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.
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.
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
The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC; French: ''Commission civile de l’Ontario sur la police''), previously known as the Ontario Police Commission and the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services, is an independent quasi-judicial ...
or
Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which are
oversight agencies.
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.
The ''Police Services Act'' also stipulates that a judge,
justice of the peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
, police officer, or a person who practices
criminal law
Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law i ...
as a defence counsel may not be a member of a police board.
, the board members are:
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''.
Former chairs
See also
*
Ministry of the Solicitor General The Solicitor General of Canada was a position in the Canada, Canadian The Ministry, ministry from 1892 to 2005. The position was based on the Solicitor General for England and Wales, Solicitor General in the Great Britain, British system and was or ...
*
Ministry of the Attorney General
*
Toronto City Council
References
External links
Toronto Police Service
{{Metro Toronto Government
Civilian regulating boards
Toronto Police Service