Toronto mayor says city’s top cop has to regain public trust amid allegations against officers

Mayor Olivia Chow says the city’s chief of police has “quite a bit of work” to do to help restore public trust amid a series of allegations involving Toronto police officers this year.

Speaking at an unrelated event on Tuesday, Chow was asked about charges that were laid this week against three Toronto police officers who were allegedly involved in a “serious” incident while off duty and vacationing in Spain.

“If anyone is found guilty of charges, serious allegations, sexual assaults, they should be punished,” Chow said.

“Because the matter is right now in front of the courts, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the details.”

A spokesperson for the Toronto police service would not elaborate on the alleged incident. The Canadian Press reports that several Spanish media sites say three Canadian police officers on vacation were arrested in the alleged sexual assault and assault of a sex worker in Barcelona.

“The allegations are serious,” the spokesperson said.

“On arrival in Canada, one officer was suspended from duty as authorized by the Chief of Police in accordance with the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). The two other officers will also be suspended upon their return to Canada in the coming days.”

Coun. Shelley Carroll, the chair of the Toronto Police Service Board, called the allegations against the officers “serious and troubling.”

“The people of Toronto expect police officers to uphold the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty,” Carroll said in a statement.

“To maintain public trust, these matters must be dealt with swiftly and seriously by the Toronto Police Service.”

The councillor added that she expects Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw and service leadership “to demonstrate the actions necessary to maintain the trust the public places in the Service.”

Toronto police have been embroiled in multiple scandals this year, including the Project South corruption probe.

Seven active members and one retired officer are facing charges, including bribery, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to commit murder, in connection with the investigation. The corruption allegations prompted Ontario’s Inspectorate of Policing to order an independent inspection, which will cover all 45 police forces in the province.

“Public trust in policing is fundamental and (the) police chief has quite a bit of work to earn back the trust of folks and also by rooting out any of the officers that have allegedly committed any kind of wrongdoings, including serious criminal offences,” Chow said Tuesday.

“A lot of charges are in front of the courts so it is not really up to me to comment on these allegations, however systemic changes and rooting out corruption are very, very important to regaining the trust.”

The Toronto Police Services Board has also asked for an independent inspection into allegations of antisemitism and “broader organizational cultural issues” at Toronto police following the release of a memoir by retired homicide unit commander Hank Idsinga, who detailed allegations of antisemitism, racism, and police misconduct in his book.

Following the release of the memoir, Chief Demkiw said the allegations will be looked at “very carefully.”

“Any allegation of a Toronto police officer being involved in any kind of racist behaviour, we take very, very seriously,” Demkiw said in April.

“We are examining certainly the allegations very carefully… We are committed to making sure we are responsive to everything we find.”

With files from The Canadian Press