POLICING THE POLICE

Bracebridge, Ont. -- I found Kirk Makin's article Toronto Police Blocked
RCMP Corruption Probe (Jan. 20) both distressing and in some ways bitterly
laughable.

Perhaps, above all, it highlights the regrettable lack of strong civilian
oversight where the Toronto Police Service is concerned. Since 1997, when
Bill 105 (the Ontario Police Services Amendments Act) was made law at
Queen's Park, effective civilian oversight of police has been swept away.

In particular, a Police Complaints Commission was killed, along with an
external and independent complaints commissioner. The separate provincial
board of inquiry process ceased to exist, as did the civilian authority to
order independent investigations by non-officers.

After 1997, all public complaints would lead to the office of the chief of
police of the force that employed the officer who was the subject of a
complaint. How convenient. And how dangerous.

Bruce Littlejohn