[news] Toronto Police Cheif Opposes Investigation into Racial Profiling

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Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 18:59:50 -0800 (PST)
From: giles at resist.ca
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Subject: [copb-van-l]  TORONTO POLICE CHIEF OPPOSES INVESTIGATION INTO
    RACIAL PROFILING


TORONTO POLICE CHIEF OPPOSES INVESTIGATION INTO RACIAL PROFILING
 WebPosted Tue Feb 18 05:53:50 2003

TORONTO--Toronto's police chief strongly criticized a planned
inquiry by the Ontario Human Rights Commission into racial
profiling Monday night. Julian Fantino said the commission
invitation to people to give personal testimony on racial profiling
may do more harm than good.  Over the next two weeks, individuals
who believe they have been profiled are invited to talk about their
experience with the commission.  It wants to know how the incident
has affected their lives and outlook toward society.

"In many different ways its going to cause more hype, more
controversy and in many respects it might be perceived to be a
negative," Fantino said Monday at a community town hall meeting
meant to improve relations between police and Toronto's Caribbean
community.  But a member of the audience at the meeting said she
supports the commission's inquiry.

"It's a real attempt to examine how are people really affected,"
said Karen Mock of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.  "There
will be an investigation to ensure that what the complainant has
reported actually did happen," she said.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is offering an online
questionnaire, or people can call the commission.  The commission
says there will be a public hearing based on the reports it
receives.  Racial profiling has been a hot issue since the Toronto
Star ran a series of articles alleging blacks are treated more
harshly by city police. Toronto police Chief Julian Fantino denies
his officers use racial profiling. The police association is suing
the newspaper.

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