Good on him.
Toronto police chief orders officers to stop controversial carding ‘until further notice’
Toronto police Chief Blair has ordered the rank and file to suspend the controversial practice of carding “until further notice.”
The top cop’s spokesman confirmed Chief Blair issued the “routine order” on January 1st, but said he will not comment until February on why a practice he once defended should suddenly cease.
Chief Blair had been asked by his board to report back on carding at the February meeting.
“His practice has always been to speak to the board before he speaks publicly and that’s what he’ll do,” said spokesman Mark Pugash.
Carding — the practice of documenting non criminal interactions with the public — has been a lightning rod that has frayed relations between police and some visible minorities, who see it as a means to racial profiling.
At a board meeting last month, Mayor John Tory called the practice “corrosive”. Activists and concerned residents called for an end to carding, but the board instead reaffirmed its commitment to a policy adopted last year that places restrictions on it.
Police union president Mike McCormack said carding is a “useful investigative technique” when done properly and “within the framework of the law” although he noted that its use is “way down.”
It shouldn’t have gone on in the first place and now he’s saying ‘until further notice’
“We understand the balance between individuals’ rights and community perception and balancing that with the investigative needs and requirements,” said Mr. McCormack. “We just want to ensure that’s protected.”
Kingsley Gilliam, a director of the Black Action Defense Committee, said police already have all the investigative powers they need. He called the chief’s order a “step in the right direction” but said it’s not enough.
“It shouldn’t have gone on in the first place and now he’s saying ‘until further notice’. That makes it still tentative. We want it stopped permanently,” he said.
Toronto police chief orders officers to stop controversial carding ‘until further notice’
Toronto police chief orders officers to stop controversial carding ‘until further notice’
Toronto police Chief Blair has ordered the rank and file to suspend the controversial practice of carding “until further notice.”
The top cop’s spokesman confirmed Chief Blair issued the “routine order” on January 1st, but said he will not comment until February on why a practice he once defended should suddenly cease.
Chief Blair had been asked by his board to report back on carding at the February meeting.
“His practice has always been to speak to the board before he speaks publicly and that’s what he’ll do,” said spokesman Mark Pugash.
Carding — the practice of documenting non criminal interactions with the public — has been a lightning rod that has frayed relations between police and some visible minorities, who see it as a means to racial profiling.
At a board meeting last month, Mayor John Tory called the practice “corrosive”. Activists and concerned residents called for an end to carding, but the board instead reaffirmed its commitment to a policy adopted last year that places restrictions on it.
Police union president Mike McCormack said carding is a “useful investigative technique” when done properly and “within the framework of the law” although he noted that its use is “way down.”
It shouldn’t have gone on in the first place and now he’s saying ‘until further notice’
“We understand the balance between individuals’ rights and community perception and balancing that with the investigative needs and requirements,” said Mr. McCormack. “We just want to ensure that’s protected.”
Kingsley Gilliam, a director of the Black Action Defense Committee, said police already have all the investigative powers they need. He called the chief’s order a “step in the right direction” but said it’s not enough.
“It shouldn’t have gone on in the first place and now he’s saying ‘until further notice’. That makes it still tentative. We want it stopped permanently,” he said.
Toronto police chief orders officers to stop controversial carding ‘until further notice’
