Board approves police review
Terms of external exam given the go-ahead
The Toronto police board approved the terms of reference
for the upcoming external review examining how officers probe missing persons cases — including that it examine the disappearances of the men now believed to be victims of alleged
killer Bruce McArthur. At its monthly meeting in police headquarters Thursday, the civilian board green lit what Mayor John Tory called the “guiding document” outlining wwhat will be scrutinized during an a independent examination of how Toronto police conducts missing persons investigations.
Earlier this year, the board approved the external review in the wake of growing public crit- icism about how police have handled recent missing-persons cases — notably, the disappearances of the men who alleged serial killer McArthur is now charged with killing.
McArthur, 66, is facing eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of men linked to
the Gay Village. However, the board made it clear ataathattimethatthere- view could not compromise the ongoing criminal probe into McArthur, or his future trial.
A working group created to draft the terms of the review
appears to have found the right compromise.
In a report to the board filed last week, they outlined a proposed solution: examine how Toronto police investigated those disappearances before McArthur came onto police radar.
The middle-ground approach, unanimously approved Thursday, allows the review to still examine the cases that have raised alarm bells without compromising the trial or investigation.
“What this accomplishes is an ability to start getting answers a to questions and the ability to begin the process of getting systemic reforms in place,” said Shakir Rahim, a member of the working group and a board member with the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention.
He called the board’s approval of the terms of the review “a
very positive step for repairing public T trust and creating healing.”
Tory said the decision Thursday is an important step for the LGBTQ community and the city — though he acknowledged it’s the start of a process that
will take over a year. “It’s huge step forward, but on a very, very long journey. It’s a long journey because this matter is very complicated, there are a lot of complicated legal and other issues associated with it,” he said. Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters after the board meeting that he fully supports the review, calling it “an opportunity for understanding.” Saunders said once the criminal probe and trial is completed there will be full transparency concerning the investigation. The next step in the process is to hire a reviewer. Tory said that should happen in the coming months, with the expectation that whoever is brought on can begin their work by the end of the summer.
Wendy Gillis covers crime and policing. She can be reached at wgillis@thestar.ca