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Lorna Mills and Sally McKay
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(UPDATE: Heisey is exonerated and smear campaign exposed. Phew.)
Disturbing news today about Toronto police. The Police Services Board is a group who meet to oversee police actions. There is a history of power struggles between the board and the cops, with uppity councillors being bullied into quitting, and scary gut-toting Norm Gardiner ruling the roost. Alan Heisey has been a brave voice for citizen oversight on this board. In his report of September 2003 to a citizens activist group called the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, he called for a "more civilian oriented and independent complaints [against police misconduct] system," a more specific policy against racial profiling, better civilian access to the police services board [ie: meetings not to be held at police stations], and an overall attention to the importance of independent, civilian oversight of the police. I have personally been at a community meeting where Heisey spoke out strongly that citizens with complaints or issues regarding the cops come to the Police Services Board, outreach to the community in other words, and a pretty lone voice. Good news: Heisey has been elected chair of the board. This implies a new attitude at the city, a put-your-money-where -your-mouth-is step towards reigning in rampant police [in]discretion. The Bad news: a 'memo' was just leaked in which refers to an alleged conversation in which Heisey allegedly made some offhand, yet incriminating comment about child pornography. DON'T BUY IT. This is so obviously a play for police power. Heisey has been a voice for citizens and now he's up against it and out on a limb. We gotta stick up for him.
Toronto Star Letters to the Editor
lettertoed@thestar.ca
fax: 416 869-4322
One Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
M5E 1E6
Toronto Police Services Board
40 College Street
Toronto
M5G 2J3
Fax: (416) 808-8082