Toronto police chief reportedly set to apologize to Black community, reveal new data

Toronto’s top police officer will reportedly make an apology Wednesday morning to the city’s Black community as the force prepares to release new data on ‘use-of-force’ and strip searches.

There are multiple reports Toronto Police Chief James Ramer will make the apology during a 10:30 a.m. news conference, when the TPS will be releasing the findings of a report expected to confirm that members of the Black community face force at higher rates than their share of the city’s population.

TPS started collecting the data in 2020, after the Ford government mandated the force to document race-based data on violent interactions with the public. It also took an extra step and collected data surrounding strip searches and race.

Earlier data released by the Ontario Human Rights Commission found that Black people were five times more likely than white people to be subjected to force, leading to severe bruises or cuts, while they’re twenty times more likely than a white person to be fatally shot.

In a statement posted on its website, police say they’re committed to comprehensive police reform and internal culture change.