Minutes of the Monthly Meeting held on April 14th, 2014, at Committee Room No 2, Queen’s Park

Present:

  • Thomas S. Saras
  • Maria Saras-Voutsinas
  • Tatyana Fursenko
  • Ricky Castellvi
  • Jacques Varbedian
  • Mohammad-Bagher Samimi
  • Ahmad Hotaki
  • David Nguyen
  • Suleyman Guven
  • Dimitru Popescu
  • Daniela Spirlac
  • Teshome Woldeamanuel
  • Marek J. Goldyn
  • Nishantha Don
  • Paultri Oli
  • Jonathan Annobil
  • Peter Galiatsos
  • C. Senthi
  • Susana Donan
  • Pawel Jezirowski
  • Nicholas Lalchan
  • Srimal Abeywarden
  • Logan Logendralingham
  • Paisley Rae
  • Sandeep Prabhakar
  • Rakhee Prabhakar
  • Suhanthy Tharmasrirajah
  • Tharmasrirajah Thirunavukkarae
  • Mohammad Tajdolati
  • Henry Chiu
  • Isa Melo
  • Janusz Niemczyk
  • John Saraidaris
  • Mila Garcia
  • Hermie Garcia
  • Samy Amanul
  • Raffi Der Boghossian
  • Ned Blair

 

 

Agenda

  • Welcome Remarks by the Chair
  • A call to order by the Chair
  • Agenda of the Day
  • Minutes of the previous meeting
  • Presentation by Deputy Chief Peter Sloly, Toronto Police Service, PACER Project
  • Report by the President – Questions Period
  • New Business (Motions)
  • Volunteer Appreciation Night
  • New Members
  • Community Report
  • Adjournment

                                        
Welcome Remarks by the Chair:
- Meeting is called to order at 6:00 PM
- May 4th: setting up the City Hall display/exhibit- please bring a copy of newspapers in your community.
- 40 VIPs have confirmed, including the main mayoral candidates
- Premier Kathleen Wynne will be our main speaker.

Introduction of Deputy Chief Peter Sloly

- Greetings on behalf of Chief Blair
- Acknowledged journalists around the world have lost their lives
- Freedom of expression and free press should not be taken for granted.
- The Deputy had travelled to Kosovo (2002) on a UN peacekeeping mission when he was a police officer.

PACER:

- Relations between the police and minorities has been tumultuous
- Race relations and minority relations remain in a bubble
- Communities that don't trust us, call us less.
- 2 years ago, the Chief launched a review to identify areas that need to improve.
*Race relations/profiling- does not have it right.
- Minority recruitment increased, including an increase in the number of women.
- Ontario Human Rights Commission partnered with the Toronto Police Service
- Racial profiling still exists.
- 2012: researching best practices from around the world, as well as reserached their own statistics/analysis- they found a number of problems.
- August 2013: presented the Chief with 31 recommendations, and reached out to a number of different groups (75 organizations). They got their feedback on recommendations prior to presenting them to the Chief.

www.TPS.on.ca/CSN
- 31 recommendations reviewed.
- Body worn cameras: moderates both officer and community behaviour.
- Thanked the ethnic media for reporting on police officer good deeds.
- UCLA- Centre for Police Equity is evaluating the recommedations.

Questions from members to Deputy Chief Sloly:

Q: There is an increase in gang and drug use: hot spots.
A: Drugs/gangs are co-related, and drive violent crime. In the 1990s, we realized we had a gang problem (smaller scale than in the USA).  Despite the growth of gangs and drugs, the percentage of gang members is very small. Approximately 2000 gang members in the GTA- very small number. Good people make up a larger number in the disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and it's not tied to race.

Q: (Rakhee) Still a small number of women in the force.
A: 18/20% are women. 20/22% are visible minorities. We are doing diversity hiring, and are working on it. We need your help. It's a safe job.

Q: (Peter) Bicycle traffic: how is it dealt with?
A: Cycling enforcement campaigns are held every year. They enforce the rules of the road. We try to balance enforcement of pedestrian, bike and car.

Q: (Srimal): We used to receive constant communication from the force. It has dropped off.
A: Badge is now online. We will continue to email the group when it is available for viewing online.
-Hate crimes: we have a hate crime unit that pays attention to what happens around the world.
-Terror cells: avoid terrorism due to relationship with the ethnic media.

Q: (Marek): Recording all interactions, is that a good thing? Are you looking at ethnic traditions?
A: Cameras: a study in the UK was researched- trust and fear are a major issue in all aspects of life. Everybody deserves respect and safety.

Q: (Raffi): Grow-ops- there used to be a list of grow-ops. It is not listed anymore.
A: TPS does not publish this list. It stigmatizes people and communities.

Q: (Janusz): Mental Health Issues.
A: Emotional disturbance cases are tough for police to deal with. 10, 000 instances a year of emotional crisis. We handle them well a majority of the time. Very few that go wrong always get media attention.
-Mental Health community/advocates closed hospitals, put people back into the community without support.

Q: (Mila): Jeffrey R. case - was shift in the back 10 years ago by police. We would like an official statement regarding the 7 recommendations from the case. Also, the young girl that was run over by an unmarked police car. Family has not received any answers. The community does not trust the police.
A: The Chief did reach out to the family. Contact the Office of the Chief to find out the status of the recommendations. The other matter is still with the SIU, and cannot be commented on.

Q: (Isa): Bad situation concerning a beating by a police officer.
A: Went to court, and so I cannot comment on the Judge's ruling.

Q; (Logan): Invite the Chiefs of Police to cultural events, but the TPS Chief doesn't come out.
A: Diversity Management Unit still exists. Meaghan will follow up to get an officer out to events. The Chief does go to a lot of events, He can't be everywhere.

Q: (Iliana): PACER is great. Pan Am games- will it pose a policing issue?
A: Proud to host. OPP is the lead agency. TPS is a subset, yet OPP handles it all. No major heads of state, like the Olympics. We are prepared to provide safety.

Q: Cultural events- asked to have police officers, which costs a lot of money, especially in Scarborough. Can we reduce the cost?
A: 10/20 years ago, it was an issue. Now, we look at patterns, and we go from there.

Q: (Raffi): TPS is best in the world. Why was the Mayor not charged?
A: 1st investigation was concluded. Up to the Judge. The 2nd investigation is ongoing with the OPP and TPS.

New Business (Motions):

Reminder from Mr. Saras to nominate your community for awards. Spoke of the Afghan Post celebrating its 15 year anniversary- to receive an award.

  • 2015 calendars: 500 desk and 500 pocket: approx cost of $3000.

Motion - Suleyman Goven, Peter Galiatsos and Srimal- carried.

  • CNE: opening our event on the Saturday or Sunday? The group agreed that the Sunday made more sense.

Vote: unanimous support for a Sunday opening event.

  • July 1st: Canada Day Party will be on July 4th @ Cypriot Community Centre.

 

  • Mayoralty presentation will begin at 6:30 on May 26th.

Adjournment:

The Chair Thomas Saras asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mohammad Tajdolati moved the motion and Maria Voutsinas seconded it. The motion was carried. The Chair President Thomas Saras adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm. The next monthly meeting would take place on May 12, 2014 at committee room N# 2, at Queens Park.

 

-End-