The Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) is the civilian

police board A police board is an appointed form of local government charged with the responsibility of overseeing a local police force. In the United States, the term is used for some police departments. For example, the Chicago Police Board oversees the Ch ...

that governs the Toronto Police Service (TPS). The board is responsible for approving the annual police budget, defining objectives and policies for TPS, and hiring Toronto's police chief. The role of police services boards are outlined in section 31 of the provincial ''Police Services Act''. The board makes decisions governing the structure and environment of the police service, but the chief of police leads the day-to-day operation of the police. Neither the board or its members can direct members of the police service. Only the chief of police, who is responsible to the board as a whole, receives direction on objectives, policies and priorities. Membership of the board includes the mayor of Toronto (or a designate), two city councillors, one civilian member appointed by city council and three civilian members appointed by the province. The board is administrative in nature and it does not investigate police conduct or complaints, as is the mandate of the Special Investigations Unit,

Ontario Civilian Police Commission The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC; French: ''Commission civile de l’Ontario sur la police''), previously known as the Ontario Police Commission and the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services, is an independent quasi-judicial ...

or Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which are oversight agencies.

Membership

The board comprises seven members, three appointed by the Province of Ontario and four by the

City of Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

. Three civilian members are appointed by the province and one by the city; two city councillors and the mayor of Toronto as the head of council sit on the board. A chair (presently Jim Hart) and vice-chair are elected from its membership. The ''Police Services Act'' requires the board to meet at least four times a year. The ''Police Services Act'' also stipulates that a judge,

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or '' puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the s ...

, police officer, or a person who practices

criminal law Criminal law is the body of law that relates to crime. It prescribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people inclusive of one's self. Most criminal law ...

as a defence counsel may not be a member of a police board. , the board members are:

History

Prior to amalgamation, the Metropolitan Toronto Police were governed by the ''Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board'' from 1990 until 1998. Previously, it was called the ''Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission'' (or ''Board of Police Commission'') from 1955 until 1990, when the name of the board was changed as a result of amendments to the ''Police Services Act''.

Former chairs

References

External links

Toronto Police Service
{{Metro Toronto Government Civilian regulating boards Toronto Police Service

Membership

History

Former chairs

See also

References

External links