Waiver of police re-hiring policy under scrutiny
Councillor ‘disappointed’ after two retired officers return without waiting period
A city councillor is questioning why the civilian overseers of the Toronto Police Service agreed to waive a oneyear waiting period to hire two retired senior officers to help implement the force’s modernization plan.
“We have that policy for a reason and it’s a pretty steep hill to climb to break it,” Councillor Jon Burnside said.
“I was disappointed that the (police) board appeared to rubber stamp this deal. It only served to reinforce the perception that the rules are different for the police.”
Bryce Evans and Mike Earl both retired July 1 after decades with the police service, primarily in investigative and supervisory roles.
On Aug. 1, the TPS initiated a request for proposals (RFP) seeking qualified proponents to describe how they could assist the force to develop, recommend and prepare up-to-date crime prevention materials that can be provided to the public by neighbourhood officers. The contract was worth up to $150,000.
The materials and research are required as the service works to realize the vision set forth by the transformational task force. The task force released its final report in January, describing it as an “action plan” to ensure “comprehensive and longlasting change,” while cutting costs and rebuilding public trust in the Toronto Police Service.
The task force recommended the creation of Neighbourhood Safety Teams — uniformed officers stationed on a long-term basis in the city’s 140 neighbourhoods. Bidding closed Aug. 28. Twenty-eight potential suppliers downloaded the RFP and two companies, including Lansdowne Technologies, submitted bids. Lansdowne, an Ottawa-based management consultant company, scored the highest and came in with the lowest price, Sandra Buckler, a police service strategic communications adviser, said in an email.
Evans and Earl are employed by Lansdowne as consultants.
A bid evaluation committee, two staff sergeants and a police constable, reviewed the retired officers resumés and “determined that both possess the specific qualifications and skills for the services required,” Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders wrote in an Oct. 5 letter to the oversight board. Saunders continues to recover from a kidney transplant.
His letter asked the board to waive the one-year waiting period for the re-employment of former Toronto Police Service members.
The board can approve the waiver when the service “is in urgent need of an individual with specific qualifications/skills,” Saunders letter said.
The province gave the police service a $150,000 grant earmarked for public safety/crime consulting services. “However, as per the provincial deadline, the deliverable product must be designed and provided to the TPS and the funds expended no later than March 31, 2018. Any delay in approvals and commence of work will put this deadline at risk,” the chief’s letter said. Councillor and board member Shelley Carroll moved the motion to approve, which the board did unanimously on Oct. 26. Mayor John Tory, who sits on the board, was absent.
“It was an open and transparent tender and once that tender process was through, our role as overseers is to make sure that the contract we paid delivers exactly what we asked it to deliver,” Carroll said this week.
“So whatever their history, if they’re the consultants for Lansdowne, that will be their job.”
Burnside, a former Toronto police officer, said it’s disappointing nothing publicly was said about the hiring. “The board is supposed to ensure transparency and help build public confidence,” he said. “The money may be seen as small but the principle is big.”