The Current

Toronto police constable quits, says tension with community contributes to decision

Marc Rainford says growing polarization between law enforcement and those they are intended to serve compromised his ability to effectively police.
Do tensions between minorities and police effect law enforcement's ability to serve? (Chris Young/Canadian Press)

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Former constable Marc Rainford says he recently quit the Toronto Police Service in part because of the difficulties in policing a society with increasingly polarized attitudes towards cops. 

You feel hope being sapped.

With The Current, Rainford shares his experience on the force, explains the importance of police maintaining positive relationships with the communities they serve, and offers insight into the potentially regressive impacts of associating Canadian law enforcement with the behaviour of police officers in the United States. 

Things that happen outside of Toronto that are historically similar to what happens [in this city] intensify the victimization here. It erodes some of the great work that's already been done.


Listen to the conversation at the top of this web post. 

This segment was produced by The Current's Sarah Grant, Peggy Lam, Pacinthe Mattar and Ines Colabrese