Blair promises unbiased review

Toronto police Chief Bill Blair sought to assure the public on Wednesday the internal review of police’s use of force in dealing with emotionally disturbed persons will be unbiased, although the former judge tasked with leading the review, Dennis O’Connor, works for a law firm that has acted for the insurers of the police in civil suits.

In a statement emailed to reporters, Blair said he is satisfied O’Connor, a retired Ontario associate chief justice who is now employed by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, will be able to provide him with sound advice on the policies he has been asked to look at. “As is well known, BLG has acted for the insurers of the Toronto Police Service in civil suits, some of which include allegations of the wrongful use of lethal force. Currently, lawyers at BLG are acting on a number of such matters,” read the statement.

Despite Blair’s assurances, some still expressed concern that the review, announced on Monday, will have an appearance of bias to the public.

“I would think that if they want to have a review that has an appearance of impartiality, they should retain someone who has no connection to any firm that has represented police interests in civil suits by family members of victims of police killings and/or in coroner’s inquests considering police killings,” said Peter Rosenthal, the lawyer representing the family of Michael Eligon at an upcoming coroner’s inquest into his death. Eligon was shot dead by police last year.