Yatim family seeks policing changes
Coroner’s inquest announced into officer’s Taser killing of youth on Toronto streetcar
Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said he looks forward to co-operating with a coroner’s inquest into the death of Sammy Yatim “to get it right.”
Yatim, 18, was shot and killed by thenToronto police officer James Forcillo on astreetcar almost exactly six years ago. A jury acquitted the officer of murder, but found him guilty of attempted murder, and sentenced him to six years in prison.
Lawyer Ed Upenieks, representing Bill Yatim, Sammy’s father, said his client is hopeful change will come from the inquest, which was announced Wednesday.
Among the changes he would like to see are improvements to police communications with others at the scene of an incident — in this case, the streetcar driver — and stronger monitoring of the mental health of front line officers.
“We’re hopeful that police forces are open, are receptive, to the coroner’s findings and recommendations, and they’ll adopt them,” Upenieks said. “We saw what happened and we should learn from it, and do better.”
Dr. Bonnie Burke, a regional supervising coroner, said the inquest is being called because it is in the public interest and because the criminal matters in the case have now been resolved.
Inquests are now mandatory under the Coroners Act in cases that involved di
YATIM continued on GT3
rect police action, however the Yatim case happened before the change came into effect.
According to the Coroner’s Office, the inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Yatim’s death on July 27, 2013. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths.
Saunders, speaking to reporters after Wednesday’s police board meeting at Toronto police headquarters, said police have made improvements since the 2013 shooting “with respect to lessons learned, to enhancing our training — a lot of things that we went through as a result of that situation.”
“To the Yatim family, having it resurface again, I’m sure that there are some emotions with that,” Saunders added.
The shooting was captured on several videos from bystanders and the TTC security cameras on the streetcar.
Forcillo shot nine times at Yatim in two separate volleys — firing the first six shots as the teen stood near the door of the empty streetcar on Dundas St. holding a small knife and the last three as the teen lay paralyzed on the ground.
Forcillo’s conviction and sentence were upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal and he was denied leave to appeal at the Supreme Court of Canada last year.
Forcillo resigned from the police services last year. He became eligible for day parole in July.
A disciplinary charge against the sergeant who Tasered the mentally ill teen as he lay dying was dropped last week.
Yatim’s death sparked outrage in Toronto over police use-offorce tactics, particularly when responding to a person in a mental health crisis.
The date and location of the inquest has not yet been set.