), October 27, 2011 G20 Arrest for Weapons Charge Results in Acquittal, October 5, 2011 G20 Review by Toronto Police Services Board is Expected to Conclude by March, 2012, August 12, 2011 Toronto Deputy Police Chief Tony Warr Defends Actions of Police During G20 (June, 2010), July 29, 2011 Judge Rules that Man Arrested at G20 Should Have Been Provided Counsel, July 23, 2011 Twenty One (21) Month Sentence for Man Who Set G20 Police Vehicle Ablaze, July 22, 2011 G20 Investigator Wants Law to Ban Disguises After 17 Suspects Unidentified, July 21, 2011 Toronto Police Chief Blair’s Report on the G20 is Deferred, June 25, 2011 G20 Summit Toronto – First Anniversary (June 26 & 27, 2011), June 18, 2011 Harper Falls Short on Toronto Businesses’ G20 Claims, June 10, 2011 G20 – Final Public Hearing for the Toronto Police’s Civilian Review, June 10, 2011 G20 – Another Arrest, June 7, 2011 G20 Update – Who Assaulted Adam? Nooobody!, June 1, 2011 Ottawa Police Enjoy Their Share of the G20 Money Pie, McGuinty to Scrap the Secret G20 Law (1939 Public Works Protection Act), March 31, 2011 The “G20 Bump” Translates into a 60% Increase of Toronto Police Making the 2010 Sunshine List, March 19, 2011 Harper Screws Toronto’s Businesses, March 18, 2011 New G20 Lawsuits Launched Against Toronto Police Board, December 7, 2010 Ontario Umbudsman André Marin Delivers Report on G20 “Caught in the Act”, August 8, 2010 G20 Litigation, August 1, 2010 Damage$ Flowing from Charter Breaches

G20 - Toronto Police Officers taking down high risk, high threat women at g20 demonstration

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A handful of senior Toronto police commanders are expected to be charged in coming weeks for a variety of misconduct offences over their leadership at the G20 summit in June 2010, CBC News has learned.

The charges are in addition to 28 frontline officers slated to have disciplinary hearings for a range of misconduct offences, including unlawful arrests and use of excessive or unnecessary force against prisoners.

The details of charges come on the heels of a report released yesterday by Ontario’s top civilian complaints watchdog Gerry McNeilly, head of the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

He concluded in a “systemic review” of the G20 in Toronto that police leaders were poorly prepared and launched a crackdown that led to illegal mass arrests, arbitrary searches and unlawful detentions of more than 1,000 largely peaceful protesters and bystanders.

“Mr. McNeilly is recommending charges to be laid against about a half dozen senior officers,” confirmed Toronto Police Services board chair Alok Mukherjee in an interview with CBC News on Thursday.

Riot police take up an alley next to police headquarters on College Street during the Toronto G20 summit June 25, 2010. LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR

Mukherjee said those who face misconduct hearings include “people who were in decision-making roles … that go pretty high in the organization. He has identified some people who are at very senior ranks.”

Toronto’s police union this week was in an Ontario court attempting to have all G20 disciplinary charges against officers thrown out due to lengthy delays. The Union is quite aware that if charges and trials are delayed by the Crown Attorney or by the police, the charges are often stayed pursuant to section 11(b) of the Charter.

But a panel of Ontario Divisional Court judges ruled against the union, clearing the way for disciplinary hearings to proceed in the coming months against 28 officers that could result in exonerations or punishments ranging from docking of officers’ pay to outright dismissal.

Until now, no details of specific charges against the officers have been released, however court documents reveal specific allegations against eight officers who have already been served with “notices of hearing.”

Those officers have not had a chance to defend themselves, but the charges against them are as follows:

• Const. Vincent Wong Unlawful arrest of “J.W.” (Sunday, June 27, 10 a.m. at Yonge Street and Gerrard Avenue).
• Const. Blair Begbie Unlawful arrest of “J.W.” (June 27, 10 a.m. at Yonge Street and Gerrard Avenue).
• Const. Alan Li Unlawful arrest of “A.S.” (June 27, 4 p.m., Bloor Street West and Huron Street).
• Const. Donald Stratton Unlawful arrest of “A.S.” (June 27, Bloor Street West and Huron Street).
• Const. Michael Kirpoff Unnecessary force on prisoner “J.M.” (June 27, Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue).
• Const. Ryan Simpson Unlawful arrest of cyclist “N.W.” (June 27, Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue).
• Const. Jason Crawford Unlawful arrest of “N.W.” (June 27).
• Const. Michael Martinez Unnecessary force on prisoner “J.R.” (Saturday, June 26, Novotel Hotel).

