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]

Muskoka G8 souvenirs

 These are our ideas, aided by my clever politico hubby! The way I coped with being caregiver to both my palliative-care parents was having a sense of humour (and anti-depressants!).

The G8 fences are phenomenal and incredibly out of character for the natural beauty of Muskoka.
 Let's laugh at together and hold hands.

Everyone is having fun. One commenter compared it to the infamous artist, Christo, who actually wrapped fences. Let us hope not!

HuntsvilleOnline - The Silver Fence

If the G8 'Fence' had any relationship to a Christo installation maybe the whole G8 exercise might have some redeeming feature.

Hooray for regular Huntsville folks who are putting up with incredible crap for the politicians (municipal and the feds) who are eager to host this summit.

G8 brings trepidation in Huntsville -

 3 Jun 2010 ... “We have a new tourist site; it's the G8 fence.” On Tripp's street, a steady stream of curious locals drives by, straining for a glimpse of...Tor Star

Some business folks are making a bundle, but the profits are restricted: to Deerhurst, Fowler (who installed in the fence), the 1100-member private security firm they hired, et al, as G8 guests will be limited to Deerhurst. Not even spouses will be attending. Those in the immediate proximity will be severely impacted. The rest of Muskoka breathes a sigh of relief, my heart goes out to my friends who will have to hunker down at home!


Hubby suggested T-shirts:

I was in HV and all I saw was a fence.
I decided to photoshop a sample.
I thought a jacket would be best, as Muskoka can be pretty cold at times of the year.


How about a video:
Iggy and Paul Dewar singing
"Don't Fence Me in!"

Bing Crosby - Don't Fence Me In

 Then there are the songs that can be written...

FRED HAMMOND song: - JESUS BE A FENCE

Oh, Lord be a fence around me everyday / Come help me say, Jesus ... Jesus be a fence.
News Report: 

G8 leaders' spouses won't be going to Huntsville (06/04/2010) It appears the G8 Summit at Deerhurst will be a stag affair. Spouses of the G8 leaders won't be going to the exclusive resort in Ontario's cottage country with their mates, The Canadian Press has learned.

 The fences will be a real tourist attraction. No more worrying about road kill. The animals won't get through!

I was shocked when I saw this t-shirt in Bracebridge, but now I'm not so sure it is so shocking!







This t-shirt I photoshopped, with tongue-in-cheek. Wouldn't be too bad!

I remember the last school day of the year at a middle school. One bus returned because one kid threw his yogurt at his friends. We all lined up and waved as the bus finally left the school parking lot.

Many will be glad to see them go!

Of course, we'll need more signage! These young ladies worked the Cranfest Festival. We are used to crowds in Bala, with 25,000 visitors over a few days! It sure changes the character of a town, however.

G8 Fencing in Huntsville

You heard it here first, there are some strange people in the world. OK, not the first, but I warned you.

I sent a message to Ted Fish, who runs the 5fish website that uses the Muskoka Lakes regional name, and runs websites of individual towns in our region. I noticed him awhile ago, as he was stealing my blog feed for use on his site. With no credit. That has stopped.

I was given a heads-up by a faithful Muskoka reader and visited the site.
Then I went to Bracebridge.com, and I was shocked and appalled.

I was mystified about this 'alternative media.ca'?
Now, I am not a trail blazer, but I do like to pose questions. OK, answer them, too. But with 54 years experience, three degrees in people, and experience teaching kids from JK to gr. 8, and at uOttawa, and leading workshops in the leading edge of the 'net in web page, blogging, and integrating technology in work and play, I figure I have enough critical thinking skills to provide food for thought.

This all started about a year ago. These guys are building up to this event, and it scares me. We have a democratic right to protest, but we have an obligation to promote that with which we are familiar and spread truths, not rumours, innuendo and lies.

One of my regular blog readers pointed it out to me. She thought a G8 protest group has hacked in. Not true. It is a G8 protester using Muskoka Lakes to promote their cause. Now, if I had the ear of RCMP or CSIS, I would protest this protester! (Hubby commented that I'm already likely on their hit list for taking photos of the fencing—but I was curious as a taxpayer and resident of Muskoka!)

Huntsville residents are pretty creeped out with all the G8 stuff going on. Some plan on hunkering down, and sitting indoors for the week. Their lives are going to be pretty topsy turvy as it is. The photos of the mail boxes, surrounded be fencing pretty much summarizes the whole scene.

Some are going to fear damage to their businesses, others fear having to call a vet, for example, to their farms, but not being able to get them in as the inner and outer perimeters will restrict such access. Business owners are afraid, and want to be in their establishments in order to prevent damage. But if there is an incident, how quickly will the OPP get there, especially with all the barriers?

I was pretty worried with what I spotted on the Internet. I sent a message to the website owner, Ted Fish. I was concerned, as we in Muskoka are not radical, and while the G8 might bring us fame and fortune, we do not want to be associated with radicals. Yes, we are in a democracy, but this is crazy talk.

The message from the founder of this webpage to me reads so:

The ads point to www.alternativemedia.ca - which provides day to day news on what is transpiring in our world currently.
The events / tragedies / etc / must be exposed ... because you need to know.
Muskoka should be freaked out.  I am a G8 protest group.  I also protest the Bilderbergs, the NWO, chemtrails (where I started), vaccination hoaxes, HAARP, global warming hoaxes. the take down of the Polish Gov't, the blasting of the Deep Horizon oil rig, Palestine Apartheid, Occultism ... I have a huge list - OPEN YOUR EYES - latest news down right side panel.

You won't find the info on main stream news.  They are controlled.
Ted

OK. I'm creeped out. Not by his insinuations, but that he is one of the people responsible for our government having to pay $3.9 million in fencing. 'Latest news'? Not sure, as he is not a reputable news source. I don't want nameless, faceless people giving me 'information'.

I think that local councillors, and our Federal MP ought to be giving some thought to checking out this webwork and shutting them down. Fish gives all of us a bad name. In fact, a fishy name.
Read more at:

G8 brings trepidation in Huntsville

Once-in-a-lifetime summit generates curious gawkers, nervous rumours — and fresh opportunities