WAY OF OUR LIVES: "When you have police officers who abuse citizens, you erode public confidence in law enforcement. That makes the job of good police officers unsafe."

To Serve & Protect: It’s only a fictitious name used to brutalize and kill poor people, to create panic and dehumanize minority people. The question is; the Toronto police force are complying with their duty to Serve & Protect the public in general? How many atrocious crimes are committed by blue collar delinquents and are of police knowledge? The chief of police and their force are part of the impunity of these heinous crimes! Is of public knowledge that the police force is mistreating detainees under their custody? Or by surprise storming poor neighborhoods to apprehend suspects, who committed petty crimes! But when the delinquents are people from the media, employees from government institutions, and workers from the "Children's Aid Societies," the criminal acts are buried by the police. Also the mass media are guilty to help the police, to maintain in impunity, countless heinous crimes, and by the immunity that have to commit very serious crimes in immigrants. News Toronto & GTA WARMINGTON Police shouldn't have to wait for formal complaint to start investigations

By Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun

First posted: Thursday, October 30, 2014 10:40 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, October 30, 2014 10:47 PM EDT

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair holds a press conference at police headquarters on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (VERONICA HENRI/Toronto Sun)

Article More Coverage

Topics

Jian Ghomeshi

TORONTO - Just how many alleged victims do police need before they will investigate the growing Jian Ghomeshi case? What are police waiting for to launch a criminal probe into the public allegations from women against the prominent fired CBC radio star? “We need a complainant,” Chief Bill Blair explained at police headquarters Thursday. “We need someone to come forward and say, ‘This is what’s happened to me.’” The fact is an abundance of women have come forward and said what has (they allege) happened to them. Nine alleged victims and counting is where it is currently at. Eight came forward via the Toronto Star and CBC. One on the Huffington Post. Two woman have used their names. But somehow police are rendered immobile and useless in a story that has shocked the country? Somehow they have thrown up their hands and said the onus is on the victim? “We are quite prepared to conduct a criminal investigation should they come forward with complaints,” said Blair. Who knew the police need to be invited into a chorus of allegations which include women who alleged they were “punched and choked” by the former radio host. Of course the whole notion is ludicrous. They don’t need to be invited in to probe any case. They certainty didn’t wait for one when it came to investigating Mayor Rob Ford’s late night escapades. Sometimes what is needed is a little bit out-of-the-box thinking and skill on thin ice. “People may be reluctant to report their victimization and to participate in a criminal invitation or the criminal justice system,” Blair said. “Out first priority is their safety and recovery.” He also said police will treat any complainant with sensitivity. All well meaning but the chief doesn’t seem prepared to actively have his sexual assault detectives talk to the victims on their own — at least in cases where the woman alleges she was attacked here in Toronto. “One of the things we will not do is force them to do something they do not want to do,” explained Blair. The notion is absurd. These women already believe they have been victimized and many have spoken to both mainstream and social media — in essence bypassing police. Social media is investigating, prosecuting judging this case while police are on the sidelines not even involved. Even Ghomeshi has taken to social media in a pre-emptive strike with his Facebook post explaining his participation in consensual “rough” sex with “safe words.” The world of reporting alleged criminal activity has clearly changed before our eyes and the police have been left right out of loop. That someone needs to complain seems nonsensical — particularly in historical sexual assault cases. It would certainly make their job easier to have someone come in with a shoebox full of quality evidence but that would be unusual. The public or potential victims do not want to hear what the police can’t do but what they can do. I spoke with several former Canadian police chiefs Thursday and they all told me no police service is hampered by waiting for a perfect witness to come forward. Sometimes you have to wear out a little shoe leather. Former OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis, now an analyst with CTV sent out a series of tweets Thursday night saying when a “police force that becomes aware of the identity of an alleged victim that ... may have been victimized in their jurisdiction (they) should sensitively reach out to that person and open the door to them.” He also tweeted, “If they don’t accept the offer to chat, that’s their prerogative. But the police should at least open that door to them.” Lewis tweeted: “I fully understand why victims of sexual or physical assault are reticent to report such crimes. The process can be humiliating. But if formal complaints aren’t made it is tough for police to conduct a ‘victimless’ investigation. Police services should encourage the yet unidentified alleged victims to come forward and caring/sensitive and professional investigators will hear them out and conduct thorough and unbiased investigations, while treating them with respect.” The bottom line is police can be proactive and don’t have to sit on their hands and wait for the next shoe to drop. It seems like the whole country is waiting for what is to come next. The police, too

WAY OF OUR LIVES

Saturday, November 1, 2014

"When you have police officers who abuse citizens, you erode public confidence in law enforcement. That makes the job of good police officers unsafe." - Mary Frances Berry

No comments:

About Me

Blog Archive