As a result of the disciplinary hearing, the officers could face penalties ranging from docked pay to dismissal. The officers could also be exonerated.

Toronto police spokesman Kevin Masterman told CBC News all of the officers facing misconduct charges remain on the job and are not suspended.

Constables Begbie and Wong will appear before a hearing on July 24. The rest of the officers have a hearing scheduled for July 19.

Update: see previous posts – May 16, 2012 G20: G20 Systemic Review Report by Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), May 15, 2012 G20: Byron Sonne Found “Not Guilty” On All G20 Explosives Charges, May 14, 2012 G20 – RCMP Acted Reasonably at G8 & G20 Summits According to the Public Complaints Commission, March 28, 2012 G20 – Senior Toronto Police Officers Receive Their June 14-28/10 G20 Overtime, March 15, 2012 Kettling – Kettle’em and Control’em, Ok in Europe, March 14, 2012 G20 – As Officer’s Are Unmasked and Finally Identified, Lawsuits Continue to Climb, March 7, 2012 G20 – Toronto Police Pay Paraplegic Man After Human Rights Complaint is Filed, February 24, 2012 G20 – Kelly Pflug-Back Pleads Guilty to 1 Count of Wearing a Disguise with Intent & 7 Counts of Mischief over $5,000., February 22, 2012 ‘Secret’ G20 Law To Be Scrapped, February 14, 2012 Toronto Police Service Senior Officers’ Union “Where is Our Overtime from the June 14-28/10 G20?”, February 8, 2012 G20 – Deaf Man Arrested and Not Provided Professional Interpreters Offered by Canadian Hearing Society, January 25, 2012 Toronto Police Chief Delays the Inevitable, January 22, 2012 Five Officers Should be Charged in G20 Protester’s Arrest, Police Watchdog Says, January 18, 2012 G20 Lawsuit Emerges After Largest Mass Arrest in Canadian History, December 22, 2011 G20 Activist Unapologetic As She Receives a Sentence of 10 Months, December 10, 2011 McGuinty to Declare the1939 Public Works Protection Act Null & Void in the New Year, November 23, 2011 11 G20 Defendants Set Free, November 3, 2011 G20 – Chair of Toronto Police Services Board concerned about G20 Photo’s (June, 2010), October 27, 2011 G20 Arrest for Weapons Charge Results in Acquittal, October 5, 2011 G20 Review by Toronto Police Services Board is Expected to Conclude by March, 2012, August 12, 2011 Toronto Deputy Police Chief Tony Warr Defends Actions of Police During G20 (June, 2010), July 29, 2011 Judge Rules that Man Arrested at G20 Should Have Been Provided Counsel, July 23, 2011 Twenty One (21) Month Sentence for Man Who Set G20 Police Vehicle Ablaze, July 22, 2011 G20 Investigator Wants Law to Ban Disguises After 17 Suspects Unidentified, July 21, 2011 Toronto Police Chief Blair’s Report on the G20 is Deferred, June 25, 2011 G20 Summit Toronto – First Anniversary (June 26 & 27, 2011), June 18, 2011 Harper Falls Short on Toronto Businesses’ G20 Claims, June 10, 2011 G20 – Final Public Hearing for the Toronto Police’s Civilian Review, June 10, 2011 G20 – Another Arrest, June 7, 2011 G20 Update – Who Assaulted Adam? Nooobody!, June 1, 2011 Ottawa Police Enjoy Their Share of the G20 Money Pie, McGuinty to Scrap the Secret G20 Law (1939 Public Works Protection Act), March 31, 2011 The “G20 Bump” Translates into a 60% Increase of Toronto Police Making the 2010 Sunshine List, March 19, 2011 Harper Screws Toronto’s Businesses, March 18, 2011 New G20 Lawsuits Launched Against Toronto Police Board, December 7, 2010 Ontario Umbudsman André Marin Delivers Report on G20 “Caught in the Act”, August 8, 2010 G20 Litigation, August 1, 2010 Damage$ Flowing from Charter Breaches

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Police Services Chief Bill Blair speaks about the McNeilly report, which was critical of policing during the G20 summit in Toronto in June 2010. RICK MADONIK/TORONTO STAR

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair still doesn’t get it.

