The Black Action Defense Committee Inc. and the Black community of Toronto, along with all fair-minded citizens of Toronto are outraged to learn that Rick Shank has been appointed the head of the Professional Standards Branch of Toronto Police Service. Rick Shank is a Toronto police officer, who had shot and killed two unarmed Black men and in one case, he fired his firearm 10 times, at this unarmed man. He was secretly installed, as the head of the Professional Standards Branch of Toronto police service.
It is even more shocking to learn that this appointment occurred over two years ago and the community is just learning about it.
Promotions to higher ranks are usually publicized and celebrated so why the secrecy?
How could such a promotion be made, without a proper vetting of his background, or without looking at his record with all those incidences and complaints against him and without public consultations?
This behavior by the senior leadership team of Toronto Police Service, is reckless, cavalier and arrogant, to make such an appointment.
Knowing full well, that it would be discouraged, they flatly refused to do the appropriate background check that is usually done for senior positions. They then kept it secret, because they knew that if it became public, there would be an outcry from the community.
The Toronto police has pleaded with the Black community over the years, for assistance in trying to develop better relationships with that community, and the community has made outstanding efforts towards that end. These efforts include hundreds of delegations to police services Board meetings, consultation on improved policing legislation and regulations, and numerous other initiatives taken by various organizations and individuals, to help to create the basic elements required in the trust building process, and even consultation on development of a race-based data collection system after many years of fighting against it. I personally reviewed that policy and approved of it with one minor change.
Is this the type of trusting relationship that Toronto police seek with the Black community? Heaven help us if this is how they intend to develop a trusting relationship with the Black community!
It is even more shocking to hear the police public relations officers, describe Rick Shank, as having an exemplary record of service.
Does this mean that in order to have an exemplary record in the Toronto police service, officers will need to be killing Black men wantonly? Is this the best role model that Toronto police high command, desire their new recruits and younger officers to emulate?
The Black Action Defense Committee hereby calls on the Minister and Ministry of the Solicitor General to undertake a full investigation into this secret appointment and installation of Rick Shank as Head of the Professional Standards Branch of Toronto Police Service. The Black people of Ontario deserves better. We are not birds, deer nor moose to be hunted and shot. We are human beings with human rights as noted in the Preamble to the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Universal Declaration off Human Rights: “ Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world and is in accord with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as proclaimed by the United Nations”
Many Torontonians will remember that in 1983 Toronto Police arrested then New York Yankee star batsman Dave Winfied for throwing a ball, which struck and killed a seagull during a ball game. He was charged with causing “ unnecessary suffering to an animal”. This sparked an international incident with the USA.
Today, when animal rights activists are more strident in defending the rights of animals, not even the animals nor birds can be arbitrarily shot without consequence.
It is unthinkable that the Toronto Police Chief and high command could find no better candidate, to head their professional standards branch, than a man who has killed Black men and has abused many more and who has had numerous complaints lodged against him?
The Black Action Defense Committee wishes to remind the public, that the Professional Standards Branch came under public scrutiny for its failure to report the Dafonte Miller beating by Richard Theriault, a Toronto police constable; and that John Thereault, Richard’s father was a senior detective, in that Professional Standards Branch at the time of that occurrence.
Evidence was provided in Durham Court that showed that he had attended the scene of the crime, yet was not charged criminally nor under the Police Services Act for his role in the cover up. Both he and his superior, that failed to notify the SIU, were allowed to retire, without charges or any penalties for their misconduct according to the findings of Waterloo Regional Police that investigated that failure to report the incident to the SIU.
Putting Rick Shank in charge of professional standards is tantamount to putting the fox to guard the chicken coup.
I call upon all people of goodwill to stand with us and be prepared to march with and demonstrate with us until Rick Shank is removed from that position.
See the link below for more contextual information:
https://www.yeseverything.ca/blog/rewards-for-racism
For further Information Contact:
Kingsley P. Gilliam Director of Communications 647-267-1774
