Zameer case offers a chance for change
Political opportunity is a lot like the weather. It comes when it comes. When the wind blows, you can fly a kite.
The winds of political opportunity around meaningful police reform are blowing right now, but nobody seems to want to fly a kite in Toronto. Nobody in charge, that is.
The acquittal of Umar Zameer has presented a moment of opportunity and clarity. The case was so egregious, so obviously the wrong thing to pursue, it ignited outrage among the public like few court cases or police activity have. That’s both a call and window for change.
Trust is broken, and people are rightfully asking themselves, “What if it was me?”
What if there was no video evidence or experts to contradict police testimony, as there was in this case? What if the judge wasn’t so sharp, so demanding, so outraged that she made a rare apology to Zameer on behalf of Ontario’s justice system?
The incredible power police are given requires and demands incredible trust. That trust is broken is a crisis, but the people who could start to do something meaningful about it aren’t acknowledging the crisis.
Politicians who inappropriately meddled in the Zameer case are responding to public outrage while not saying much. At the provincial level, Doug Ford said he was working with “limited information” when he denounced the 2021 decision to release Zameer on bail, though he conspicuously did not apologize to the man or his family. Similarly, John Tory said (in a classic John Tory way), “there are many learnings” when asked if he had regrets about slamming Zameer’s bail. He also didn’t apologize.
A man’s life and family were nearly ruined, and certainly had been unalterably changed, but no apologies. Those omissions should be noted and remembered. What if this had happened to you? How would you feel?
And further, an officer — by all account a beloved and dedicated cop — is dead. Now is the time to ask what the service needs to change so that this same tragedy never repeats itself.
Opposition parties at Queen’s Park also didn’t make much effort to bring up police reform. A shame, since the province oversees policing as much as municipalities do. The void of leadership here is profound, but public sentiment is real and is being noticed by others, too.
Another sign of how deeply felt the public’s outrage is: Police Chief Myron Demkiw walked back comments he made after the trial. Initially
saying he’d been “hoping for a different outcome,” he later said he supports and accepts the verdict. This walk back is another rare thing, but that he was so quick to dismiss a verdict everyone could see was correct should result in his resignation.
Offered instead is a “full internal review” of plain-clothes activities and the OPP have been asked to review officer testimony in the case. Out of public scrutiny and police investigating police, then.
There’s a long history here. A 2012 Toronto Star investigation called, “Police who lie: How officers thwart justice with false testimony,” found that in 100 recent cases, police across Canada used illegal techniques, excessive force and racial profiling, then covered it up with false testimony.
That’s something to think about while considering what the Crown prosecutors used to build the case against Zameer.
In speaking with the Star this week, Mayor Olivia Chow said establishing and maintaining trust is important, but indicated she was content with the subsequent actions police have taken and that people should have continued faith in both police and the chief himself. Should they?
It was only two months ago the police — the chief and the police association — mounted a bullying public relations campaign directed at the mayor and council during the annual budget debate. Our elected officials were largely cowed by the police, and gave in.
No politician needs or wants a fight with the cops, and after the budget behaviour, who can blame them. But how does a regular person, without any vested or ideological interest one way or another, look at all this and think, “Everything is OK, I can put my trust in this system.” We need bold, brave and strong leadership now, not a void, not more cowing.
Ultimately the system did exonerate Zameer, but at a huge cost. Although free, he and his family went through hell and will likely face ignorant comments and suspicion for a lifetime.
Sometimes it seems like the system can’t be fought or changed, especially when politicians, the only truly democratic representation we have, seem cowed into submission.
It’s why the fundraiser for Zameer’s legal defence, exceeding its $200,000 goal, means a lot: in the absence of reform, political leadership, or even mild critique, people voted with their money. To try to make amends while the system resists change.
There’s still opportunity for change. People in Toronto and Canada are upset. The usual behind-the-scenes fixes won’t cut it this time. Trust is gone. Without trust, nothing else matters, but the wind won’t blow forever.