How can that be? Every independent review of G20 policing is worse than the one that came before it. The latest report, by the province’s police complaints watchdog, identified hundreds of unlawful arrests, numerous examples of police using excessive force – code, in some cases, for an outright beating – and rampant Charter rights violations.

To all this, Blair essentially shrugged and issued a casual, things “could have been done better” statement. “If there is misconduct, we’ll deal with that,” he said.

If? How can he possibly still use a word like that? There is no if. The report makes crystal clear that some police actions during the G20 were unreasonable, unnecessary and unlawful. That includes boxing in hundreds of people who had done nothing wrong behind riot-clad police lines; using excessive force during the largest mass arrests in Canadian history; arbitrarily searching young people who happened to be wearing backpacks; and locking up more than 1,100 people in gulag-like conditions that contravened Canadian law and police policy.

More: G20 aftermath: High-ranking and frontline Toronto police officers face charges

There are only two questions left. One is whether there is enough evidence to convict specific officers, including those in command roles, of misconduct. Disciplinary hearings will eventually, we hope, get to the bottom of about 100 of those cases.

The other is whether Blair will stand up and apologize for what happened, and assure this city that he is finally prepared to take this with the degree of seriousness that he should have applied two years ago.

To hide behind disciplinary hearings, as he did this week, is not leadership. If he can’t lead a police force that Torontonians can have faith in, he should step down and hand over the reins to someone who can.

As the report from the Office of the Independent Police Review Director states: “Senior officers especially should not condone or distance themselves from the misconduct of subordinates or colleagues.” That must include the chief. What’s more, the report demonstrates that much of the wrong-doing by officers on the street can be traced back to a surplus of attitude by Blair and his most senior officers and inappropriate training that told officers to prepare for violence instead of facilitating peaceful protest.

The Office of the Independent Police Review Director’s report is the most comprehensive and systemic review of police actions leading up to and during the G20. It has more than proven the case that starting at the very top of the senior police command, there were bad plans, bad orders and a willingness to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing by police officers – such as taking off their name tags so protesters and bystanders could not identify them. That simply can’t be excused by having too short a time to prepare for the summit.

More: DiManno: There’s blame aplenty in the OIPRD’s G20 report, but no accountability

“Many police officers ignored the basic rights citizens have under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” states the report. “Numerous police officers used excessive force when arresting individuals,” it continues. There were “gross violations of prisoner rights.”

What more could it take for Blair to understand how badly he and his force messed up two years ago?

Public confidence in Toronto’s police was badly shaken by the events surrounding the G20 and its aftermath, when police closed ranks and refused to assist with investigations into officer misconduct.

If Blair cannot quickly show he is able to do what it takes to get that confidence back, he should make way for someone who can.

Also on the Star:

Walkom: What the report on policing Toronto’s G20 summit doesn’t discuss

G20 timeline: How events unfolded on the streets

Chief Blair reacts to scathing police watchdog report on G20 police conductE

Update: see previous post – April 5, 2012 Cross-Border Shopping Rules Have Changed, October 26, 2011 Canadians Travelling Into U.S.A Will Have to Pay Additional $5.50 Customs User Fee (Nov.11)

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A revision to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) will allow Canadian residents to temporarily import a U.S.-based rental vehicle for non-commercial purposes for a period up to 30 days. To facilitate access to Canadian tourism destinations and provide more flexibility for travellers, Canada's Economic Action Plan 2012 will also eliminate taxes on these vehicles for Canadians who have been outside of Canada for at least 48 hours, effective June 1, 2012

Update:

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Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, displays a kirpan. CURTIS RUSH/TORONTO STAR

Toronto police have developed a formal policy allowing Sikhs to bring their ceremonial daggers into courthouses.

The policy, announced Wednesday by the Ontario Human Rights Commission and World Sikh Organization of Canada, contains some conditions, including subjecting anyone with a kirpan to a risk assessment.

