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OpEd: Is there systemic racism in policing in Canada?
June 6, 2020

No, not in my view.

However I do believe that there are racist police officers in most or all police services in this country and across North America.

 

This is not a Master’s thesis or an empirical research paper. It is simply my opinion, based on 36 years serving as an officer and leader of one of North America’s largest police services and having additionally studied police activities and the analysis and reporting surrounding same, for the 6 years since.

 

The many protests – mostly peaceful that are occurring around the world following the murder of a Minneapolis man of colour at the hands of police, are quite rightfully demonstrating against racism and against police brutality, neither of which are acceptable. Focused and respectful dialogue on these topics is a good thing in my view. Some of the resulting narrative concerns me though, as Canadian police are being accused by some of “systemic racism”. I don’t believe that broad-brush characterization is accurate or fair.

 

My understanding of "systemic racism" is that racism is entrenched in an organization’s members, policies and processes, which then results in certain racial groups being categorically treated unfairly. It would be a pervasive culture of racism.

 

Is that what we are seeing in Canadian police services?

 

Racism is not confined to white people. And similarly is not only directed towards black people. Unfortunately racism exists throughout all societies – entrenched more deeply in some than in others, but it involves people of all colours.

 

Racial profiling or what became known as “carding” in Ontario, started out decades ago as a process that was never meant to be unconstitutional, discriminatory or to offend the rights of community members whatsoever. Officially known as “street checks”, the intent was to have a process for police to record information about suspicious people in suspicious circumstances with the hope that someday that information would link with other information gathered and help solve crimes. I submitted hundreds of them as a uniformed police officer on outlaw motorcycle gang members traveling across the province; known criminals in high-crime areas and who they were associating with; and more. Traditionally that has been an expected role for police, but never designed to be a racially-based system.

 

Thankfully, “Walking while black” has never been an offence under any legislation, however the “application” of the street check system by some officers in some locations in some jurisdictions led to a disproportionate number of people of colour being checked by police. The statistics in some municipalities spoke for themselves. No police chief would knowingly accept officers arbitrarily checking non-white citizens and gathering information from them for no valid reason, but it was happening. Fragile relationships between some community members and their police services understandably grew. That well-publicized concern inevitably affected police agencies from coast to coast and substantive change resulted.

 

A number of organized crime groups are ethnically based. Outlaw bikers are mostly white. Triads are Chinese. MS-13 members are largely Hispanic. La Cosa Nostra – Italian. East European organized crime groups are just that – eastern European. That is not a damnation of any of those racial groups whatsoever, it is simply a reality.

In Toronto, the majority of street-gang members are young black males. In northern Ontario, street gangs are almost exclusively comprised of Indigenous people. If Toronto police and the OPP are doing their jobs in relation to street gangs and are aggressively targeting them through legal intelligence gathering, investigation and enforcement, then they will be dealing with young men from specific racial groups. Arrests will be made and confrontations will occur as a result. The police at times will have to use force when making such arrests and unfortunately sometimes that won’t be pretty. But why are so many black and Indigenous young men drawn to the destructive street gang lifestyle? Why are so many living in poverty or suffering through addictions? There undoubtedly is systemic racism within the socio-economic factors that lead to those realities and that is concerning.

 

Certain areas within some specific municipalities are made up of a significant majority of people of particular ethnicities. As a result, that is the segment of the population who the local police interact with as victims, witnesses, suspects and the motoring public in that area. As a young officer I worked in a region that was largely inhabited by French-Canadian people. Did I stop more French motorists than English? Did I arrest and charge more French people than English? Of course I did, but it wasn’t done with ill-will or bias. That was simply the local demographic. But was I on patrol thinking to myself “I have to arrest and charge some French-Canadian folks tonight”? Of course not.

 

But what is important in all of the above is that all Canadians – regardless of race, creed, religion, lifestyle, age, gender or colour, are being dealt with professionally; respectfully; legally; fairly; within the rights afforded all in the Canadian Charter of Rights and legislation; in an equitable way; and within the core values of their police service. If members of one group are being treated differently in any way than members of another group, then that’s discrimination by the individuals that do it and those that allow it. If the policies, practices and leadership of the police service allow or condone such inappropriate behavior or don’t effectively address it when it occurs, then the racism is systemic.

