Carding drops but proportion of blacks stopped by Toronto police rises

[shockedcanadian]

http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2014/07/26/carding_drops_but_proportion_of_blacks_stopped_by_toronto_police_rises.html


This is the same problem that cropped up last year in NY. Why is ANYONE being carded for walking the street? Unless there is a specific crime being investigated, these are gross tactics that violate our Charter. Whats worse, with the collection of sharing of tps info with so many as has been investigated by The Star (and I have been posting on this forum); something chief Bill Blair refuses to change; how can anyone be sure that the simple carding of a young man wont impact his life years down the road?

[Louisiana1976]

1. It's interesting to know that isn't just a US phenomenon.

[shockedcanadian]

2. Some insight by an ex-cop

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/knowntopolice2013/2013/09/27/extoronto_police_officers_candid_view_of_carding.html

[blkmusclmachine]

3. Canada is following down the black hole like its neighbor to the south.

Your papers, please.

[arikara]

4. Canada is getting far worse

under that dickhead Harper.

[shockedcanadian]

5. What does your statement have to do with the price of tea leaves in China?

You can take aim at Harper for many issues, but blaming Harper for the action of the Toronto Police Service is no different than blaming Chief Bill Blair for the actions of the Canadian military. That isn't his mandate nor something he would deal with. In Toronto taking aim at the police for wrongdoings is a life sentence for any politician so the impetus for change simply doesn't exist.

I imagine the TPS would be better off without Blair at the helm (depending on who his replacement would be), just as the RCMP is much better off without Zarccardelli. Some "leaders" don't understand that their responsibility is to serve the public, uphold laws and the Charter, not operate in an insulated environment that allows for zero accountability. Police "instincts" shouldn't superseed the law and due process except in obvious situations, such as a person yelling for help in their home after having made a call to the police, police shouldn't wait for a warrant in such circumstances.

Certainly uniformed police have a difficult job, and like anyone in society they can fall prey to stereotypes and pressure from the higher ups (as the ex-cop insinuated). I can't imagine that being asked to card people is an enjoyable task for many in the police, and rightfully so. I have met some very good cops in my lifetime, none of them were operating undercover by the way...