Police reviewing supports after fatal overdose

TORONTO — The fatal fentanyl overdose of a Toronto drug squad officer has the police service considering what more it could be doing to support those working in its high-risk units.

The death of Const. Michael Thompson — which occurred in April, was deemed an overdose in July and was announced by police on Thursday — has raised many questions about what happened to the 37-year-old described as a good officer who was respected by his colleagues.

The service is conducting parallel reviews — one into Thompson’s death that includes investigating his professional responsibilities, and the other into support programs for officers in high-risk units, such as the drug squad, human trafficking unit and the emergency task force, said police spokesperson Meaghan Gray.

Investigators haven’t said why Thompson, who was found in medical distress at his home, had fentanyl at his residence. But, Gray said, while some questions about Thompson may always remain unanswered, the force is taking a close look at how it supports officers.

“(The force is) looking to see whether what we’re doing is enough and potentially what else we could offer officers,” Gray said. “We want to see if there’s anything that we could be doing differently.”

The police service already has mandatory wellness visits for officers in high-risk units that include scheduled meetings with psychiatrists, Gray said, but police are looking closely at those supports.

“Any time we lose a member it is concerning to us and I think that we would take a look at … what services we’re providing” and make any changes that would benefit all members of the force, she said.