Law Enforcement - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.....

[Rob MacLennan]

It's a sad state of affairs when TPS has to issue a press release that they will bother to enforce a court order. In a well functioning system, that should be automatically assumed.

Pro-Palestinian encampment at UofT cleared ahead of 6 p.m. deadline

Pro-Palestinian protesters who have been occupying King's College Circle for more than 60 days have moved out ahead of a 6 p.m. deadline set by the court to vacate the encampment.

www.cp24.com

I think that's because they had previously stated that they wouldn't enforce trespass against the protesters, unless a court order was issued. Which is also ridiculous, because a land owner has the right to dictate who can and cannot have access to their property.

 

[GreyGhost]

I think that's because they had previously stated that they wouldn't enforce trespass against the protesters, unless a court order was issued. Which is also ridiculous, because a land owner has the right to dictate who can and cannot have access to their property.

Meanwhile York asked them to do the same purge and it happened the same day. Not sure why U of T and York are being treated so differently.

 

[backmarkerducati]

My guess, saying they will enforce it is also posturing/telegraphing to get most of the less committed people out before they go in.

Not a legal reason under the law IMO but one difference between York and UofT is York said get rid of them near right away while UofT let them get more established trying to appease the situation.

 

[GreyGhost]

My guess, saying they will enforce it is also posturing/telegraphing to get most of the less committed people out before they go in.

Not a legal reason under the law IMO but one difference between York and UofT is York said get rid of them near right away while UofT let them get more established trying to appease the situation.

Maybe. York was pretty well established just not for long. A fleet of rental trucks arrived at midnight to unpack supplies and structures needed for the encampment. By the time anyone reacted in the morning it was a community.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

My guess, saying they will enforce it is also posturing/telegraphing to get most of the less committed people out before they go in.

Not a legal reason under the law IMO but one difference between York and UofT is York said get rid of them near right away while UofT let them get more established trying to appease the situation.

That certainly created a tougher situation at UofT. The protesters never really bothered with TMU. There were a couple of rallies and they were moved on.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Maybe. York was pretty well established just not for long. A fleet of rental trucks arrived at midnight to unpack supplies and structures needed for the encampment. By the time anyone reacted in the morning it was a community.

The location might also have something to do with it. UofT is a far bit more densely populated than York.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

It's a sad state of affairs when TPS has to issue a press release that they will bother to enforce a court order.

Dust off the bean bag guns and start blastin'.

 

[GreyGhost]

Dust off the bean bag guns and start blastin'.

But before that post a trigger warning so the protestors with PTSD from watching too many sad movies have a chance to put on their ear plugs and blindfolds so they don't get too upset by their persecution for trespassing.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

But before that post a trigger warning so the protestors with PTSD from watching too many sad movies have a chance to put on their ear plugs and blindfolds so they don't get too upset by their persecution for trespassing.

They get the rubber bullets.

Then tasered while they're flopping around on the ground.

 

[bigguy1]

Meanwhile York asked them to do the same purge and it happened the same day. Not sure why U of T and York are being treated so differently.

I believe the TPS were ready to go in on day one but were told by UofT that they were not needed and that the University could handle it on their own.

 

[GreyGhost]

I believe the TPS were ready to go in on day one but were told by UofT that they were not needed and that the University could handle it on their own.

That's not what TPS said. I don't know where the truth lies.

Toronto police say they will not clear U of T encampment without court order

Police said they don't believe they have "sufficient legal authority" to remove protesters from campus without a court order.

www.thestar.com

"Toronto police say they will not clear out the protest encampment at the University of Toronto unless there is an emergency or they are ordered to by a judge.

In an email to the Star, police said they don’t believe they have “sufficient legal authority” to remove protesters from campus.

“Absent a material change of circumstances, the Toronto Police Service will only act in situations involving an emergency to enforce the law and protect public safety, or to act in accordance with a court order,” said TPS director of corporate communications Natalie Clancy."

 

[raginduck]

York issued the trespass notice immediately..
UofT waited close to 3 weeks.
UofT provided accommodations in that time.
etc..

 

[Rob MacLennan]

I think this one speaks for itself.

Officer with Toronto police's Drug Squad facing impaired driving, drug possession charges

A plainclothes officer with the Toronto Police Service’s Drug Squad has been charged after another Toronto area police service alleged he was found driving while impaired and in possession of illicit drugs.

www.cp24.com

 

[FullMotoJacket]

I think this one speaks for itself.

Officer with Toronto police's Drug Squad facing impaired driving, drug possession charges

A plainclothes officer with the Toronto Police Service’s Drug Squad has been charged after another Toronto area police service alleged he was found driving while impaired and in possession of illicit drugs.

www.cp24.com

"You know what they say. Cops have the best dope." - Fletch

 

[GreyGhost]

I think this one speaks for itself.

Officer with Toronto police's Drug Squad facing impaired driving, drug possession charges

A plainclothes officer with the Toronto Police Service’s Drug Squad has been charged after another Toronto area police service alleged he was found driving while impaired and in possession of illicit drugs.

www.cp24.com

On the upside, the cop being so impaired/entitled that they damaged multiple cruisers and officers means that "professional courtesy" wasn't an option to let them continue to DWI.

 

[Dirty Frank]

On the upside, the cop being so impaired/entitled that they damaged multiple cruisers and officers means that "professional courtesy" wasn't an option to let them continue to DWI.

Classic case of letting the stimulants do the talking.

 

[Jampy00]

The level of leniency is just stupid in Canada...

 

[Rob MacLennan]

The level of leniency is just stupid in Canada...

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Our system works far better than the more punitive one in the US.

But where we do fall down, is in the case of repeat offenders. Career criminals aren't dealt with severely enough. The "no fixed address" statement is a big red flag and if you have a clear indication that an accused is unlikely to appear, you shouldn't release them. Doubly so in the case of an obvious career criminal.

 

[GreyGhost]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Our system works far better than the more punitive one in the US.

But where we do fall down, is in the case of repeat offenders. Career criminals aren't dealt with severely enough. The "no fixed address" statement is a big red flag and if you have a clear indication that an accused is unlikely to appear, you shouldn't release them. Doubly so in the case of an obvious career criminal.

Afaik, other than "dangerous offender" which rarely gets invoked, the career criminal has little to lose. Their sentences won't be substantially different than a first time offender. They already had a criminal record so a longer one changes nothing regarding travel or employment. Zero meaningful consequences to continuing to hurt people. While three strikes has its issues, especially for violent offences, it's hard to argue that they should be given more chances. Offer MAID or a lifetime behind bars as the offender is not capable of being in society.

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Afaik, other than "dangerous offender" which rarely gets invoked, the career criminal has little to lose. Their sentences won't be substantially different than a first time offender. They already had a criminal record so a longer one changes nothing regarding travel or employment. Zero meaningful consequences to continuing to hurt people. While three strikes has its issues, especially for violent offences, it's hard to argue that they should be given more chances. Offer MAID or a lifetime behind bars as the offender is not capable of being in society.

The problem that I'm talking about is the ability to commit more crimes while on pre-trial release. The idea that someone can be accused of a serious crime and obtain release doesn't bother me so much, as that's how the system works. That they can be on release and commit another serious crime, get released, commit another one... rinse and repeat, is what I find unconscionable. Breach of recognizance should result in a jail stay, until trial, not a finger-wag and, "Don't do it again."