July 13 Toronto A coalition of more […]
When
1981-07-13
Description
July 13 Toronto A coalition of more than a dozen minority and community groups, including RTPC, announced the formation of the Citizens' Independent Review of Police Actions (CIRPA). CIRPA would advise citizens with complaints about the police to take them before the Police Commission or to sue officers in small claims court, rather than use the police's own Complaints Bureau. Metro Toronto Police Chief Jack Ackroyd dismissed CIRPA, saying there was no need for the group. Attorney General Roy McMurtry reacted almost immediately by setting up a new review system and appointing lawyer Sidney Linden to head it as Public Complaints Commissioner, without the approval of the Ontario Legislature or Cabinet. McMurtry's move was heavily criticized, since Bill 68, the Metropolitan Police Force Complaints Project Act, 1981, had not yet been passed in the Ontario Legislature. (See also September 16, 1981.)
All Events
September 16 Toronto CIRPA, set up […]May 15 Toronto Ontario's PC […]March 12 Toronto Rev. Brent Hawkes […]All Places
Queen's Park Ontario Legislature Legislative Assembly of OntarioTorontoAll People
Sidney LindenRoy McMurtryJack AckroydAll Organizations
Citizens' Independent Review of Police Actions (CIRPA)Government of OntarioToronto Police ServiceMetropolitan Board of Commissioners of Police, Metropolitan Police CommissionAll Monograph
Bill 68, the Metropolitan Police Force Complaints Project ActAll Citations
"New Appointment Follows Several Years of Pressure, Studies," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 24 July 1981, p. 5."Misguided Police-watching" (editorial), Toronto Star, four star ed., 15 July 1981, p. A8Robert Matas, "Rights Groups Indignant over New Police Bureau," Globe and Mail, weekend ed., 25 July 1981, p. 2Robert Matas, "Police-complaint Bureau to be Unveiled Tomorrow," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 22 July 1981, p. 5Robert Matas, "Commissioner Is Not Ready for Complaints about Police: Awaiting Legislation," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 24 July 1981, p. 5Kirk Makin, "Police-bill Compromise Rejected by McMurtry," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 1 October 1981, p. 21Bill Loos, "New Group to Watch Police," Body Politic, no. 76 (1981), p. 13"Group to Monitor Police: Torture, Abuse of Suspects Alleged," Toronto Sun, 14 July 1981, p. 27Julian Fantino, "A Post Mortem on CIRPA," News & Views (Metropolitan Toronto Police Association), May 1982, pp. 8–9, 28B.C. (Bernard Courte), "Formation d'une commission de surveillance de la police," Le Berdache, no. 24 (1981), p. 17"Citizens' Independent Review of Police Actions (CIRPA)" vertical file, Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, Toronto"Citizens Form Group to Investigate Police: Givens Skeptical," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 14 July 1981, p. 5"Ackroyd Rejects Citizens' Review," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 15 July 1981, p. C8
