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Cision Canada
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Inspector General of Policing releases his annual report: Ontario's policing system is strong overall, with areas that require attention to meet evolving public safety complexity and demand Français
TORONTO, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Inspector General of Policing of Ontario, Ryan Teschner, released his 2024 Annual Report, "On the Road to Excellence: A Year of Progress and Purpose," identifying the key challenges facing Ontario's police services and some of the actions being taken to address them. The 2024 Annual Report also highlights the significant work of Ontario's Inspectorate of Policing (IoP) to improve the performance of the province's police services and police service boards. "Police services and boards are being asked to navigate complex social issues while confronting operational pressures, emerging public safety risks, and resource demands," said Inspector General Teschner. "At the same time, there is a clear opportunity to move beyond the models of yesterday and towards a modern policing approach that contributes to policing excellence, good governance, and public trust. The Inspectorate of Policing is applying my oversight mandate to anticipate future challenges and ready our public safety system to effectively meet them." The public report, mandated by the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), provides a comprehensive picture of the state of policing in Ontario. The report identifies the common challenges that Ontario's 43 police services are facing across the province's diverse communities. It also highlights successful approaches and initiatives to confront those challenges, including: more officer wellness concerns, alternative models of crisis response with partnerships between police and other responders, the importance of addressing strain in the public order policing system and strategies for improving public confidence in police performance. The report also contains information about how Inspector General Teschner and the IoP oversee more significant, real-time policing operations to ensure adequate and effective policing, including ongoing border policing operations led by the Ontario Provincial Police. "April 1, 2024, marked an important milestone in Ontario policing with the coming into force of the CSPA and the start of my role as Inspector General of Policing. This is more than legislative change. It is the first of a generation and an important step in a more modern, transparent, and accountable policing system" said Inspector General Teschner. "As we continue to leverage our independent research and data intelligence, we are identifying and helping the sector adopt leading practices to drive improved performance, ensuring that high-quality policing and police governance are delivered to make everyone in Ontario safer." The annual report also includes information about how the Inspector General has been fulfilling his legislative responsibilities to independently oversee the compliance and performance of all Ontario's police service boards, municipal police services and the Ontario Provincial Police, First Nation police services and boards constituted under the CSPA, and special constable employers. The oversight activities detailed for the first year of the IoP's operations include: inspections conducted; public complaints investigated and dealt with, including statistical information about public complaints; and turning information into data intelligence to drive risk-based decision-making and apply the right oversight tools at the right time. The key oversight activities highlighted in the report include: The IoP launched 46 complaint-based inspections in response to public concerns that identify common emerging themes, including: police response during protests, handling of intimate partner violence cases, quality of investigations, traffic enforcement, delays in response and communication, and issues with records checks. The IoP launched the first Policing Insight Statement survey to gather perspectives from all of Ontario's chiefs of police and police service boards to help identify areas of common opportunity and challenge across the sector. Inspector General Teschner released the first-ever Spotlight Report on the policing of protests and major events, assessing compliance with provincial requirements for maintaining public order policing. Inspector Teschner concluded that Ontario's public order policing is strong but under strain, and included 12 recommendations for police services, boards, and the Ministry of the Solicitor General to improve the system's long-term performance. The Inspector General launched the first issue-specific inspection under the CSPA. The inspection of the Thunder Bay Police Service and Board began in October 2024. The inspection is examining how the police service conducts death and missing persons investigations, as well as how the police service and board are addressing recommendations issued by other oversight bodies that have reviewed policing and governance in Thunder Bay. The report also looks ahead to the IoP's priorities, including establishing a Centre of Excellence, building a provincial policing performance measurement framework, preparing for a thematic inspection of police response times, and independently monitoring significant policing operations to ensure adequate and effective delivery of policing occurs. "Ontario's policing system is strong, and there are opportunities to strengthen it further, so it meets evolving and complex public safety challenges. At the Inspectorate of Policing, we will continue to focus on areas of greatest risk, while identifying how to improve compliance and performance" said Inspector General Teschner. "By applying my mandate to encourage the sector-wide uptake of leading and innovative practices, Ontario can continue to distinguish itself as an international policing and police governance leader." The 2024 Annual Report covers activities from January 1 to December 31, 2024, and is available online. About the Inspector General of Policing Appointed in March 2023, Ryan Teschner is Ontario's first Inspector General of Policing with independent duties and authorities under the Community Safety and Policing Act. The role of the Inspector General serves the public interest by promoting improved performance and accountability in the policing sector, while ensuring compliance with the CSPA and its regulations. Inspector General Teschner leads the Inspectorate of Policing, an oversight body dedicated to ensuring high-quality policing and governance across Ontario.
