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Toronto police’s not so stealth move


It had apparently not been a good week for Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders. People at meetings with him at police headquarters report his being annoyed and disengaged. But it wasn’t the latest chapter in the controversy over carding that was upsetting him. It was the imbroglio over the police service’s new stealthy-looking, black-and-grey police cars that was messing with his mood. 

On Thursday, November 10, Saunders announced in a short statement issued by the service that he’s decided not to continue with the rollout of the new cruisers, whose look critics said served to reinforce the militaristic image of Toronto police. 

“As I meet with the people of the city at many events, including numerous town halls, among the subjects that are raised, the new look of our police cars has come up often. There are people who like them. There are people who don’t like them. 

“The concern that has been expressed has convinced me that further work is necessary. We will not be ordering any new grey police cars. We will set up opportunities for consultation before we go any further.”

While acknowledging community concerns, Saunders did not admit that he’d made a wrong decision or shown poor judgment in the matter, even though it was a decision that he admitted earlier had been made with “no deep thought.” He had also insisted at the time that there was nothing “nefarious” in this he just wanted to do something different.

That’s not how the public saw it. For many, the new colour scheme gave the cars a sinister look. But more importantly, it made the cars less visible.

City council had also weighed in on the issue, passing a motion asking the Police Services Board to direct the chief to stick with the current colours unless there was a good business reason for the change. The chief could offer none. 

Contrary to the usual business practice of carrying out extensive surveys when changing a brand or the look of a product, no such thing had happened. Saunders said one car was pilot-tested in one police division, and, according to him, the public response was positive.

Perhaps the most remarkable part: he’d seen no reason to consult with his masters, the police board, because it was an “operational decision” that he had the authority to make. And further, he said he knew of no rule that required such consultation.

In fact, there is a board policy on police “uniforms, working attire and equipment” that says explicitly that the chief “will consult with the board prior to making any changes to the uniform, working attire or equipment of such significance or import as to alter the appearance of the uniform, working attire or equipment in the eyes of the community.”

Saunders’s contravention of this policy raises serious questions about what attention he or his advisers pay to the board’s oversight. It is amazing that the chief did not consider that the change could have a significant impact on or message for the community.

It’s not clear if board chair Andy Pringle or Mayor John Tory leaned on Saunders to reverse his decision.

Word circulating around police headquarters is that it was actually Saunders’s predecessor, Bill Blair, who signed off on the choice of colour, and that Saunders was left holding the bag. 

As board chair, I knew about the new cars – Ford was ending production of its Crown Victoria, which had been the police choice for decades, and replacing them with the Interceptor. However, there was no discussion about the new cars’ being a different colour. For people inside the police service and out, the confusion over the cars is part of a larger issue calling into question the chief’s judgment.

Alok Mukherjee served as chair of the Toronto Police Services Board from 2005 to 2015.

news@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto

Updated Sunday, November 20, 8:49 pm: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the new police cars. 

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