Dafonte Miller Case Prompts Durham Police to Adopt New SIU Notification Procedure

In the wake of the Dafonte Miller case, the Durham Regional Police Chief, Paul Martin, vowed to implement a new policy for reporting incidents to the Special Investigations Unit (“SIU”) CP24 reports. In a written statement released Monday, September 11, 2017,  Martin said the provincial regulations relating to the notification of the SIU do not “serve our community” and the chief promised to implement a procedure that is “more transparent and accountable.”

Martin stated, “there will be no exceptions: if the officer is from our police service the procedure will apply. If they are from another service, the procedure will apply, on duty or off. Whatever happens in Durham will be the responsibility of the Durham Regional Police Service.”

The statement comes after both the Durham Regional Police Service and Toronto Police Service were criticized for failing to contact the SIU after an off-duty Toronto police officer allegedly assaulted and severely wounded Whitby teen Dafonte Miller last December.

Miller’s lawyer, Julian Falconer, raised other concerns about the conduct of Durham police. For example, he said that Durham investigators failed to interview an eyewitness to the beating. Falconer also provided an account of what allegedly happened in the early morning hours of Dec. 28, none of which has yet been tested in court.

According to Falconer, the Theriault’s allegedly beat Miller “within an inch of his life.” Falconer also said that following the attack, Miller’s left eye was dislodged from its socket and was split in four, causing him to permanently lose vision in that eye. Falconer added that Miller also suffered a broken nose, broken orbital bone, bruised ribs, and a fractured wrist.

In The News

Police make big change after Dafonte Miller case    Oshawa Express, September 13, 2017

Durham police chief vows to implement new policy on reporting incidents to SIU   CP24, September 11, 2017

Durham police change procedure for notifying SIU after reviewing Dafonte Miller case    Global News, September 11, 2017

‘There will be no exceptions’ Durham police draft new SIU reporting protocol after Dafonte Miller case    CBC, September 11, 2017

Durham chief vows to tell SIU of incidents in future    Toronto Star, September 11, 2017

Demonstrators protest outside hearing for brothers charged in beating of Dafonte Miller     Toronto Star, September 7, 2017

Protesters allege bias, coverup in case of Dafonte Miller, Whitby teen hurt in confrontation with off-duty cop    DurhamRegion, September 7, 2017

Testimony of officers who face allegations poses challenge for lawyers    Lawyers Daily, September 7, 2017

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