Book Review: Excessive Force

Authors: Alok Mukherjee, Tim Harper

This is an amazing analysis of Toronto Police Services (TPS). In the light of police violence, carding, racial profiling, and the evidence that people of colour are pulled over far more frequently than those who appear white, this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about North American society.

What the author points out, is that police are more worried about police safety than community safety. This is why they are armed to the teeth. The G20 fiasco is a prime example.

Alok Mukherjee was the chair of the Toronto Police Services Board. He details his attempts to bring policing in Toronto into the new millennium. There is so much to manage on the streets these days: road rage, road racing, mental health issues, as well as criminals, loon wolves, and angry white men.

Mukherjee's premise is that things must change. Police must work harder at education, having a police presence, and to reduce the military-type equipment common on the force to prevent issues in the community. With cell phone videos, body cams for cops, and other community engagement, police must be held accountable.

Mukherjee points out how he tried to change the excessive costs of policing, by stopping those who earned overtime by working festivals, and other for-hire opportunities, not policing per se. He wanted to stop carding, and that took years of effort, as he was blocked by Toronto Police Service (TPS)chiefs.


Mukherjee details:

• inherent racism of policing on both sides of our borders,
• during the G20 in Toronto, what was agreed to by TPS went for nought as the RCMP came in and took over. 
• the horrid G20 kettling event that occurred, with victims locked up for hours,
• the terribly negative way police officers treat one another when they face internal issues, such as PTSD,
• special investigations of police actions, and the lack of convictions, i.e. *Sammy Yatim. (SIU)

G8 fencing in Huntsville

This is an excellent read. He has amazing perspective and an understanding of policing around the world. He details that research, as well as looking at the history of TPS. I just hope it will make a difference.

There is no shortage of “inside” police books written by former cops. Here is a rare title—not only in Canada but the Western world—written from the community’s perspective.

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@Barrie Summy

The news is full of vicious raids, and Black live do matter.

New: A Florida sheriff's Facebook video of a "fentanyl/heroin" bust went viral. He brought armored cars + a masked SWAT team for a raid in broad daylight.

Turns out, he nabbed some young people, mostly for marijuana possession. No opioids were present.https://t.co/AS8TSMwAAZ pic.twitter.com/pFcexwBvKp

— George Joseph (@georgejoseph94) May 30, 2018

Women on the Force

I think things are looking up. There were women involved in presenting at the press conference.

Bonnie Crombie, Mississauga mayor and the Peel Police Chief: Jennifer Evans. This MUST make a difference in the Blue Wall people speak of.

TPS was formed in 1834, surely we can move into the new millennium.

Gun Violence & Mass Shootings

*Sammy Yatim
Yatim, an 18-year-old Toronto male armed with a pocketknife, was shot at nine times, and was hit by eight of the shots fired by 30-year-old Toronto Police Service (TPS) officer James Forcillo. He later died from the injuries.^[3] The incident occurred after Yatim, brandishing a 12 cm (4.7 in) switchblade knife in a Toronto streetcar,^[4] advanced on a passenger,^[5] threatened other passengers, and exposed himself.^[6] The confrontation between Yatim and the police was recorded and footage of it was released publicly, prompting strong reactions across Canada.^[7]