Toronto Sun
24-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Police officer facing new charges after alleged 'on-duty' incident: OPP
Det.-Const. Brian Sukhram, 38, suspended after being charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice, theft Toronto Police cruiser Photo by Files / Files A Toronto Police officer has found himself in trouble with the law again. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Ontario Provincial Police have charged Det.-Const. Brian Sukhram, 38, of Brampton, in relation to an alleged 'on-duty incident,' which has led to him being suspended from the police service. The Toronto Police professional standards unit began investigating on July 3, 2024, and police requested on Jan. 27 that the OPP assume responsibility for the probe. Sukhram was charged Monday with breach of trust, obstruction of justice, theft over $5,000 and theft under $5,000. A Toronto Police spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that Sukhram has 14 years of service and has been suspended without pay, per the Community Safety and Policing Act. The investigation is ongoing and being directed by the OPP criminal investigation branch. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On the same day the investigation began, Sukhram was charged after a July 3, 2024, incident where a vehicle was reported to be driving erratically in Mississauga. Peel Regional Police alleged at the time that a driver was impaired and in possession of illicit drugs after receiving a call regarding an erratic driver in the Hurontario St.-Courtneypark Dr. area around 2 a.m. Cops said when officers arrived, they allegedly had an 'interaction' with the driver that led to two officers being hospitalized with minor injuries and multiple cruisers being damaged. Sukhram was charged with one count each of dangerous operation, failure to stop after an accident, flight from a peace officer, operation while impaired, operation while impaired (over 80 mg), possession of methamphetamines for the purpose of trafficking and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Peel police have yet to respond to a request for an update on the case. Anyone with any information in relation to the latest investigation is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or Read More Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA NHL Canada
Hamilton Spectator
14-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Inside the Kabera police shooting: Dozens of bullets; Pools of blood; And a cop who shot another cop
By the time Erixon Kabera collapsed on his back, the fifth-floor apartment hallway looked like a war zone. More than two dozen bullets had been fired, all from police-issued pistols, according to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Walls and doors down the entire length of the narrow 47-metre hallway were pocked with holes. On the floor, blood pooled and streaked near spent magazines, cartridge cases, police equipment and bullet fragments. The chilling scene was outlined in an SIU report last week that cleared both officers of wrongdoing in Kabera's shooting death. Despite those findings, the conduct of the involved officers is again under investigation as Hamilton police launch a parallel probe of the incident — the findings of which will be made public. Under the province's revamped Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), in effect since April 2024, police services in Ontario must probe SIU-investigated incidents and submit a report to their police board within 90 days of the watchdog's decision. The board is mandated to then publish the findings on its website. Previous legislation didn't require Ontario police boards to publish internal investigations into officer conduct. Hamilton police spokesperson Jackie Penman said the professional development division is handling the probe. Among its duties, according to the CSPA, is to investigate member conduct and policing in the incident, as well as the 'procedures established by the chief of police as they relate to the incident.' Police responded to the highrise at 1964 Main St. W. on Nov. 9, 2024, after a fifth-floor resident called to report a man banging on her door and holding what appeared to be a black handgun. As the two officers spoke to the resident, the SIU said Kabera exited his apartment and raised what was later confirmed to be a replica handgun. Chaos ensued. The SIU said one officer fired up to eight rounds, while the other, mistakenly thinking his colleague's gunfire came from Kabera, unloaded six to eight. Both fell during the incident, as Kabera walked toward them. Two attempts to deploy a conducted energy weapon (Taser) failed, according to the watchdog. As Kabera continued striding forward, an officer reloaded another magazine and fired eight more shots, the SIU said. Kabera, a 43-year-old father of two, then collapsed. In his report, SIU director Joseph Martino ruled the force used by officers was 'reasonable' given Kabera was brandishing what they 'honestly believed' was a real gun. 