Five Toronto police officers found guilty of misconduct for comments on Muslim outreach podcast

Article content

It also noted: “By engaging publicly on highly polarizing and politically sensitive topics, the officers failed to appreciate how their comments could alienate segments of the community and diminish confidence in their ability to remain fair and unbiased.”

Article content

The officers, having taken media training specifically through TPS, had learned that any commentary needed to “refrain from discussing sensitive or divisive issues, and carefully consider how public communications may affect perceptions of the Service,” and the report said the officers acted against this mandate.

Article content

The report found “sufficient evidence to substantiate misconduct” under section 10 (1) of the Community Safety and Policing Act, against all five named officers (the two hosts and three supervisors) connected to Project Olive Branch. It’s a finding that their conduct “undermines, or is likely to undermine, public trust in policing.”

Article content

The report concluded that “Public commentary on highly divisive political or geopolitical matters has the potential to erode public confidence in an officer’s ability to carry out their duties impartially and may cause members of affected communities to question whether they will be treated fairly.”

Article content

Article content

Teper said, in the future, an individual with “experiences of various communities and their sensibilities” should “take a red pen to any communications” that could cause offence.

Article content

“When officers in uniform make remarks that give the appearance that they or the police service itself are taking sides in a conflict, that makes the public confidence disappear, and it’s very difficult to earn back,” Teper said.

Article content

Matthew Taub, director of nonprofit advocacy group Unapologetically Jewish said the six weeks between completion of the report and its issuance to the complainant “is a problem.”

Article content

He also believes that the two podcast hosts declining to be interviewed in person “amounts to contempt” and even though the proceedings were not courts of law, “they have broken public opinion and did not fulfill their core duty, and (it) looks like they think they are above the law.”

Article content

He believes an immediate suspension should have been the consequence for their non-participation.

Article content

A non-Jewish leader allied to the Jewish community said he was pleased at the outcome.

Article content

“My impression here is that this is an important acknowledgement, that I hope serves as a warning to police, but also to others in positions of public service,” said Pat Johnson, director of Upstanders Canada Anti-Racism Society.

Article content

Article content

“It’s especially concerning in this case that it was the police, the very people who are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of individuals and communities, who had been engaging in discussions that exacerbate division in society, and put Jewish citizens at risk. But the encouraging thing is that this incident has been investigated, and action of some description is being taken.”

Article content

The less encouraging thing, “is that we’re hearing about literally hundreds of similar incidents taking place that are not receiving this sort of scrutiny in trade unions, in public schools and universities, in the medical sector, in the arts, and other places where incendiary language is creating unsafe workplaces.”

Article content

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said podcast was more than just insensitive.

Article content

“It raised serious questions about police impartiality, oversight, and public trust at a time when the Jewish community is experiencing unprecedented levels of antisemitism and increasingly looking to law enforcement for protection,” the group said in a statement posted to X.

Article content

“We expect accountability that reflects the seriousness of these findings, along with meaningful reforms to ensure this never happens again on an official Toronto Police platform.”

Article content

Article content