Pete00
05-14-2003, 02:47 PM
This was in today's Torontosun:
Wed, May 14, 2003
Cops up protest
By KEVIN MASTERMAN, TORONTO SUN
Police officers will not stop speeders, execute search warrants or initiate arrests until all officers are covered by city insurance when sued, the police union said yesterday.
"If (we) don't get that radio call we don't do any arrests, search warrants or do any traffic stops among other things," Toronto Police Association president Craig Bromell said after a closed meeting of 1,500 officers let out last night.
The special general membership meeting at TPA headquarters in North York heard speeches from some officers not being covered by city insurance.
The motion from the floor to start the job action garnered unanimous support from officers, many of whom wore TPA hats with the motto "no contact, no complaint" along with the TPA logo.
The motion states: "Unless these issues are resolved all members are not to instigate any contact with the public while performing their duties that do not directly arise from a radio call or a request from the public for assistance."
Bromell said the city is refusing to help defend seven civil cases involving 39 officers with allegations ranging from theft to assault.
"These officers have never been charged criminally or under the Police Act but the service won't back them," Bromell said.
He said even speeders travelling at 100 km/hour down Lake Shore Blvd. will not raise eyebrows.
"We're not stopping them," said Bromell adding if anyone is truly in need of help police will be there.
"If the (public) needs our assistance we're there -- call 911, flag us down."
Toronto Police Services Board chair Norm Gardner said the whole motion is an unneeded "uproar" since the police association has yet to use its right to appeal the decision not to cover certain officers.
"It's a huge smokescreen as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately a lot of officers might be falling for it," he said.
Wed, May 14, 2003
Cops up protest
By KEVIN MASTERMAN, TORONTO SUN
Police officers will not stop speeders, execute search warrants or initiate arrests until all officers are covered by city insurance when sued, the police union said yesterday.
"If (we) don't get that radio call we don't do any arrests, search warrants or do any traffic stops among other things," Toronto Police Association president Craig Bromell said after a closed meeting of 1,500 officers let out last night.
The special general membership meeting at TPA headquarters in North York heard speeches from some officers not being covered by city insurance.
The motion from the floor to start the job action garnered unanimous support from officers, many of whom wore TPA hats with the motto "no contact, no complaint" along with the TPA logo.
The motion states: "Unless these issues are resolved all members are not to instigate any contact with the public while performing their duties that do not directly arise from a radio call or a request from the public for assistance."
Bromell said the city is refusing to help defend seven civil cases involving 39 officers with allegations ranging from theft to assault.
"These officers have never been charged criminally or under the Police Act but the service won't back them," Bromell said.
He said even speeders travelling at 100 km/hour down Lake Shore Blvd. will not raise eyebrows.
"We're not stopping them," said Bromell adding if anyone is truly in need of help police will be there.
"If the (public) needs our assistance we're there -- call 911, flag us down."
Toronto Police Services Board chair Norm Gardner said the whole motion is an unneeded "uproar" since the police association has yet to use its right to appeal the decision not to cover certain officers.
"It's a huge smokescreen as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately a lot of officers might be falling for it," he said.