The report by the Ontario Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) found that many aspects of policing the summit went reasonably well but, in other cases, police ignored "the basic rights of citizens under the charter."
OIPRD head Gerry McNeilly concluded some officers used “excessive force” to clamp down on any and all protesters, with Toronto police commanders acting on orders for "the largest mass arrests in Canadian history."
Blair on Wednesday refused to apologize for police actions during the June 25-27 summit in downtown Toronto, although he did accept the OIPRD's findings and conceded police could have done better.
"Chief Blair has in fact indicated yesterday that he takes responsibility. I'm encouraged by the fact that he's said that," McNeilly told CBC's Metro Morning.
McNeilly's 300-page report, in addition to probing systemic issues surrounding policing during the summit, produced some findings of possible misconduct against some individual officers.
About two dozen complaints forwarded by McNeilly would likely go to a police tribunal hearing, Blair said Wednesday, adding most of the 19,000 officers on the streets that weekend acted "appropriately."
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair said he accepts the report's findings but won't apologize his force's actions during the G20 summit. ((Nathan Denette/Canadian Press))"I am quite prepared to hold people accountable for misconduct, if misconduct is proven on the basis of evidence, given before the tribunal," Blair said.
Tribunals part of process
When asked why there is a need for further tribunals when the OIPRD has already has gathered evidence of misconduct by certain officers, McNeilly said there is a process in place that has to be followed to ensure all involved parties get a fair shake."Those matters I have directed to the chief to take to a hearing. Those matters will follow through and it's my view that the officers and the complainants will be given an opportunity to make further representation at those hearings," adding he believes justice is being seen to be done.
McNeilly's report also says police were unprepared for the scale of the event and criticized the temporary detention centre set up by Toronto police for its poor planning, design and operation that saw people detained illegally.