Wikipedia

Chief of the Toronto Police Service

The chief of the Toronto Police Service is the professional head of the Toronto Police Service (TPS). Under the direction of the Toronto Police Services Board, the chief is responsible for the management and administration of the police service's operations.

Chief of the Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Service emblem (top)
and Chief of Police rank slip (bottom)
Incumbent
Myron Demkiw
since December 19, 2022
Toronto Police Service
Reports toToronto Police Services Board
AppointerToronto Police Services Board
Constituting instrumentPolice Services Act
(R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15)
Inaugural holderWilliam Higgins
Formation1834
Websitetps.ca/chief

Myron Demkiw is the current chief of police, having assumed office on December 19, 2022.[1]

Overview

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Section 41 of the Police Services Act legally defines the role of police chiefs in Ontario. Under this law, the chief is responsible for administering the police force and overseeing its operation in accordance with the objectives, priorities and policies established by the board, ensuring that members of the police force carry out their duties in accordance with the Police Services Act in a manner that reflects the needs of the community, maintaining discipline in the police force, ensuring that the police force provides community-oriented police services, and administering the complaints system.[2][3]

The Toronto Police Services Board recruits and dismisses the chief. Day-to-day policing and operational decisions of the Toronto Police Service are made by the chief, but must be consistent with the policies and objectives set by the Toronto Police Services Board.[4]

History

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The position was known as "high constable" when the Toronto Police Department was formed[5] until 1859 and then as "chief constable" until 1957, when the Toronto Police Department was amalgamated with 12 other Toronto-area forces to form the Metropolitan Toronto Police.[6]

List of chiefs of police

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High constables, chief constables and chiefs of police in Toronto[7]
Agency Title Name Tenure Notes Ref
Toronto Police Department

(1834–1956)

High Constable William Higgins 1834
George Kingsmill 1835
James Stitt 1836
George Kingsmill 1837–1846
George Allen 1847–1852
Samuel Sherwood 1852–1858
Chief Constable William Stratton Prince 1859–1873
Frank C. Draper 1874–1886
H. J. Grasett 1886–1920 Longest serving chief
Samuel Dickson 1920–1928
Dennis Draper 1928–1946
John Chisholm 1946–1956
Metropolitan Toronto Police

(1957–1998)

Chief of Police John Chisholm 1957–1958
James Page Mackey 1958–1970 [8]
Harold Adamson 1970–1980 [9]
Jack Ackroyd 1980–1984 [10]
Jack Marks 1984–1989 [11]
William McCormack 1989–1995 [12]
Toronto Police Service

(1998–present)

David Boothby 1995–2000 Last chief of the Metro Police; first chief of the Toronto Police Service [13]
Julian Fantino 2000–2005 [14]
Mike Boyd 2005 Interim [15]
Bill Blair 2005–2015 [16]
Mark Saunders 2015–2020 [17]
James Ramer 2020–2022 Interim [18]
Myron Demkiw 2022–present [19]

References

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  1. ^ "Toronto names police chief: Deputy Chief Myron Demkiw will replace James Ramer". thestar.com. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  2. ^ "Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15". Ontario.ca. 2014-07-24. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  3. ^ "How do Ontario police forces operate and who commands them?". Toronto. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  4. ^ "Toronto Police Services Board - Board Mandate". tpsb.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  5. ^ "An Introduction to the History of the Toronto Police Service". Toronto Police Service. Archived from the original on 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  6. ^ "History of Toronto Police". Toronto Police Service. Archived from the original on 2022-02-16. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  7. ^ "Chiefs Through the Years". Toronto Police Service. Archived from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  8. ^ "Longest-serving Toronto police chief dies at age 95". CTV News Toronto. The Canadian Press. 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-14. James Page Mackey, who served as chief from 1958 to 1970,
  9. ^ "Chief offered contract extension by police board". CTV News Toronto. ctvtoronto.ca. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2024-03-14. If he serves until April 2015, Blair will be the longest-serving police chief since Harold Adamson, who held the position from 1970 to 1980.
  10. ^ "John Wesley "Jack" Ackroyd - Prospect Cemetery, Section 8, Lot 401". Mount Pleasant Group. Retrieved 2024-03-14. Jack Ackroyd, former chief of police for Metropolitan Toronto (1980-1984), remembered for his leadership, commitment to openness and honesty, and significant contributions to police internal reorganisation.
  11. ^ "Jack Marks Backgrounder" (PDF). Toronto Police Service. 2007-02-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  12. ^ D'Amore, Rachael; Herhalt, Chris (2016-09-08). "Former Toronto police chief Bill McCormack dies". CP24.com. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  13. ^ Warmington, Joe (2017-05-10). "Crime Stoppers a remarkable resource for Toronto police". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  14. ^ "Summary Of Julian Fantino's Career". Office of the Premier. Government of Ontario. 2005-02-08. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  15. ^ "Ontario ombudsman names former police chiefs as advisors". The Toronto Star. 2013-11-05. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  16. ^ Gillis, Wendy (2015-04-17). "The legacy of Toronto police Chief Bill Blair". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  17. ^ James, Royson (2015-04-19). "Mark Saunders named Toronto's next police chief". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  18. ^ Ngabo, Gilbert (2021-08-06). "Toronto police board extends appointment of James Ramer as interim chief until the end of next year". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  19. ^ Casaletto, Lucas (2022-09-15). "Myron Demkiw appointed as new Toronto police chief". CityNews Toronto. Rogers Media. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
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