6 Toronto Police Officers Found Guilty of Shameful Online Conduct – Toronto | The Canadian News

An internal review found that six Toronto police officers engaged in discredited behavior on social media, but that their words were not racist. However, exactly what has been done about it is not yet public knowledge.

The officers faced two charges of discredited conduct stemming from their comments and I liked a Facebook post on another officer’s page on July 31, 2018. The comments were brought to the attention of the Office of the Independent Director of Review of the Police by another officer.

The original post was a link to a television story about allegations of racial profiling in the Regent Park area of ​​the city. the allegations in the story were made by attorney Selwyn Pieters.

In responses under the main message, the officers in question made disparaging remarks against the people involved in the story, including Pieters and activist Desmond Cole.

The investigative report, obtained by Global News, showed multiple posts, including, “Same lawyer, same story” and “Selwyn would cry racism if I said I drink my coffee alone,” referring to Pieters.

The report also showed “Another Racist Idiot”, comparing Pieters to Cole.

“So now we call known gang members influencers,” was made in reference to the subject of the news that the officers were commenting on.

While the internal review found that the officers’ comments forcibly discredited, corroborating the first count, it did not find that the second count of discredited conduct, alleging racism, was substantiated.

“His conduct was disgraceful,” Pieters said, but calls the analysis of the second count’s review “flawed.”

“Whether someone uses the black face or makes a comment like that, or in any other way that tries to make jokes or a caricature (of) a black person … it is offensive and is included in the Human Rights Code as discriminatory “.

Most of the officers submitted written testimony for the review, in which they stated that they could not remember much about posting their comments and did not realize that the Facebook page was set to public and that no one could see it.

The Toronto Police Service did not comment on the matter except for a brief statement:

“Low. 95 of the Police Services Act, the Toronto Police Service, like all Ontario police services, is prohibited from releasing details about investigations arising from allegations of conduct and the outcome of such investigations, unless the matter is heard in a disciplinary court where the information is found. made public. “

That also means that the public will not know what discipline the officers will face, if they will at all.

Pieters said it’s unfortunate.

“They may not face any disciplinary action,” he speculated. Or maybe a slap on the wrist, who knows? Certainly the public needs to know. “

Cole declined to comment on the story, but Pieters said this is not over yet.

“I will consider the legal options that exist in this case,” he said.

“Part one of the legal options may be to file a civil action for defamation of character. He could well end up suing the police and the police service. “

Pieters said he plans to seek more than an apology.