 

Most or all of Ontario police services have anti-racism policies; diversity programs; and hold public dialogues with various community groups where issues are aired, discussed and solutions developed. Police services also have targeted recruitment programs to ensure the services are comprised of uniform and civilian employees that represent the cultural and racial make-up of the community. Some of those are more successful than others, but I know they all try. They also have imbedded policies and disciplinary codes that must be adhered to. Once again, these processes aren’t foolproof or perfect by any means, but officers continue to be formally disciplined or charged through them.

 

Three of the biggest police forces in Canada are led by people of colour. None of these leaders or any of their counterparts across the land wants anything less than the best from their people and for their communities. But unfortunately bad things happen on occasion, once again because they hire “people” and provide policing services to human beings. That’s not an excuse for bad officers, bias, excessive force or inappropriate behavior, but it is the reality they face.

 

Ontario has led Canada in the independent oversight of police, regarding complaints against police and the use of force by them. These systems are not flawless and don’t always result in the outcome desired by complainants and/or the officers involved. They are managed by people and humans are not perfect. But they must continually try their best to do the right things for the right reasons and strive to be better.

 

Investigations into police use of force must focus on a number of issues: Was it justified? If not, did it occur through malice, negligence or an honest error? Were criminal or Police Act offences committed? And throughout, was it racially-based? What level of disciplinary action applies if the policies or rules weren’t followed? And lastly, is there anything to be learned from the event from training, policy and equipment perspectives? Not answering these questions and taking decisive and fitting action as appropriate, is a failure of public policing. I firmly believe that Canadian police leaders are strongly committed to that principle.

 

Public trust is a fragile commodity for police that is earned one interaction at a time. When it breaks down because of bad officers, good officers are no longer trusted either.

It is the responsibility of the police service leaders, all employees and unions to challenge the bad officers and send a clear message that members will be held accountable for their actions.

 

ALL police services can, should and must do better for ALL the people they serve. They can never rest on their laurels and accept anything less than a constant determination to do better and make progressive change where required. However that doesn’t mean that racism is pervasive through Canadian policing or that “policing is broken” in this country like some would have us think. It is unfair to the vast majority of officers to suggest otherwise.

Should the Police Chief be blamed for the misdeeds of subordinates?

By Chris Lewis • February 13, 2026
I say "No."

When Oversight Becomes Overreach: Why a Few Bad Officers Must Not Redefine Policing

