OIPRD REPORT REVEALS THAT COVER-UP AT TORONTO POLICE SERVICE KEPT CHIEF SAUNDERS IN THE DARK

On August 6, 2020, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (“OIPRD”) delivered its report regarding a complaint made by Dafonte Miller, through counsel, against Chief of Police of the Toronto Police Service (“TPS”) Mark Saunders. Dafonte Miller received the report from the Toronto Police Services Board approximately 45 minutes before Interim Police Chief, James Ramer, held a press conference on August 6, 2020.

Mr. Miller’s OIPRD complaint alleged that Chief Saunders breached the Police Services Act by failing to notify the Special Investigations Unit (“SIU”) of TPS Constable Michael Theriault’s off-duty arrest and assault of Mr. Miller on December 28, 2016, and that the failure to report was intended to shield Michael Theriault from criminal charges.

The OIPRD revealed that for 5 months Chief Saunders was kept in the dark about the vicious assault on Dafonte Miller by TPS officers. It is clear from the report that Chief Saunders was ignorant to facts of what took place that night and, further, that he misapprehended his statutory duty to report such incidents to the SIU.

Falconers LLP acts for Dafonte Miller and his family in civil proceedings and the investigation into police misconduct.

Julian Falconer of Falconers LLP will be holding a press conference on Friday, August 7 at 11 a.m. EDT.

The press release and related details can be found here:

Backgrounder: OIPRD Report RE. Chief Saunders and assault of Dafonte Miller

Miller Press Advisory OIPRD

OIPRD Investigative Report – Dafonte Miller – TPS Chief’s complaint

Current media coverage can be found here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/dafonte-miller-oiprd-report-1.5677419

https://www.cp24.com/news/dafonte-miller-slams-toronto-police-suggests-apology-was-public-relations-exercise-1.5055523

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/dafonte-miller-says-he-received-oiprd-report-minutes-before-toronto-s-interim-police-chief-s-public-apology-1.5055468

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/08/07/dafonte-miller-set-to-discuss-toronto-police-apology-results-of-independent-review-at-friday-news-conference.html

https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/08/dafonte-miller-needs-more-apology-toronto-police/

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/08/07/dafonte-miller-young-black-man-beaten-by-police-officer-doesnt-accept-apology/

https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-dafonte-miller-wont-accept-interim-chiefs-sincerest-apologies/wcm/90f4ee01-f324-49de-9739-e3c6da1c1398/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-dafonte-miller-dismisses-interim-toronto-chiefs-apology/

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/08/07/dafonte-miller-set-to-discuss-toronto-police-apology-results-of-independent-review-at-friday-news-conference.html

Further background information can be found here:

https://falconers.ca/dafonte-miller-case-troubling-aspects-unanswered-questions-proclaims-mayor-toronto-tory/

https://falconers.ca/bail-conditions-re-asha/

https://falconers.ca/toronto-police-constable-theriault-brother-mislead-investigation-deplorable-police-handing-dafonte-miller-case/

https://falconers.ca/supported-ohrc-community-coalition-miller-family-files-oiprd-complaint-theriaults-toronto-durham-police-calls-systemic-review-oiprd/

https://falconers.ca/gratuitous-attack-deliberate-concealment-crime-dafonte-miller-case/

https://falconers.ca/dafonte-miller-case-prompts-durham-police-adopt-new-siu-notification-procedure/

https://falconers.ca/police-constable-michael-theriault-guilty-of-assault-judge-convicts-toronto-police-officer-for-brutal-beating-of-black-youth/

https://falconers.ca/falconer-calls-for-federal-royal-commission-of-inquiry-into-policing-in-wake-of-conviction-of-pc-theriault/

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