WARMINGTON: Toronto Police offer to discuss antisemitism and racism allegation with retired cop

But former head of Homicide Hank Idsinga finds it 'laughable' to think he would go through the system he exposed in his new book

Get the latest from Joe Warmington straight to your inbox

Published Apr 25, 2026  •  Last updated 23 minutes ago  •  5 minute read

Toronto Police homicide Insp. Hank Idsinga ""Every detail that comes in can help us determine the last moments of Christine's life and establish any connection to other possible incidents."(Stan Behal/Toronto Sun)

Retired Toronto Police Insp. Hank Idsinga has confirmed two detectives were sent to his home to deliver a letter from Professional Standards in response to his explosive comments about antisemitism and anti-black racism during his time on the job.

Article content

The former head of Homicide did not take it as a form of intimidation.

Article content

Article content

“They sent the letter by email first. I didn’t respond,” said Idsinga, who retired in 2023. “So, they sent a hard copy the next day with these two officers.”

The question for police now is whether this is the time to close ranks and push out a whistleblower or open the door and shine in a light.

EIther way, Idsinga was not offended to have detectives show up at his door – something he has done himself many times over his 34 years as a cop.

“Not sure there’s a standard procedure,” Idsinga said of police delivering a letter. “They just want to be able to say the offer was made.”

It is duly noted it.

It’s also noted not everybody is happy – including former Toronto Police chief Julian Fantino who said there is something “horribly wrong” with Idsinga’s approach.

The High Road, the debut memoir from Hank Idsinga, a retired Toronto Police officer who former head of the Homicide Unit. Photo by Simon & Schuster /Amazon

This is one hot book

The move by Toronto Police stems from the release of Idsinga’s new book, The High Road: Confessions of a Homicide Cop, and an interview with the CBC’s chief correspondent Adrienne Arseneault where he talked of hearing antisemitic and racist language and discovered officers handling such complaints may have been expressing such sentiments.

Article content

Idsinga, whose Jewish grandfather perished in the Holocaust, also appeared on AM640 where he is a crime analyst telling morning host Greg Brady that he witnessed a “culture” problem within the Toronto Police Service.

Article content

Article content

This is a hot book – already number three on the Amazon best sellers list – and there’s talk of a movie.

Toronto Police say they invited Idsinga to speak to their Professional Standards investigators but the former detective, who worked on the Bruce McArthur serial killer case and many others, has indicated it’s “laughable” to think he would go through the very system he exposed.

Especially after the Toronto Police Service’s public reaction.

“Toronto Police will not comment on allegations being made as part of a book promotion,” and “these are very serious claims, and notably, ones he did not raise through any of the formal channels available to him during his time with the service,” a spokesperson previously told the Toronto Sun.

Article content

“We have clear, established mechanisms for members to report concerns, including confidential and independent options. Those systems exist for a reason. He chose not to use them. We hope he will now,” the Toronto Police spokesperson added.

Idsinga has expressed his lack of confidence in that system.

None of the allegations have been tested in a court.

Article content

Julian Fantino fires back at Idsinga

This story has divided both current and retired cops.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw has not commented but Fantino, who served as chief from 2000 to 2005, has been critical.

“There is something horribly wrong where the man being a senior officer having a fiduciary duty and responsibility to uphold the law and the ethical standards of the profession would sit back – basically do nothing – and then write about sensational allegations,” the iconic former chief said. “Not surprised that the CBC would bet the farm on this guy.”

“A supposedly sincerely motivated senior officer would know how to elevate his concerns, both within and external to the TPS right up to the Solicitor General if he had reservations about doing so internally,” Fantino added.

And retired staff-sgt. George George Gadsdon tells the Toronto Sun that “if a member higher in the TPS food chain made such a disgusting remark as Idsinga alleges, the ball landed squarely in Idsinga’s court. It was up to him to deal with the matter at that time.”

Article content

Article content

While saying he respects Idsinga, former Homicide det. Mark Mendelson told Jerry Agar on Newstalk 1010 Friday as just the third Jewish recruit hired by Toronto Police in his 30 years, his “lived experience” was never once experiencing antisemitism.

But former Toronto Police officer and now crime commentator Ross McLean says when a heavyweight like Idsinga expresses concern about racism and the reporting system into it, he should not be shunned but in the best interest of the service be listened to.

There is no middle ground here. But there is a perspective that can’t be forgotten.

Article content

Idsinga is not calling for an inquiry or laying a complaint. He said he merely wrote a memoir of his life as a cop and told hundreds of stories that he encountered during that time.

There is nothing wrong with that and there’s nothing wrong with media reporting what is in the book.

There’s also nothing wrong with how people or institutions react to it. The question becomes is there anything that can be learned from it? Can things be improved?

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Not a hit piece

“This isn’t a hit piece,” Idsinga assured the packed house at his book launch at Noonan’s Pub on the Danforth Thursday.

It’s just his story. His amazing career will be highlighted in a feature soon by the Toronto’s Sun‘s Brad Hunter.

“I am really trying to focus on the fact that it’s a memoir, Idsinga told the Sun. “This is what I experienced and this is what I saw.”

Idsinga is a very good guy, a highly respected detective who is well liked by his peers. He’s credible.

Read More

1. 

   Antisemitism, racism hurting Toronto Police culture, former homicide chief says
2. 

   WARMINGTON: Are antisemites within Toronto Police the problem or is it the whistleblower cop?

3. 

   Jewish community outraged over Toronto Police podcast on Oct. 7, anti-Israel rallies

4. 

   WARMINGTON: Instead of coffee, cops now will serve pro-Hamas-supporters criminal citations

Article content

But it’s a tricky situation.

So what should Demkiw, who himself is noted for his outreach and relationship strengthening with the Jewish and black communities, do next?

Lower the temperature and see what can be gained from what has been presented. Sending detectives to Idsinga’s front door has not garnered the best results. And former colleagues turning on one of their own is not the way to go either.

National Crime Columnist Brad Hunter, left, and legendary TPS homicide boss, Hank Idsinga. BRAD HUNTER

Since the concerns raised were toward the Toronto Police, for optics and to try to get to the bottom of this, perhaps the Chief asking groups like B’nai Brith, the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the Black Legal Action Centre to read the book, reach out to the writer and report back if they feel there is need for further measures?

If so, the Chief can then turn it over to the Inspector General of Policing or an outside body.

Whatever happens, the positive is that this could lead to improved policing, which is something all sides can agree on.

[email protected]

Article content