Toronto Police Services Board
The Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) is the civilian police board that governs the Toronto Police Service. The role of police services boards is outlined in section 31 of the Ontario Police Services Act, and includes setting the annual police budget, defining objectives and policies for the police service, and selecting the chief of police. The board makes decisions governing the structure and environment of the police service, but the chief of police leads the day-to-day operation of the police – the board cannot direct members of the police other than the chief, who is responsible to the board as a whole.[1]
 | |
| Abbreviation | TPSB |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board |
| Formation | January 1, 1998 |
| Type | Police board |
| Headquarters | Toronto Police Headquarters |
| Location |
|
Chair | Jim Hart |
Budget | CA$1.076 billion (approved police operating budget, 2020) |
Staff | Toronto Police Service |
| Website | www |
Membership of the board includes the mayor of Toronto – presently John Tory – two city councillors, one municipal and three provincial civilian members.
The role of the board is administrative in nature and it does not investigate police conduct or complaints, as is the mandate of the Special Investigations Unit, Ontario Civilian Police Commission or Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which are oversight agencies.
History
Prior to amalgamation, the Metropolitan Toronto Police were governed by the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board from 1990 until 1998. Previously, it was called the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission (or Board of Police Commission) from 1955 until 1990, when the name of the board was changed as a result of amendments to the Police Services Act.[2]
Membership
The board comprises seven members, three appointed by the Province of Ontario and four by the City of Toronto. Three civilian members are appointed by the province and one by the city; two city councillors and the mayor of Toronto as the head of council sit on the board. A chair (presently Jim Hart) and vice-chair are elected from its membership. The Police Services Act requires the board to meet at least four times a year.[3]
The Police Services Act also stipulates that a judge, justice of the peace, police officer, or a person who practices criminal law as a defence counsel may not be a member of a police board.
As of June 2020, the board members are:[4]
| Name | Position | Appointed by | Joined board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Hart | Chair | Toronto City Council | September 30, 2019 |
| Marie Moliner | Vice-chair | Province | March 27, 2012 |
| John Tory | Head of municipal council (mayor) | ex officio | December 2, 2014 |
| Uppala Chandrasekera | Member | Province | September 13, 2017 |
| Michael Ford | Councillor | Toronto City Council | December 4, 2018 |
| Frances Nunziata | Councillor | Toronto City Council | June 29, 2018 |
| Ainsworth M. Morgan | Member | Province | January 9, 2020 |
Former chairs
Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission
- Charles O. Bick (1955–1977)
- Phil Givens (1977–1985)
- Clare Westcott (1985–1988)
- June Rowlands (1988–1990)
Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board
- June Rowlands (1990-1991)
- Susan Eng (1991–1995)
- Maureen Prinsloo (1995–1998)
Toronto Police Services Board
- Norm Gardner (1998–2004)
- Alan Heisey (2004)
- Pam McConnell (2004–2005)
- Alok Mukherjee (2005–July 31, 2015)
- Andrew Pringle (2015–2019)
- Jim Hart (2019–present)
References
- "Toronto Police Services Board - Board Mandate". www.tpsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
- "Toronto Police Services Board — October 1997 Minutes". October 27, 1997. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- "Agency Details - Community Safety and Correctional Services - Police Services Board - Toronto". Government of Ontario. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017.
- "Board Members". www.tpsb.ca. Toronto Police Services Board. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