'Though mistaken, their misapprehension was a reasonable one.' The replica gun SIU says Erixon Kabera pointed at police before he was fatally shot. All told, upward of 24 shots were fired in three different intervals. One officer accidentally shot the other in the head, luckily only grazing them. Kabera was hit eight times — including in the neck, back, hip, arm, stomach and chest. He died in hospital just after midnight Nov. 10. A couple days later, close friend Andy Ganza went to see Kabera's apartment. 'I didn't really understand what I was looking at. It was like a war zone,' he said of the narrow hallway and his friend's unit, which the SIU noted had its door open during the gunfire. 'Looking at all the bullet holes, the projectiles all over the place … you just think, what happened here? It's incomprehensible.' For months, Kabera's family sought answers as to why the man they knew as a kind and active member of the local Rwandan community was killed. Despite the SIU report, they still have questions. Ganza said among them are 'why the (police) response was so heavy-handed?' The SIU found Kabera walked toward the officers while raising a replica handgun that looked real. Erixon Kabera was killed when he was shot by Hamilton police at his Main Street West apartment. 'At which point do they notice that he's not firing anything? They think it's a real gun, but it's not firing anything,' Ganza said, later arguing police have layers of protections like bulletproof vests and real guns. 'I'm not saying they would be out of danger if this was a real gun, but they have some measures there to protect themselves. I just don't know why it went from zero to a hundred so fast.' In a statement shared by law firm Falconers LLP, Kabera's family said they are reviewing the report and considering legal options. A GoFundMe launched by Ganza in November has raised nearly $53,000 for legal fees. Ganza said the family is holding a rally in the city hall forecourt June 19 to mourn Kabera's death and renew calls for justice. 'We're not out to get police — they're not our enemies. We're looking for answers and accountability,' Ganza said over a call Thursday. 'That's all we want, and that's what we should expect from our police force.' Hamilton police said after the SIU report that it remains committed to meeting with Kabera's family and the Rwandan community to 'find a path forward whenever (they're) ready,' 'As a service, we recognize the profound impact this incident has had on Erixon's family, the broader community and our members.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
12-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Chatham-Kent adopts five-year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan with focus on prevention and collaboration
Chatham-Kent has officially adopted its updated Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWB) for 2025–2029, reinforcing its commitment to building a safer, healthier and more inclusive community. The move follows a provincial mandate that requires every Ontario municipality to develop such a plan under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. The plan, endorsed by Chatham-Kent Council on June 9, was informed by a combination of survey data, stakeholder engagement, and research from provincial and federal sources. Input from more than 350 residents and local leaders across sectors—healthcare, education, social services and emergency response—shaped the priorities and framework of the plan. The goal of the CSWB Plan is to create a community in which residents feel safe, connected and supported, while ensuring that services are accessible and equitable. It emphasizes a proactive and integrated approach to address social issues that affect safety and well-being, rather than relying on incident-based responses alone. Central to the plan is a planning framework that includes four areas of intervention: social development, prevention, risk intervention, and incident response. While each area plays a role, the plan calls for most resources and investments to be directed toward social development initiatives—long-term, proactive strategies that improve outcomes across the population. The plan outlines six priority areas of focus: substance use, mental health, housing and income security, public safety, community belonging, and children, youth and family wellness. Work in each of these priority areas will be led by dedicated action teams composed of local partners. These teams will be responsible for designing and implementing targeted strategies, engaging the public, tracking progress and adapting approaches as needed. Collaboration among agencies and improved data-sharing will be key to measuring impact and refining the plan over time. Key commitments include reducing stigma and systemic barriers associated with substance use, improving access to mental health supports, expanding housing and financial security