Just like Toronto Mayor John Tory, this writer once thought he could make a difference on the local Police Services Board. The boards are made up of elected municipal politicians and citizen appointees. This resolve was strengthened the first time we saw the local Police Services Board chair stand up at City Council to present the police budget. It seemed to make a lie of everything we thought we knew about these boards.
A person appointed by their council or by the province to their police services board does not work for the police. These are the people who are supposed to oversee the activities of the police on behalf of the public. Their employer is the public.
The worst type of member for the board is someone like Alok Mukherjee Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board. He is considered a survivor. In ten years on the board, he has avoided controversy and stayed out of trouble. Other than a very naïve posting to his ill-advised Facebook page, the man is rarely noticed. He has done nothing, achieved nothing and the Toronto Police have remained a law unto themselves.
If it were not for the tensions between the senior police staff and the rank and file officers with their union, we would have anarchy. As a paramilitary organization, you expect disciplined behaviour and an effective command structure. You also expect the behaviour of your police to reflect well on your community.
While they do not always live up to ideals, your police are ambassadors. Politeness and smiles do far more for your community than a heavy hand of enforcement. Scruffy, ill-kempt officers in dirty cars tell you volumes about a city.
The truth be told, John Tory is probably not helping himself to take on a role on the Toronto Police Services Board. The job would take too much time and would be a major distraction from his other priorities. He neither needs to take on the police union nor should he allow himself to be drawn into dialogue with the union head. Relations with the union are the police chief’s problem. In fact that might be the main concern in appointing the next chief.
Living in Babel, this writer is not available for a seat on the Toronto Board. Mind you if we were appointed to the board here, we would have to stop writing this blog. And the blog is much more fun.
-30-
Copyright 2014 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]