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Zero deaths.
That’s what former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci says should be the target when it comes to police interactions with the public.
Thursday afternoon Iacobucci released his 84 recommendations on how Toronto Police can better handle encounters with people in crisis.
The report comes just days before the anniversary of the police shooting death of 18 year-old Sammy Yatim.
While the report was commissioned for the Toronto Police Service, the families of people killed by police in other regions are paying close attention as well. They hope it will bring about change from across the country.
Marianne MacIsaac flipped through photos of her late husband Michael with CHCH’s Melissa Raftis Thursday. The 47 year-old was shot dead by Durham police after running naked into the streets. Marianne believes he was having an epileptic seizure at the time.
“Michael was standing on the driveway with a patio table leg in his hand. He wasn’t charging at him he didn’t have a gun or a knife.”
The SIU cleared police of any wrong doing but MacIsaac’s family is still looking for answers.
The nearly 350-page report covers a broad range of issues including emphasis on de-escalation. Expanding mobile crisis intervention teams to operate 24 hours a day and issuing body-worn cameras to all officers who may encounter people in crisis were also included. Also featured in the report is a recommendation to consider expanding the use of tasers.
Toronto Chief of Police Bill blair said the report will not gather dust. He commissioned the work after public outrage over the police shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim. The teen’s family has filed a lawsuit against the officer who shot him and another who tasered him as he lay dying.
Blair says he’s aready started creating an advisory committee to help implement the recommendations.
Marianne MacIsaac hopes police forces are paying attention.
“We don’t want to see another family go through what Michael went through or what we’re going through.”
After the press conference Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire issued a statement saying he has received a copy of the report and the service will review the findings with a focus towards continuous improvement of the delivery of quality service to the community.
