How much oversight should everyday citizens have over policing of major events like the G20?
That's what the retired judge John Morden wanted answered at the Etobicoke public hearing Monday, June 6, at the Etobicoke Civic Centre.
The hearing was the second in three meetings hosted by the Independent Civilian Review Into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit, launched in September 2010 by the Toronto Police Services Board. The hearing was smaller than the first hearing on June 1 - only 25 people were in attendance versus the reported 50 plus at the downtown hearing. Many of those registered to speak did not turn up to address the crowd.
Over the three-hour meeting Morden heard from 10 people. Many stated there should have been more civilian oversight, particularly in the time leading up to the now-infamous weekend in June 2010.
Bloor West resident Nancy Leblanc called for more oversight into the purchase of equipment for major events, citing the sound cannons (acoustic devices for crowd control and dispersal) bought by police for the G20 through a "modified procurement process."
"Introduction of powerful new devices into a police arsenal needs to be checked by the citizens of the community irrespective of time constraints the police force may be operating under," said Leblanc. "Such purchases have the power to significantly change the character of our city in terms of the way we welcome legitimate, democratic and free expression of opposition to public policy."
Bruce Cox, Greenpeace Canadian director and former Etobicoke resident, recommended that the board conduct a review of police surveillance tactics leading up to G20, presenting photographic evidence of surveillance of his group in the weeks before the weekend.
"To suggest that there was overkill in surveillance is an understatement," said Cox, holding up a picture of their international director at a garden party with a unmarked van and officer in the background.
"It was a really low key event - it was iced tea, seniors, donors and volunteers and it brought down upon us three van-loads full of police and a police helicopter," said Cox.
Douglas Johnson Hatlem, a street pastor and Parkdale resident, argued that it was not more but better oversight that is needed, calling the current system of civilian oversight into police misconduct "smoke and mirrors."
But not all were in agreement. Charles Zach, of the National Firearms Association, said he believes the police need to be allowed to function autonomously. He said it was not lack of oversight that led to the events at G20, but "bad laws that lead to bad policing."
Zach called on the dismissal of Police Chief Bill Blair and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to "restore the public trust in the Ontario government and its security forces."
The lack of police identification during the G20 Summit was a common complaint among almost all speakers.
Source: http://www.insidetoronto.com
That's what the retired judge John Morden wanted answered at the Etobicoke public hearing Monday, June 6, at the Etobicoke Civic Centre.
The hearing was the second in three meetings hosted by the Independent Civilian Review Into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit, launched in September 2010 by the Toronto Police Services Board. The hearing was smaller than the first hearing on June 1 - only 25 people were in attendance versus the reported 50 plus at the downtown hearing. Many of those registered to speak did not turn up to address the crowd.
Over the three-hour meeting Morden heard from 10 people. Many stated there should have been more civilian oversight, particularly in the time leading up to the now-infamous weekend in June 2010.
Bloor West resident Nancy Leblanc called for more oversight into the purchase of equipment for major events, citing the sound cannons (acoustic devices for crowd control and dispersal) bought by police for the G20 through a "modified procurement process."
"Introduction of powerful new devices into a police arsenal needs to be checked by the citizens of the community irrespective of time constraints the police force may be operating under," said Leblanc. "Such purchases have the power to significantly change the character of our city in terms of the way we welcome legitimate, democratic and free expression of opposition to public policy."
Bruce Cox, Greenpeace Canadian director and former Etobicoke resident, recommended that the board conduct a review of police surveillance tactics leading up to G20, presenting photographic evidence of surveillance of his group in the weeks before the weekend.
"To suggest that there was overkill in surveillance is an understatement," said Cox, holding up a picture of their international director at a garden party with a unmarked van and officer in the background.
"It was a really low key event - it was iced tea, seniors, donors and volunteers and it brought down upon us three van-loads full of police and a police helicopter," said Cox.
Douglas Johnson Hatlem, a street pastor and Parkdale resident, argued that it was not more but better oversight that is needed, calling the current system of civilian oversight into police misconduct "smoke and mirrors."
But not all were in agreement. Charles Zach, of the National Firearms Association, said he believes the police need to be allowed to function autonomously. He said it was not lack of oversight that led to the events at G20, but "bad laws that lead to bad policing."
Zach called on the dismissal of Police Chief Bill Blair and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to "restore the public trust in the Ontario government and its security forces."
The lack of police identification during the G20 Summit was a common complaint among almost all speakers.
Source: http://www.insidetoronto.com
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