For Adam Nobody, the answer appears to be ‘nowhere.’ Last week retired judge Lee Ferrier ruled at a police disciplinary tribunal that Toronto police Const. Babak Andalib-Goortani should lose five days’ pay for his brutalization of Nobody, characterizing it as fleeting and physically minor. a strange way indeed to regard
Continue readingTag: g20 police brutality
Politics and its Discontents: The Long Road To Justice
Although long, the road to criminal justice for Adam Nobody has finally ended; the police officer who viciously assaulted him during the infamous Toronto 2010 G20 weekend, Const. Babak Andalib-Goortani, was found guilty of using excessive force. Of the myriad who violated the rights of over 1100 people that weekend,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Problem With The Police Starts At The Top
Leadership is a word that evokes many associations; strength, vision, determination and resolve are a few of the positive ones. Selfishness, careerism, expediency and cowardice are but a few of many negative associations. In my own working life, I had perhaps three administrators I looked up to, the ones who
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Wheels of G20 Justice Move Very Slowly
Although I have written countless posts about the abrogation of charter rights and myriad instances of police brutality that occured in Toronto during the infamous G20 weekend in 2010, the story never seems to be over. This past week saw one officer acquitted in the assault of Dorian Barton; Glenn
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Reasonable Doubt?
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Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Insular World Of The Police Mentality
I have written several posts in this blog about institutions and their many shortcomings, shortcomings that seem directly proportional to their age. The longer one exists, the more prone an organization seems to becoming increasingly insular, self-referential, and self-reverential. One of the institutions most frequently targeted here is law enforcement.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: From A Star Reader
My sentiments exactly, Steve: Re: A G20 cop’s close call, Aug. 10 I am a 59-year-old middle-class law-abiding person. That said, I cannot help but remark on the juxtaposition of the description of George Horton’s “crimes” with the picture of police activity during the G20. Horton is accused of wearing
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Chief Bill Blair Dodges Another Bullet
The Toronto Star reports the following: The province’s police complaints watchdog has recommended 31 officers be charged with misconduct during the G20 summit, two of them in senior positions, Toronto police said Wednesday. The good chief must be wearing his kevlar vest 24/7, judging by his apparent immunity from any
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: A Star Reader’s Thoughts On G20 Justice
As a reader of various progressive bloggers, I know that the thirst for justice and accountability burns strongly in Canada. The only problem, of course, is that this passion seems singularly absent in those who occupy positions of authority, be they our elected ‘representatives’, heads of various organizations, and, of
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Christopher Hume on the G20
With a broad range of targets in his column today, including Dalton McGuinty, Harper, Tony Clement and Julian Fantino as additional architects of the 20120 G20 debacle in Toronto, the Star’s Christopher joins in the chorus of those calling for the resignation of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair. Of course,
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Deny, Deny. Deny
In the strange parallel world inhabited by Toronto Police chief Bill Blair, that seems to be the rule governing administrative oversight. When confronted with an authoritative and damning report on the behaviour of your officers, both frontline and senior, attempt to deal with its implications by refusing to apologize for
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Senior Toronto Officers Facing Charges
The Star reports the following: About five high-ranking Toronto police officers were informed last week they will face misconduct charges for their actions during the G20 summit, the Star has learned. The CBC is reporting 28 front line officers have been charged with misconduct — including unlawful arrest and excessive
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Accentuating The Positive
Perhaps he is a student of Norman Vincent Peale. Perhaps he believes that when you are handed lemons, you make lemonade. Perhaps he prefers to see the glass as half-full, not half-empty. Or perhaps he is just a politician intent on covering his professional rear end. Whatever he is, Toronto
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Stating The Obvious
While this report from The Office of the Independent Police Review may afford some satisfaction for confirming the obvious, the fact that there were no consequences to the police and Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair for being key parts of this orchestrated violation of our Charter Rights renders it pretty
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Police Chief Bill Blair Well-Rebuked
Oh, there is much in the news today to report and comment on, but I’ll start with something close to my heart: Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, whom I regard as an unindicted co-conspirator in the police violence that erupted during peaceful protests at the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto.
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: More G20 Police Brutality Justice Pending
One of the Toronto police officers identified in the G20 beating of Adam Nobody has now been identified in another incident occurring the same weekend. Const. Oliver Simpson’s employer, the Toronto Police Services Board, is being sued by Nikos Kapetaneas and Caitlin Morgan for the injuries they sustained at the
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