Peel Regional Police Service has problems similar to what is evident at Toronto Police Service

Poster at bus shelter, Lakeshore Road East and Dixie Road. Jaan Pill photo

Updates

An Oct. 4, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Peel residents at meeting call for police chief to resign: After carding controversies, Evans ‘not interested in change,’ one speaker at meeting says.”

An Oct. 15, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Reasons to wander Peel Region (that aren’t suspicious): Peel Police Chief Jennifer Evans has suggested that people walking in neighbourhoods that are not their own are suspicious.”

An April 22, 2017 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Peel police discriminated against decorated officer based on race, rights tribunal rules: Peel police discriminated against a South Asian officer and devalued the South Asian community, a human rights tribunal has ruled.”

[End of updates]

The Region of Peel, as you may know, is named after Robert Peel, the British politician.

The BBC website provides a biography of Robert Peel.

The text begins:

“Peel was twice British prime minister and his period in government saw landmark social reforms and the repeal of the Corn Laws.

“Robert Peel was born on 5 February 1788 in Bury, Lancashire. His father was a wealthy cotton mill owner, and Peel was educated at Harrow and Oxford, entering parliament as a Tory in 1809. His early political career included appointments as under-secretary for war and colonies (1809) and chief secretary for Ireland (1812). In 1822, he become home secretary, and introduced far-ranging criminal law and prison reform as well as creating the Metropolitan Police – the terms ‘bobbies’ and ‘peelers’ come from his name.”

Poster at bus shelter, Lakeshore Road East and Dixie Road. Jaan Pill photo

[End of excerpt]

Peel Regional Police website

The Peel Regional Police website also features an overview of Robert Peel’s life; the text reads, in part:

Sir Robert Peel

“The oldest son of a wealthy cotton manufacturer, he was educated at Harrow and Oxford, and with his fathers money, a parliamentary seat was found for him as soon as he became of age in 1809. One year later he was appointed undersecretary for war and colonies. Two years later he accepted the difficult position of chief secretary for Ireland. It was during this term in Ireland that he introduced the Act of Parliament which would bring about the formation of the Irish Peace Preservation Force.

“On his return to England he accepted the post of secretary for the home department and a seat in the Cabinet. His first task was to meet the long-standing demands for a comprehensive reorganization of the criminal code. Rising crime statistics proved to him that there should be some improvement in the methods of crime prevention. To this end, in 1829 he brought about the Metropolitan Police Act and with it the first disciplined police force for Greater London. They soon became known as Bobby’s boys or ‘bobbies’.”

 [End of except]

Government of the UK website

At the above-noted website, a note about Sir Robert Peel 2nd Baronet includes the following text:

“ ‘There seem to me to be very few facts, at least ascertainable facts, in politics.’

New traffic sign on Dixie Road just north of Lakeshore Road East. Jaan Pill photo

Jaan Pill photo

“Sir Robert Peel’s period in government – as prime minister and in other offices – was a milestone for social reform. Landmark legislation cut working hours for women and children, created cheap and regular rail services, and reorganised the policing of London, radically changing society.

“Peel was the son of a wealthy Lancashire cotton mill owner who was also Member of Parliament for Tamworth. It was a new-money background, which some in his party would later use to provoke him.”

[End of excerpt]

Peel Regional Police

The Peel Regional Police can be characterized as typical of police forces in the Greater Toronto Area. They provide a valuable service and sometimes their practices are highly questionable.

A Sept. 30, 2015 Globe and Mail article is entitled: “Latest tiff over police carding raises a question: Who’s in charge?”

A Nov. 21, 2015 CBC article is entitled: “Peel police under scrutiny for controversial carding practice: ‘Youth are very disillusioned by the police force,’ advocate tells conference.”

A Jan. 17, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Eric Morgan was the ‘author of his own misfortune,’ Peel police board, detectives say in defence statement: ‘If abusive and oppressive tactics are consistent with how officers are being trained then the obvious inference to draw is that the training methods are at fault.’ ”

A Jan. 29, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Newly elected Peel police board chair sets a fresh tone.”

To set things into context, the challenges that are faced, with regard to changes in police culture, can be found everywhere. A Feb. 3, 2016 CBC article, regarding this topic, is entitled: “Torontonians believe police treated differently in justice system, poll suggests:
Majority of respondents report diminished view of police after Sammy Yatim case.”

A June 27, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Peel senior police officers call on board chair to resign: Mississauga and Brampton mayors say reform-minded board chair Amrik Ahluwalia isn’t going anywhere.”

A July 15, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Peel groups fear U.S. policing tensions could spread here: As anger in Peel mounts over the strained relationship between police and racialized communities groups warn that U.S.-style tension could spread here.”

A July 17, 2016 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Chief lashes out after audit ordered into Peel police: Peel police Chief Jennifer Evans has sent a harshly worded letter to the board chair after an independent audit of the force was called.”

See also Update at top of the page you are now reading

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Peel District School Board

From time to time I visit PDSB and TDSB schools to give talks related to my volunteer work:

Sometimes, I could not get out any words at all; that was a long time ago

Enjoyed giving a talk in May 2013 to a Grade 4 class at École Sir Adam Beck Junior School in Toronto

Enjoyed my discussion this morning with a Grade 4/5 class at Sir Adam Beck Junior School