By Chris Lewis • February 11, 2026
Policing depends on public trust. So does police oversight. When either loses credibility, both suffer and the public they are sworn to serve isn’t sure who to believe or where to turn. In recent years, calls for stronger police oversight have grown louder, often driven by a small number of high-profile misconduct cases. Confidence in institutions by the public – often fueled by ridiculous social media theories and damnations, is more fragile than in the past, and reputational damage spreads faster. Despite the fact that Canadian police officers operate under tight legislative and regulatory frameworks that exceed any other Canadian profession in my view, existing oversight bodies feel pressure to take action quickly when bad things happen, as isolated as they may be. But there is a risk in this moment that deserves equal attention: the risk of overreach. The seven officers who have been alleged to have committed crimes – including serious ones that involve organized crime, must not be allowed to redefine an entire profession. Public trust certainly adds urgency to this moment. When corruption cases like this surface, the public does not necessarily see them as isolated failures. They see a system that is broken and in my view in this instance they see that unfairly. Policing is unlike most professions. There are over 70,000 police officers in Canada, comprised of federal, provincial and municipal officers that work under the worst of circumstances at times and face the harshest of critics. As a result of the arrests of seven serving Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers as well as a retired officer, then the subsequent suspension of two additional TPS officers and two Peel Regional Police Service officers, a large portion of the Canadian public are focusing on the ‘bad’ and forgetting the wonderful and brave police work occurring in their communities 24/7. Officers exercise coercive authority on the public on behalf of the public, often in volatile environments. They have right to take away people’s liberty and in the worst of situations to take lives. That authority most definitely demands the greatest of accountability, but it also demands reasonable, sensible and balanced oversight. Oversight systems designed around ‘worst-case scenarios’ risk governing by exception rather than thoughtful considerations and reality. One of the most overlooked consequences of overly broad oversight is its impact on ethical officers. When serious misconduct is identified, entire services face scrutiny and as a result of the Inspector General of Policing’s announcement to inspect all 45 police services in Ontario, the impacts are far reaching and not isolated to the police service of the members in question. The risk is that the resulting collective stigma will not only damage public trust but will also hurt officer morale; officer initiative may decline; recruiting could be impacted; and the reputation of the entire profession across Ontario will be damaged because of the alleged actions of a few. Oversight that blurs critical lines risks judging officers by association rather than their individual conduct. Officer trust in the oversight system and public trust in the policing profession could both be further harmed. As a result, both the Toronto Police Association and the Police Association of Ontario have rightfully expressed their concern regarding the inspection of all of Ontario’s police services. Their distress is that the announcement may be read by many that police corruption is rife across the province. At this point we do not know how much of this alleged criminal activity occurred off duty, versus on. We don’t know all the details of what they may have done and how, let alone what processes, policies or systems within the TPS that may have to be examined by the Inspector General. He may well have identified them all, but perhaps not. As the investigation portion by police continues, more things for inspection may be identified. In the meantime, I have no doubt that Ontario’s police Chiefs are reviewing their processes based on what they know so far, to ensure their policies, systems and internal oversight mechanisms are as tight as they can reasonably be. The seven charged officers are suspended and before the courts. The justice system is entrusted with dealing with these allegations from here. Others not charged but under investigation are suspended as well. There was no rush to begin a review process as this unfolds. Announcing that it will occur when the criminal investigation is complete and when they are armed with a more fulsome understanding of the issues that should be examined, would have been more appropriate. None of this lessens the need for accountability. It argues for thoughtful processes, analysis and reporting. Misconduct should be addressed decisively and dealt with through due process as it is, but broad oversight driven by isolated wrongdoings risks weakening the institutions we all depend on. Public trust matters. Undoubtedly. But so does institutional trust in police officers. In my view, processes that signal broad-based suspicion undermine the trust they are meant to protect. Oversight works best when it is firm, fair, and controlled.

Police corruption arrests: How do we move on from here?