The kirpan, which Sikhs describe as a stylized representation of a sword, may not exceed 20 centimetres in length, including the sheath. The blade must not exceed 10 centimetres.

The conditions satisfy Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada.

“The risk of the kirpan being used as a weapon has been virtually eliminated in court,” Singh said.

The kirpan is carried by only 15 per cent of Sikhs in the GTA and it is worn everywhere, even in the bathtub and when sleeping, Singh said.

The kirpan, which represents spiritual wisdom and duty to stand against injustice, has an exaggerated curve at the end.

Its danger has sparked debate in Canada for years. Sikh leaders worried two years ago that an attack in Brampton with a kirpan would rouse objections over one’s right to wear the religious symbol.

The controversy first burst onto the national scene in 2001 when a 12-year-old Montreal student accidentally dropped his 20-centimetre kirpan at school, triggering a dispute with the school board over his right to wear it.

In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld his right in a landmark judgment.

Court security in Toronto was tightened following incidents — not involving kirpans — in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1987, a Toronto lawyer was stabbed several times in the chest with a letter opener in the Osgoode Hall court building.

In 1982, two men were killed and another crippled after being shot at Osgoode Hall in a dispute involving rival factions in Toronto’s Sikh community.

The Toronto police policy was developed as a settlement of two human rights cases.

The first involved a Sikh who was to attend a mandatory class trip to the victim/witness assistance program at the Old City Hall courthouse. The student was denied entry because she would not remove her kirpan.

The second instance involved a Sikh man summoned for jury duty at the University Ave. courthouse and allowed to enter with his kirpan in the morning, but denied re-entry after lunch.

“This is a step in the right direction, combining respect for a person’s religious observances with accommodation principles and (Ontario Human Rights) Code obligations,” said Barbara Hall, chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Singh said he hopes to work with other police services in Canada to bring about a similar policy.

Local police services are responsible for court security in Ontario.

Although courthouses in other cities allow the kirpan, Toronto is the first to have a formal policy, Singh said.

NDP justice critic Jagmeet Singh (MPP-Bramlea-Gore-Malton) welcomed the news, saying he has put forward amendments to a bill that would solidify protection of religious accommodation in the province’s courtrooms.

“The largest population of practising Sikhs in Ontario and one of the largest in Canada lives in the Peel Region and the region has no formal accommodation right now,” Singh said. “It’s a big access-to-justice issue. There is no security threat by the kirpan and any minor concern that may exist may be accommodated by the Toronto example.”

