A retired Supreme Court Justice has issued a 300-page investigative report into Toronto, Canada police interventions with people undergoing psychological crises, and his recommendations call for “zero deaths,” reports the Toronto Star. The report’s recommendations also call for significant changes in “police culture” and police attitudes towards people in crisis. According to the Star, the report “advocates for training that emphasizes de-escalation techniques and communication, in place of force.” Yet it also promotes more use of conducted energy weapons, or Tasers.
Peter Rosenthal, a Toronto lawyer who has represented families of police shooting victims, told the Star the report’s support for Tasers was “disappointing.”
Iacobucci report calls for a ‘zero deaths’ police culture (Toronto Star, July 24, 2014)
Police Encounters With People in Crisis (Toronto Police Service Report, July 2014)