The office of Ontario’s ombudsman is evaluating whether or not to launch a full investigation of police use-of-force protocols in light of the death of Sammy Yatim, the knife-wielding 18-year-old who was killed on a Toronto streetcar in a police shooting. Ombudsman Andre Marin has directed his staff to look at the directions and guidelines provided by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to the province’s police services for “de-escalating situations that could potentially result in the use of force.” “The ministry has the power to set standards for Ontario police services,” Marin said in a statement. “The latest shooting by a Toronto Police officer raises the question of whether it is time for the ministry to direct Ontario police services on how to de-escalate situations of conflict before they lead to the use of fatal force.” DIGITAL EXTRA CTV Toronto: Friends of victim react IN THEIR WORDS Full text of the Yatim family statement GO 88.jpg IN PICTURES A march and vigil held for Sammy Yatim GO RELATED STORIES Hundreds march to protest deadly Toronto police shooting; officer suspended Officer in Toronto streetcar shooting identified PHOTOS CTV Toronto: Friends of victim react A man identified as Sammy Yatim was shot on a stopped streetcar on Dundas Street near Grace Street early in the morning on Saturday, July 27, 2013. The ombudsman’s announcement comes on the same day that a visitation is set to be held for the teen. Family and friends of Sammy Yatim are expected to gather at Highland Funeral Home in Scarborough for a viewing on Wednesday evening, according to a post on the Facebook group Sammy’s Fight for Justice. Visitation hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. A funeral will be held at the same location on Thursday at 11 a.m. Yatim was shot by police early Saturday morning while brandishing a knife on an empty Toronto streetcar. The incident was captured by surveillance cameras as well as bystanders’ cellphones, some of which have been posted to YouTube. In one video, Yatim can be seen pacing the empty streetcar as police shout at him to “drop the knife.” Then, in approximately a 13-second span, nine shots can be heard. CTV News has learned the Toronto police officer involved in the fatal shooting is Const. James Forcillo, a married six-year veteran of the force with a new baby at home. On Tuesday, Yatim’s family released a statement saying it doesn’t hold any “ill will” against Toronto police. “We want to be clear that we do not hold any ill will against the thousands of police officers who work to protect us each day,” the statement read. “This is a tragedy for all involved.” The family also said it had faith that the matter would be investigated “thoroughly and judiciously.” The incident is currently being investigated by Ontario’s Read more: ctvnews.ca/canada/ont-ombudsman-orders-case-assessment-in-light-of-toronto-police-shooting-1.1391952#ixzz2adiLacEi
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:03:14 +0000
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