Toronto police chief rebukes officers who abuse power

The Toronto Police Services Board is expected to press for stiffer penalties against officers who abuse their power, after a scathing internal video condeming their behaviour was sent to staff from chief Bill Blair.

Police won't release the video, but confirmed Blair's remarks strongly condemned officers who abused their power and allegedly made sexist and racist remarks.

Blair said in the video sent out Monday: "If you want to be an idiot, you don't get to be an idiot in our uniform, you don't get to be an idiot diminishing our organization."

John Sewell, of the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, said complaints are fine, but the police service needs to back up its words with actions. 

'We need good disciplinary action so that in fact police who are doing things they shouldn't be doing, stop doing it.' — John Sewell, Toronto Police Accountability Coalition

"The question is what disciplinary action is he taking? Or is he just complaining … We've had enough complaints. We need good disciplinary action so that in fact police who are doing things they shouldn't be doing, stop doing it."

The Police Services Board chair, Alok Mukherjee, told CBC News he wants to propose changes that would include allowing officers to be suspended without pay.

"What is needed is to modernize that portion of the police act so that they can be treated  for misconduct in the same way as other employees should be treated," Mukherjee said.

He added that at Wednesday's upcoming board meeting, members are expected to ask for a special meeting to discuss media reports about police conduct and issues of integrity that have come up in the courts.