Police Folk Allegedly Behaving Badly

[daftandbarmy]

I wasn't sure if this fit in the 'bad things' or 'good things' thread, but Hank Idsinga, former head of TPS Homicide, is out with a book that is pretty scathing about senior command. Print articles in the G&M and Star.

I'll bet he doesn't go to their Senior Officers annual mess dinner.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7172163

Text from an interview...

“The bad behaviour continues all the way up the ranks”: Hank Idsinga calls out the Toronto Police Service’s rampant corruption​

Are you worried that your criticisms will lead to repercussions from old colleagues or the force itself? Not at all. If people choose to take that position, they can come talk to me about it. I’d respect their position. The book is out in the world now, and there isn’t a lot in it that people should find surprising. We deal with all of these same issues in society as a whole, and as a result, we can’t have blind trust in our institutions. When we call the police, those same societal issues are at play with the person on the other end of the phone, the officer coming to our house and the supervisor overseeing them.

Last Wednesday, the TPS said that the claims you make in the book risk undermining public trust in the police. What’s your reaction to that? Public trust has become a crutch for not addressing internal issues. That same day, the police emailed me a letter inviting me to participate in a complaint investigation. Clearly they didn’t listen to me when I said there’s no point in complaining. I’m not asking for an inquiry. I don’t expect discipline, and I’m not naming people. I just wrote a book about my experiences. It’s an ongoing problem, and short of turning the structure and leadership of the police service on its head, it’s going to continue.

https://torontolife.com/culture/hank-idsinga-interview/

 

[lenaitch]

It seems questionable police leadership is getting called out - which is a good thing.

(I know this one. Not surprised at all)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-police-chief-robert-bruce-conduct-opp-lawsuit-heather-harmer-jeffrey-suicide-9.7161491

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/sarnia-police-harassment-complaint-9.7204232

I read a social media post that claimed that Toronto wouldn't have their current problems if they had simply picked Peter Sloly as chief. It made me chuckle.

 

[mariomike]

Are you worried that your criticisms will lead to repercussions from old colleagues or the force itself?

His OMERS pension is secure.

In today's news,

A "multimillion-dollar lawsuit" against Peel Regional Police,

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/peel-police-lawsuit-caledon-shooting-ryan-wedding-9.7204949

 

[Halifax Tar]

Text from an interview...

“The bad behaviour continues all the way up the ranks”: Hank Idsinga calls out the Toronto Police Service’s rampant corruption​

Are you worried that your criticisms will lead to repercussions from old colleagues or the force itself? Not at all. If people choose to take that position, they can come talk to me about it. I’d respect their position. The book is out in the world now, and there isn’t a lot in it that people should find surprising. We deal with all of these same issues in society as a whole, and as a result, we can’t have blind trust in our institutions. When we call the police, those same societal issues are at play with the person on the other end of the phone, the officer coming to our house and the supervisor overseeing them.

Last Wednesday, the TPS said that the claims you make in the book risk undermining public trust in the police. What’s your reaction to that? Public trust has become a crutch for not addressing internal issues. That same day, the police emailed me a letter inviting me to participate in a complaint investigation. Clearly they didn’t listen to me when I said there’s no point in complaining. I’m not asking for an inquiry. I don’t expect discipline, and I’m not naming people. I just wrote a book about my experiences. It’s an ongoing problem, and short of turning the structure and leadership of the police service on its head, it’s going to continue.

https://torontolife.com/culture/hank-idsinga-interview/

There were lots of LEO reactions like this to Palagno's books on the RCMP and the NS Mass Shooting.

Example:

https://a.co/d/06Ab30US

If you don't want us to lose trust in you don't give us reasons to lose trust in you.

 

[brihard]

There were lots of LEO reactions like this to Palagno's books on the RCMP and the NS Mass Shooting.

Example:

https://a.co/d/06Ab30US

If you don't want us to lose trust in you don't give us reasons to lose trust in you.

That’s because Palango was peddling absurd fantasy. There is a lot of reasonable and valid criticism of police, both as an institution and of individual personnel. That doesn’t mean every crackpot theory is reasonable and valid. Palango torpedoed his credibility with this hilariously off base ‘police agent’ allegations based on the dude cashing out his investments.

 

[Halifax Tar]

That’s because Palango was peddling absurd fantasy. There is a lot of reasonable and valid criticism of police, both as an institution and of individual personnel. That doesn’t mean every crackpot theory is reasonable and valid. Palango torpedoed his credibility with this hilariously off base ‘police agent’ allegations based on the dude cashing out his investments.

Seems his reputation is fine according to AI.

Credibility seems similar.

But both of those those can be chalked up to personal opinion.

My bias against LEOs and PDs is well documented on these means as well. So take that side dish for what it's worth to you.

 

[Booter]

Your own bias is evident in how you read those links you’ve provided as a proof.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Seems his reputation is fine according to AI.

Credibility seems similar.

But both of those those can be chalked up to personal opinion.

There's AI and there's AI This from one system with the same questions ...

If you’re asking whether he should be dismissed, no—he has enough professional background to be taken seriously. If you’re asking whether everything he says should be accepted at face value, also no—his claims are best verified against documentary evidence and corroborating sources, especially on controversial RCMP matters.

... and this from another (DuckDuckGo AI - doesn't have links because it doesn't store searches):

• For investigative, critical perspectives on policing in Canada: yes — he is a credible, experienced investigative journalist whose work is influential and worth reading as one viewpoint.
• For definitive, balanced conclusions about individual cases or legal matters: treat his claims like investigative journalism — corroborate with primary sources (court records, police reports), other reporting, and expert analysis before relying on them as established fact.

I guess he should be treated like any other reporter out there, working for bought-and-paid-for media

 

[Jarnhamar]

My bias against LEOs and PDs is well documented on these means as well.

Sounds suspicious.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Sounds suspicious.

You'll never catch me alive now see lol

 

[Halifax Tar]

Your own bias is evident in how you read those links you’ve provided as a proof.

My own bias has been self admitted multiple times.