options, enhancing public safety, and strengthening social ties within neighbourhoods. Investments will also be made in youth programming and initiatives that support healthy family dynamics. A major component of the plan's development was a community survey conducted in March 2025. Over a four-week period, 350 residents responded, providing valuable insights into local needs and perceptions. According to the survey, 70 per cent of respondents reported a sense of belonging in their communities, and more than 81 per cent said they had positive relationships with neighbours. While 65 per cent of people felt safe walking in their neighbourhoods after dark, nearly 80 per cent said they believed crime had increased over the last four years. Other findings highlighted concerns about unsupervised outdoor play for children, particularly among parents of children aged 5 to 12. Respondents identified substance use, criminal activity, mental health, physical activity, poverty, and education and employment as top community priorities. Municipal officials say the survey results, while informative, will be interpreted alongside broader datasets from Statistics Canada, Public Health Ontario and local partners such as the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, Linck, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and emergency service providers. The next steps include sharing the full CSWB Plan with the public in summer 2025 through online platforms and printed copies at local libraries. Community members will continue to be invited to participate in consultations, strategy development, and ongoing feedback sessions. Planners also aim to establish sustainable funding sources, consult residents on specific action items, and build an evaluation strategy to monitor outcomes. The ultimate vision is a long-term reduction in systemic risk factors and improved coordination among services. For more information or to get involved, residents can visit . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Ottawa Citizen
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Lalonde and Papineau: Take off the kid gloves for public oversight of Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS), like other police forces across the province, are treated with kid gloves when it comes to public accountability. The OPS receives even less public oversight than other areas of the city. Article content Article content The OPS is governed under the provincial Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). One key element of the CSPA is a civilian oversight board, which is handled by the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB). There are three city councillors, three provincial appointees and one citizen appointed by the city. Police Service Board members are governed by a code of conduct. Article content Article content To ensure that politicians aren't directing police on what and who they can investigate, boards can't direct the operations of the police. That's a good thing. However, how far is that taken? What is the adequate level of oversight for the OPS? How much public oversight is actually done? Article content OPSB meetings are split between public and 'in camera' (behind closed doors) meetings. Article content Before the COVID pandemic, the OPSB held in-person public meetings. Anyone could go in person and participate. At the start of the pandemic, the OPSB went virtual. Meetings were held online, and they have never turned back. Anyone can watch the meetings, but only those selected in advance to participate are allowed to make statements, and then they are ushered back out of the online meeting room, which limits public dialogue. To boot, what you plan to say must be approved ahead of time. It's a close-knit, gated-community police board. Article content Article content Public agendas for the OPSB encompass pages of feel-good reports, including the monthly compliments report. Compliments are redacted letters from the community giving thanks for a police encounter. Article content Article content The OPSB also has a much more substantive agenda for its in-camera sessions. At every meeting, the chair dutifully cites the legal cover for going in camera. There are good reasons to have some items discussed behind closed doors. Legal and specific employee disciplinary actions are two. That should be it. Article content Since October 2023, the OPSB has had a standing in camera agenda item called 'Updates on Demonstrations and Events Management'. The OPSB discusses in camera the police actions related to a fundamental right protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: 'freedom of peaceful assembly.' Why are discussions pertaining to this bedrock of our democracy done behind closed doors month after month? What operational issues related to peaceful assembly require secrecy? Given the concerning attempts to curtail civil liberties among our neighbours to the south, these questions necessitate serious consideration.
