Measuring Democracy
One of the concerns that has motivated me throughout the years I have written this blog is public accountability. Far too often, whether examining politics at the federal, provincial or…
police abuse of authority
I’m Just A Poor Boy, Nobody Loves Me
That famous line from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody might have been the inspiration, and is certainly the subtext, for James Forcillo and his lawyer's pleas that poor baby James be allowed…
Not An Obsession
Looking at the sidebar that lists the tags on my blog posts, I see I have written well over 100 entries on the police, most of them dealing with their…
A Powerful Statement
And one that needs no words:Recommend this Post
Policing: A Contrast In Methodologies
We've all seen the videos depicting the murder of Sammy Yatim at the hands of Toronto police officer James Forcillio. Although Forcillo has been held to partial account for his…
Are The Toronto Police Re-Victimizing The Family Of Alex Wettlaufer?
I cannot imagine the ongoing pain that the family of Alex Wettlaufer is experiencing. Less than a month ago, 21-year-old Alex was killed by police under suspicious and troubling circumstances,…
Saying Goodbye To Alex For Up To One Year
.Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was a teacher for so many years; maybe it is because I have been a parent for even longer.…
More On Alex Wettlaufer, Toronto’s Latest Young Person Killed By Police
If we are given to even modest introspection, it seems inevitable that the longer we live, the more we develop an increasing appreciation not only for the wonder of life…
The Police – Reluctant Learners In Our Midst
In many ways it is regrettable that the police apparently are not Spiderman fans. If they were, perhaps they would understand an early and painful lesson learned by Peter Parker,…
To Serve And Protect Who?
Were I so inclined, I could probably devote this blog solely to police misconduct, so extensive does it seem. Perhaps it is due to the Forcillo conviction for the attempted…
More On James Forcillo
H/t Toronto StarIn response to yesterday's post, both the Salamander and the Mound of Sound offered some interesting commentary. The Salamander has experience in dealing with troubled and armed youth,…
Not A Moment Of Humility Or Uncertainty
I have avoided writing about the semi-acquital of Sammy Yatim's killer, Officer James Forcillo, partly because it sickens me when miscarriages of justice occur. Adding insult to injury is his…
Those At The Top Just Aren’t Doing Their Jobs – Part 2
Continuing with the theme of my previous post, another institution whose leadership frequently fails the public that it is sworn to protect and serve is that of law enforcement. Stories…
Remembering Sammy Yatim
To listen to James Forcillo, the Toronto police officer who shot Sammy Yatim eight times as the knife-wielding teen stood inside an empty streetcar, he had no choice but to…
Fear And Loathing
I remember very vividly when I was a young fellow how much the police seemed to be a part of the community. When I was in high school, I had…
Sometimes, All We Can Do Is Bear Witness
What is the truth about Don Dunphy? I don’t know. But his story is surely worth sharing, given the terrible abuses of police authority that have been so much in…
Another Route To Justice
Those that follow such things will know that proving police brutality is very difficult. Absent video evidence, the police narrative usually is that the one claiming to have been brutalized…
Holding Police to Account
Late last month I wrote a piece for The Paper News examining the nearly impenetrable ‘blue wall’ that is an ever-present barrier to justice and accountability whenever the police abuse…
Perhaps The Police Should Stop Brutalizing People
… instead of blaming protesters for their ill-fortune. Here is yet another incident that reminds us of the terrible abuse of power these ‘protectors’ of public safety seem quite comfortable…
And Speaking Of Police Brutality
The following video is difficult to watch, but the sad truth is that these kinds of outrages occur regularly, as a simple Internet search will show. A witness says that…