By Chris Lewis • February 7, 2026
Thursday’s announcement of the arrest of seven serving and one retired Toronto police officers for corruption, was a dark moment for policing in Canada and for the communities that trust their police to always do what is honest and right. At times like this it is too easy for us all to lose trust in those in which we should hold the highest level of trust in society, because of the actions of a few. I believe that we must remind ourselves about all that is good in policing in Canada – where training, standards, equipment, professionalism, governance and competence are second to none in the world. I view this as both bad news and good news stories. The bad news is that seven officers allegedly broke their oaths and committed heinous crimes. Startling, sad and completely unacceptable for the profession and more importantly for the public they were sworn to serve. The “good” news (although I struggle with the word) is that the system worked. Suspicions arose about a certain Toronto Police (TPS) officer’s potential involvement in a crime in York Region. Police there notified the Chief of the TPS, and they quickly agreed that York Regional Police (YRP) would lead the investigation, and TPS would remain in a support role by providing Professional Standards investigators and other assistance as required. I assume that would mean investigative support personnel and access to internal information about the TPS officers in question, like their schedules; what police cars they were driving; assignments and personnel file information, at minimum. By design, the TPS Chief did not have decision-making authority in the investigation. None of that raises any red flags for me. This was a large and complex investigation that eventually involved 400 officers and would require highly experienced investigators and specialty personnel. YRP and TPS have all of that and more. The leaders that addressed the media spoke competently and professionally, leaving no doubt that they would leave no stone unturned. Evidence was gathered and arrests of officers and others were made. The public was then appropriately advised of as many details as we have ever seen released in a media conference when charges were before the courts and an investigation ongoing. TPS Chief Demkiw announced he was seeking to suspend at least some of the officers without pay. That is something that has only recently became acceptable under Ontario’s policing regulations and must be used judiciously. Of course, social media “experts” and anti-police pundits took over from there. Please allow me to offer answers to some of the most consistent queries: Why wasn’t an independent oversight body like the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) brought on to investigate? Police shouldn’t investigate police! It’s not the legislated mandate of the SIU to conduct criminal investigations into police except in specific circumstances around police use of force or sexual assault. Nor is it the mandate of Ontario’s Inspectorate of Policing. These governing bodies do not possess the expertise or resources to conduct massive criminal investigations into officers and organized crime groups. Only large police services have the critical mass and knowledge to manage such difficult operations. An option for Chief Demkiw was to let his Professional Standards personnel be the liaison for TPS information and potential Police Act charges against TPS personnel that might emerge but leave the investigative support/assistance piece to another large outside service. That would’ve helped suppress any concern around TPS investigating their own. But police services often conduct criminal investigations into their own people with regularity in Ontario, unless they involve senior officers. There’s no hard and fast rule or Ministry guidelines on the issue to my knowledge. The Toronto Chief should step down. This happened under his watch. I cannot speak to his day-to-day job performance, but in my view, Chief Demkiw did not handle this case wrongly. The alleged illegal actions of 0.12% of his police personnel do not justify his removal. If he knew and didn’t take action that would be different but there is no suggestion of him doing anything but throwing his full support behind the YRP investigation. Again, perhaps he should’ve kept TPS out of it as much as possible, but that was a judgement call made in the early stages of an investigation that grew very large over time. All cops are corrupt. Why didn’t other officers stop them? What? This was seven officers in a police service of almost 6000 TPS officers and out of over 70,000 police officers in Canada. It is awful, without a doubt and concerning to say the least, but this does not mean there is a wave of police corruption and ties to organized crime across the nation. As this criminality unfolded and as we speak, thousands of officers are on the streets of Canada, saving lives and risking their own; patrolling communities; preventing crime and victimization; responding to life and death situations; arresting evil criminals and more. They do that professionally, bravely and honestly, or they are held to account under various laws and disciplinary processes. They are governed and regulated more than any other profession in Canada. Yes, some cops (even one is too many) out of those 70,000, commit crimes in their careers, which is unacceptable. Some of that occurs while they are on duty, some not. It is disappointing when it happens, but with rare exception police leaders will not accept it and will deal with it expeditiously through due process. In cases where a police supervisor or executive doesn’t take proper action, they will be held to account as well. As a rule, no one hates dirty cops more than honest cops. They hurt the profession as a whole across the continent. Canadian officers take a reputational hit regardless of where the wrongdoing occurs in North America. We don’t know the details yet of what these accused officers were doing or how much of it they were doing on the job, versus off duty. IF evidence comes to light in the ongoing investigation that colleague officers knew or participated in any way in the criminality, they will be in trouble as well. Let’s not jump to conclusions that other officers “must have known” and let the investigation run its course. Why do officers not have more oversight on the use of police databases? Police officers and a number of civilian colleagues have access to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) database that holds all licenced driver and vehicle registration information in Ontario. Most police cars have computers in them that can access that information, which includes driver’s and owners’ addresses. It is accessed non-stop, 24/7, as a regular part of core police business. Other databases involving outstanding warrants and criminal history, as well as occurrence records are similarly accessed. Government employees that work at MTO or in some other Ministries have like access to people’s names and addresses. That is reality in all 10 provinces. We cannot limit legitimate government employee access to vital systems on the off chance they may be inappropriately used. That includes those that we entrust to carry guns and make life and death decisions. When such databases are misused in some way, proper action must be taken promptly, as it was in this case, as opposed to hamstringing the operability of several hundred thousand honest employees across Canada. Canadian police officers are internationally highly-regarded, but they are human, have frailties and will honestly err on occasion while truly trying to do their best. That can be dealt with and repaired when it occurs. But when officers commit acts of malice, they will be appropriately held accountable and dealt with through due process. That is the bedrock of Canadian policing. Public trust in police is paramount to effective policing, and largely we enjoy that in our country. We cannot let this dark day define what policing actually is in Toronto or anywhere in Canada. Canadians should move forward with confidence that the system did work in this case. Those that violated our trust are before the courts. The vast, vast majority of officers that are still out there bravely doing what they do so well, will never let us down. Please give them a chance.