Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says his officers are fully cooperating with the SIU investigation into the death of Sammy Yatim, despite a suggestion from the provincial ombudsman that suggested otherwise.
Blair made the comment to CP24 Wednesday night in response to a CBC interview with Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin, in which the former SIU director said officer cooperation with SIU investigations is “the exception, not the norm.”
“Those are inflammatory remarks quite honestly and I am not going to comment," Blair said. “All 22 witness officers have given their statements and there is full cooperation with the SIU investigation. Unfortunately, Mr. Marin’s uninformed comments aren’t very helpful to the situation. "
Ombudsman may launch own investigation
Marin has asked his staff to determine whether his office should launch its own investigation into the province’s policing standards in the wake of Yatim’s death.
In a news release issued earlier Wednesday, Marin announced that a case assessment is being done by his office’s Special Ombudsman Response Team.
The assessment will examine the direction and guidelines Ontario’s police officers are given to de-escalate situations that could require the use of force.
Marin said the provincial Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has the power to set such standards for Ontario police agencies.
“The latest shooting by a Toronto police officer raises the question of whether it is time for the ministry to direct Ontario police services on how to de-escalate situations of conflict before they lead to the use of fatal force,” Marin said in the news release.
Marin was quick to point out that the case assessment will not affect the ongoing probe by the Special Investigations Unit, an arm’s length agency that will determine whether criminal charges are warranted against any of the officers who were involved.
Funeral planned for Thursday
Marin announced the case assessment as Yatim’s family and friends prepare to pay their final respects at a funeral Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, Blair said he would not be attending the funeral due to prior commitmments but will continue to support the family in any way he can.
"The family has experienced a terrible loss and we will continue to support them," he said. "This has been very difficult for them, very difficult for the community and very difficult for the city and we are working as quickly as possible to ensure a full investigation is completed and that we get the answers that the family needs."
Yatim’s family is vowing to seek justice over the police-involved shooting at Dundas Street and Bellwoods Avenue early Saturday morning.
Yatim was wielding a knife inside a TTC streetcar when he was shot multiple times by an officer who was standing on the street at the streetcar’s open front door.
The police officer has been identified as Const. James Forcillo, who is suspended from duty with pay pending the results of the SIU probe.
Forcillo is a married father of two children under five years old, and he began his Toronto police career as a court officer, CP24 crime specialist Sue Sgambati reported Wednesday.
In a cellphone video recorded by a witness, nine gunshots are heard as Yatim stands inside the streetcar and a group of officers stands on the street.
Police are heard repeatedly shouting “drop the knife,” and a male voice is heard apparently taunting the officers before the shots were fired.
In addition to the SIU’s investigation and the case assessment by Marin’s staff, police Blair is conducting his own review to find out if the officers complied with the service’s policies, procedures and training.
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