Deputation to Toronto Police Services Board

A year ago , I asked the previous board to make adjustment to the T.P.S Budget. I
received negative criticism by a long gone board member , apparently that board
member was insulted by my remarks to cut down the ballooning T.P.S budget . Is this
the way you reward Citizens engage in Civic Participation?

It is time for the Toronto Police Service to have its own Citizens Advisory Group. I
made several comments /suggestions at the last community forum on racially biased
policing. Hosted by the Service’s Diversity Management Unit .

As a taxpayer, I have the legal right to know how the money is spent. The Police Budget
has double up recently due to Arbitration decisions if not mistaken a 10% increase. This
year The Police Association is seeking a 3% salary increase.

As a taxpayer I say no to any increase in salaries..Isn’t $75, 000 dollars for a first year
constable not enough to live on? . I want to ask if the police are spending our money
wisely.

Do you want facts? I will provide you with a real fact that I witness in dismay:

I live in the North West end of Toronto , in a T.C.H.C building , the tenant make up :
70% Seniors Citizens and 30% young adults.

23 division stated in August 2010 that; R.J. Smith Apartments are considered “ a high
crime violent” T.C.H.C unit

On July 26 2010 , a domestic incident occurred. Two females tenants engaged on a

dispute, Police were called in. Five (5) police cruisers arrived, Two (2) undercover cars (
TAVIS unit) arrived too and a T.C.H.C special Constable unit as well. A total of 12
police officers responded to a “domestic” situation.

On August 2010 TCHC held a Community Safety Meeting at R.J Smith Apartments. I
asked a 23rd Division officer a question related to the last high police presence in the
building, the reason for such a number of Police Officers. attending a dispute between
two female tenants was for the “safety of police officers” Plain and simple “ we wanted
to avoid any violence by tenants on us” you mean Seniors Citizens on rampage? He did
not reply to my question. Hello? 12 police officers spending an hour to attend a single
call… Does this sound logical in any way to you members of the board?

Having said that asking questions about how the police spend money, may sound like
“stepping in dangerous ground”. I am afraid some one from the board may call me at the
end of my deputation a cop-hater, a jerk or something worse than that.
It’s true that generally the police force feels it is entitled to get all the taxpayers’ money
and no questions asked. That’s how it has been in Toronto for the past decade as the
police budget has climbed. Today it consumes almost one third of all the property tax
dollars the city collects.

So much money is given to the police department that we are forced to cut back on other
city services.

As a taxpayer , I want transparency , The board should look for efficiencies , to have an
Officer work 10 hours is totally absurd. We should compare how other cities make
adjustments to their operating budget. Work 24 hours and get paid 28 hours? Please tell
where is that job, so I can ask friends to sign up for that kind of employment. Some one
call the other day, an ongoing “Gravy Train” within the T.P.S?

Can the Board adjust the time shift it pays its officers? if you need to balance your
books and get on line with the Mayors direction. The current Chief can not lay off staff,
but you the Board have the power to do so.

Here are some ideas that the board can made decisions today: eliminating part-time and
temporary positions, consolidating some police divisions, freezing promotions and a
moratorium on all overtime, use parking/traffic fines collected in Toronto to pay off the
police budget and end the moonlighting that your officers are accustomed to it,
moonlighting may impaired officers ability to perform their daily duties on the job..
F.Y.I : Sleep depravation can lead to bad use of judgment.

As a Taxpayer I want Accountability, ..G20 anyone? The truth would come out one day.
but that may not be during my life time, It will be for my children to carry on and seek
the truth,… but that may be sooner… who knows after a Federal and Provincial
election?.

Yesterday the news media covered the meeting between Mayor Rob Ford and the Chief
of Police , after one hour and half out of that meeting Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair
said, he is “very confident” the police services board can respond “appropriately” to
Mayor Rob Ford’s concerns about the agency’s growing budget.

Thank you for the time to listen to me and promise to be monitoring the budget process
closely.

Avila Miguel
Ward 1 resident