Ontario launches review of police oversight agencies

When police officers are involved in incidents where someone has been seriously injured, dies or alleges sexual assault, the Special Investigations Unit has the statutory mandate to conduct independent investigations to determine whether a criminal offence took place.

Ontario launches review of police oversight agencies

Postby Thomas » Sun May 01, 2016 3:37 pm

Special Investigations Unit

Ontario has appointed the Honourable Michael H. Tulloch, a judge of the Ontario Court of Appeal, to lead an independent review of the three agencies that oversee police conduct in the province: the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

Justice Tulloch has been asked to provide the government with recommendations on ways to enhance the transparency and accountability of the province’s three police oversight bodies, while at the same time ensuring that these agencies are carrying out their work as effectively and efficiently as possible. As part of his review, he will engage in public consultations.

Ontario has also asked Justice Tulloch to prioritize making recommendations as to how information in SIU reports could be made public in the future, as well as whether past SIU reports should be made public, and the form this information would take. The government expects to receive these prioritized recommendations in the coming months.

The final report containing all recommendations will be delivered to the Attorney General no later than March 31, 2017 and will be made available to the public.

In addition, the Ministry of the Attorney General is releasing the SIU Director’s decision and analysis, a part of the SIU report prepared in relation to the Andrew Loku investigation.

Other parts of the report, which are not being released as a result of privacy and safety constraints as well as legal requirements, include information gathered from witness interviews, and forensic and physical evidence. Witnesses who participate in SIU investigations are assured by the SIU that their identities and the information they provide are confidential and would only be released with consent or as required by law, such as in a criminal proceeding or a coroner’s inquest. The practices related to the release of identities of officers and witnesses in Ontario is consistent with other Canadian jurisdictions.

QUICK FACTS

- Justice Tulloch has been a sitting judge with the Ontario Court of Appeal since 2012. He was previously a judge with the Superior Court of Justice, appointed in 2003.

- Previously, Justice Tulloch served as a special prosecuting agent of the Canadian Department of Justice, and participated in a number of reviews and commissions including the Ontario Government Review of Civilian Oversight on Policing, the Review of the Ontario Legal Aid Plan and the Criminal Code Review.

- The SIU Director’s decision and analysis is based on the findings of the investigators. Their summaries contain information gathered from witness interviews, forensic and physical evidence.

- Ontario was the first jurisdiction in Canada to require that every serious injury or death stemming from police work be fully investigated by an independent, civilian organization.

- In 2009, Ontario broadened police oversight when the Province established the OIPRD to handle public complaints about police that do not fall within the SIU’s jurisdiction.

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2016/04/30/66791/
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Judge heading police-oversight review praised for work ethic

Postby Thomas » Mon May 02, 2016 12:56 am

Michael Tulloch served as defence lawyer before joining the bench; now, in the wake of the SIU’s Andrew Loku report, he’ll examine the state of Ontario’s police watchdogs.

The judge appointed to head a provincial review of police oversight bodies has been described as a well-rounded man with a strong sense of integrity.

Court of Appeal Justice Michael Tulloch — who’ll be examining how Ontario keeps an eye on its police forces in the wake of Andrew Loku’s death — became the first black judge on Ontario’s top court when appointed in 2012 by the federal Conservative government. Prior to that, he had been a judge with the Superior Court of Justice since 2003.

A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Tulloch was a criminal defence lawyer and assistant Crown attorney before becoming a judge.

He also served as a special prosecuting agent with the federal department of justice and has participated in reviews including the Ontario Government Review of Civilian Oversight on Policing.

“Justice Tulloch is bright, hard working and has an abundance of common sense,” said lawyer Daniel Brown.

“His significant experience as a former criminal defence lawyer as well as trial and appellate court judge makes him the perfect candidate for this important role.”

Born in Jamaica, he came to Toronto with his parents at age 9.

Speaking to the Star following his historic appointment to the Court of Appeal, Tulloch said “my blackness does not define me.

“I’m black, yes, but the colour of my skin is incidental to who I am,” he said. “My involvement with academic institutions, it has nothing to do with my race, it has to do with education, education for all students.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/04 ... ience.html

http://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/652 ... xperience/
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Ontario launches police oversight review

Postby Thomas » Mon May 02, 2016 12:59 am

Ontario launches police oversight review, partially releases SIU's Loku report

TORONTO -- An Ontario judge has been tapped to lead a review of the province's police oversight agencies -- a move the Liberal government announced as it partially released a report into a fatal police shooting.

The government has been under increasing pressure to release the Special Investigations Unit's director's report that found a Toronto police officer used justifiable force in fatally shooting a man armed with a hammer.

The officer who shot Andrew Loku on July 5, 2015 is not named in the report, but SIU Director Tony Loparco says that Loku walked toward police, carrying a hammer saying, "what you gonna do, come on, shoot me," and that the officer feared for his or her life.

The report says that though media coverage has noted Loku had mental health issues, there was no evidence that was the reason he was "aggressive" toward police, rather it is "as likely" the reason was that his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit for driving.

Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur says in a statement that Appeal Court Justice Michael Tulloch will lead an independent review of Ontario's three police oversight agencies and will examine how SIU reports could be made public in the future, as well as whether past reports could be published.

Normal SIU practice is to issue a press release summarizing a case, and not the full report, when an officer is either cleared or charged with an offence following incidents involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

http://london.ctvnews.ca/ontario-launch ... -1.2881898
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Ontario launches review of police oversight agencies

Postby Thomas » Mon May 02, 2016 1:00 am

An Ontario judge will review the province's police oversight agencies over a fatal police shooting in Toronto.

Ontario's police watchdog found a Toronto officer was justified in killing a man armed with a hammer.

Protesters angry the Special Investigations Unit's report wasn't made public camped out in front of Toronto police headquarters for two weeks.

They also marched on the legislature to call for an overhaul of the agency.

Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur says Appeal Court Justice Michael Tulloch will lead an independent review of Ontario's three police-oversight agencies: the S-I-U, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

She says Tulloch will examine how S-I-U reports could be made public in the future, as well as whether past reports could be published.

http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/ontario-lau ... -1.2881961
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