Update: see previous posts – May 15, 2012 G20: Byron Sonne Found “Not Guilty” On All G20 Explosives Charges, May 14, 2012 G20 – RCMP Acted Reasonably at G8 & G20 Summits According to the Public Complaints Commission, March 28, 2012 G20 – Senior Toronto Police Officers Receive Their June 14-28/10 G20 Overtime, March 15, 2012 Kettling – Kettle’em and Control’em, Ok in Europe, March 14, 2012 G20 – As Officer’s Are Unmasked and Finally Identified, Lawsuits Continue to Climb, March 7, 2012 G20 – Toronto Police Pay Paraplegic Man After Human Rights Complaint is Filed, February 24, 2012 G20 – Kelly Pflug-Back Pleads Guilty to 1 Count of Wearing a Disguise with Intent & 7 Counts of Mischief over $5,000., February 22, 2012 ‘Secret’ G20 Law To Be Scrapped, February 14, 2012 Toronto Police Service Senior Officers’ Union “Where is Our Overtime from the June 14-28/10 G20?”, February 8, 2012 G20 – Deaf Man Arrested and Not Provided Professional Interpreters Offered by Canadian Hearing Society, January 25, 2012 Toronto Police Chief Delays the Inevitable, January 22, 2012 Five Officers Should be Charged in G20 Protester’s Arrest, Police Watchdog Says, January 18, 2012 G20 Lawsuit Emerges After Largest Mass Arrest in Canadian History, December 22, 2011 G20 Activist Unapologetic As She Receives a Sentence of 10 Months, December 10, 2011 McGuinty to Declare the1939 Public Works Protection Act Null & Void in the New Year, November 23, 2011 11 G20 Defendants Set Free, November 3, 2011 G20 – Chair of Toronto Police Services Board concerned about G20 Photo’s (June, 2010), October 27, 2011 G20 Arrest for Weapons Charge Results in Acquittal, October 5, 2011 G20 Review by Toronto Police Services Board is Expected to Conclude by March, 2012, August 12, 2011 Toronto Deputy Police Chief Tony Warr Defends Actions of Police During G20 (June, 2010), July 29, 2011 Judge Rules that Man Arrested at G20 Should Have Been Provided Counsel, July 23, 2011 Twenty One (21) Month Sentence for Man Who Set G20 Police Vehicle Ablaze, July 22, 2011 G20 Investigator Wants Law to Ban Disguises After 17 Suspects Unidentified, July 21, 2011 Toronto Police Chief Blair’s Report on the G20 is Deferred, June 25, 2011 G20 Summit Toronto – First Anniversary (June 26 & 27, 2011), June 18, 2011 Harper Falls Short on Toronto Businesses’ G20 Claims, June 10, 2011 G20 – Final Public Hearing for the Toronto Police’s Civilian Review, June 10, 2011 G20 – Another Arrest, June 7, 2011 G20 Update – Who Assaulted Adam? Nooobody!, June 1, 2011 Ottawa Police Enjoy Their Share of the G20 Money Pie, McGuinty to Scrap the Secret G20 Law (1939 Public Works Protection Act), March 31, 2011 The “G20 Bump” Translates into a 60% Increase of Toronto Police Making the 2010 Sunshine List, March 19, 2011 Harper Screws Toronto’s Businesses, March 18, 2011 New G20 Lawsuits Launched Against Toronto Police Board, December 7, 2010 Ontario Umbudsman André Marin Delivers Report on G20 “Caught in the Act”, August 8, 2010 G20 Litigation, August 1, 2010 Damage$ Flowing from Charter Breaches

Toronto Police enforced Five-Metre Law that did not exist and conducted illegal search and seizures at the G20 fence. Toronto Police Chief, William Blair makes no apologies for the conduct of police, then or now.

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TORONTO – The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) today released its G20 Systemic Review Report providing an in-depth analysis of issues surrounding public complaints against police during the G20 summit in Toronto in June 2010.

“The events that took place over the course of the G20 weekend resulted in the largest mass arrests in Canadian history and had a profound impact not only on the citizens of Toronto and Canada generally, but on public confidence in the police as well. This report provides a comprehensive and balanced account of events surrounding the G20. It is my hope that the recommendations I have made provide a map to improve the interaction between the public and the police during future protests and to strengthen confidence and trust in police and policing.”
– Gerry McNeilly, Independent Police Review Director

G20 - Gerry McNeilly, Independent Police Review Director found that police ordered or made arrests without reasonable grounds, used excessive force, overstepped their authority (when they stopped people and searched them without legal justification) and failed to adequately address problems at the Prisoner Processing Centre. All the police attending the G20 were being paid enormous overtime compensation, which propelled all of them onto the Province of Ontario's "Sunshine List" (those earning over $100,000)

The 300-page report examines the planning and execution of the security operation at the G20.

The report covers incidents where large-scale protests and interactions or clashes with police occurred, with timelines and analyses of the issues at Queen’s Park, The Esplanade, the Graduate Students’ Union at the University of Toronto and Queen and Spadina, as well as the stops and searches that occurred. The report also examines the planning and operation of the Prisoner Processing Centre.

Police engaging in a familiar practice at the G20

The Independent Police Review Director found that while the vast majority of police officers carried out their duties in a professional manner, some police officers ordered or made arrests without reasonable grounds, used excessive force, overstepped their authority when they stopped and searched people without legal justification, and failed to take adequate steps to address problems at the Prisoner Processing Centre.

OIPRD FACTS:

• The OIPRD is responsible for receiving, managing and overseeing all public complaints against the police in Ontario. This includes Ontario’s municipal and regional police services and the Ontario Provincial Police.
• The Police Services Act gives the Independent Police Review Director the power to examine and review issues of a systemic nature that are the subject of, or that give rise to public complaints under the Act.
• The OIPRD received 356 complaints in relation to incidents during the G20 summit in Toronto. In reviewing these complaints, systemic issues became evident.
• Read the G20 Systemic Review Report.