Toronto Police Services Board

The Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) is the civilian police board that governs the Toronto Police Service (TPS). The board is responsible for approving the annual police budget, defining objectives and policies for TPS, and hiring Toronto's police chief.

Toronto Police Services Board
AbbreviationTPSB
PredecessorMetropolitan Toronto Police Services Board
FormationJanuary 1, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-01-01)
TypePolice board
Headquarters40 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
Chair
Ann Morgan
Budget
CA$1.076 billion (approved police operating budget, 2020)
Staff
Toronto Police Service
Websitewww.tpsb.ca

The role of police services boards are outlined in section 31 of the provincial Police Services Act. 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. Neither the board or its members can direct members of the police service. Only the chief of police, who is responsible to the board as a whole, receives direction on objectives, policies and priorities.[1][2]

Membership of the board includes the mayor of Toronto (or a designate), two city councillors, one civilian member appointed by city council and three civilian members appointed by the province.

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.

Membership edit

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 Ann Morgan) 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 December 2023, the board members are:[4]

Name Position Appointed by Joined board
Ann Morgan Chair Province March 27, 2021
Lisa Kostakis Vice-chair Province September 13, 2020
Olivia Chow Head of municipal council (mayor) ex officio July 12, 2023
Lily Cheng Councillor Toronto City Council November 23, 2022
Nadine Spencer Member Province April 3, 2023
Nick Migliore Member Province May 18, 2023
Amber Morley Councillor Toronto City Council August 10, 2023
Jon Burnside Councillor Toronto City Council August 10, 2023

History edit

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.[5]

Former chairs edit

Body Chair Tenure
Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission Charles O. Bick 1956–1977
Philip Givens 1977–1985
Clare Westcott 1985–1988
June Rowlands 1989–1990
Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board 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 2019–2023
Ann Morgan 2023–present
Source: Toronto Police Services Board[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Toronto Police Services Board - Board Mandate". www.tpsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  2. ^ "The Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto "Freedom Convoy": Applying the Lessons of the Morden Report" (PDF). October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Agency Details - Community Safety and Correctional Services - Police Services Board - Toronto". Government of Ontario. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "Board Members". www.tpsb.ca. Toronto Police Services Board. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Toronto Police Services Board — October 1997 Minutes". October 27, 1997. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  6. ^ "Toronto Police Services Board - Past Members". www.tpsb.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-23.

External links edit