Toronto Police Services Board Explained

Toronto Police Service Board
Abbreviation:TPSB
Predecessor:Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board
Type:Police board
Headquarters:40 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
Leader Title:Chair
Leader Name:Ann Morgan
Budget: (approved police operating budget, 2020)
Staff:Toronto Police Service

The Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB) is the civilian police board that governs the Toronto Police Service (TPS). The board is responsible for approving the annual police budget, defining objectives and policies for TPS, and hiring Toronto's police chief.

The role of police service boards are outlined in sections 37-39 of the provincial Community Safety and Policing Act. The board makes decisions governing the structure and environment of the police service, but the chief of police leads the day-to-day operation of the police. Neither the board or its members can direct members of the police service. Only the chief of police, who is responsible to the board as a whole, receives direction on objectives, policies and priorities.[1] [2]

Membership of the board includes the mayor of Toronto (or a designate), two city councillors, one civilian member appointed by city council and three civilian members appointed by the province.

The board is administrative in nature and it does not investigate police conduct or complaints, as is the mandate of the Special Investigations Unit, Ontario Civilian Police Commission or Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which are oversight agencies.

Membership

The board comprises seven members, three appointed by the Province of Ontario and four by the City of Toronto. Three civilian members are appointed by the province and one by the city; two city councillors and the mayor of Toronto as the head of council sit on the board. A chair (presently Ann Morgan) and vice-chair are elected from its membership. The Community Safety and Policing Act requires the board to meet at least four times a year.[3]

The Community Safety and Policing Act also stipulates that a judge, justice of the peace, police officer, or a person who practices criminal law as a defence counsel may not be a member of a police board.

, the board members are:[4]

Name Position Appointed by Joined board
Ann Morgan Chair Province March 27, 2021
Lisa Kostakis Vice-chair Province September 13, 2020
Councillor Toronto City Council November 23, 2022
Nadine Spencer Member Toronto City Council April 3, 2023
Nick Migliore Member Province May 18, 2023
Councillor Toronto City Council August 10, 2023
Councillor Toronto City Council August 10, 2023

History

Prior to amalgamation, the Metropolitan Toronto Police were governed by the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board from 1990 until 1998. Previously, it was called the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission (or Board of Police Commission) from 1955 until 1990, when the name of the board was changed as a result of amendments to the Police Services Act.[5]

Former chairs

BodyChairTenure
Metropolitan Toronto Police CommissionCharles O. Bick1956–1977
Philip Givens1977–1985
1985–1988
June Rowlands1989–1990
Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board1990-1991
Susan Eng1991–1995
Maureen Prinsloo1995–1998
Toronto Police Services BoardNorm Gardner1998–2004
Alan Heisey2004
Pam McConnell2004–2005
Alok Mukherjee2005 – July 31, 2015
Andrew Pringle2015–2019
Jim Hart2019–2023
Ann Morgan2023–present
Source: Toronto Police Services Board[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toronto Police Service Board - Board Mandate. 2020-12-06. www.tpsb.ca.
  2. Web site: October 12, 2022 . The Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto "Freedom Convoy": Applying the Lessons of the Morden Report .
  3. Web site: Agency Details - Community Safety and Correctional Services - Police Services Board - Toronto. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170718140704/https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/scripts/en/BoardDetails.asp?boardID=1113. July 18, 2017. Government of Ontario.
  4. Web site: Board Members . Toronto Police Services Board . www.tpsb.ca . December 11, 2023.
  5. Web site: October 27, 1997 . Toronto Police Services Board — October 1997 Minutes . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927024238/http://www.torontopoliceboard.on.ca/minutes/1997/october.doc . September 27, 2007.
  6. Web site: Toronto Police Services Board - Past Members . 2022-10-23 . www.tpsb.ca.