Tulloch heads review of police oversight

Justice Michael Tulloch and Andrew Loku
Justice Michael Tulloch and Andrew Loku

Brampton’s first Jamaican-born city Councilor Garnett Manning welcomed the news that Court of Appeal Justice Michael Tulloch will head the review of police oversight bodies.

Tulloch will lead an independent review of the three agencies that oversee police conduct in the province: the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

Justice Michael Tulloch
Justice Michael Tulloch

Manning said Tulloch – the first Black judge on Ontario’s top court – “is highly respected and loved, especially for the tremendous work he has done and is doing with our beloved young people.”

He called Tulloch, who was born in Jamaica, the perfect candidate for the job.

Tulloch is to provide the government with recommendations on ways to enhance the transparency and accountability of the province’s three police oversight bodies, while at the same time ensuring that these agencies are carrying out their work as effectively and efficiently as possible.

As part of his review, he will engage in public consultations.

Ontario also asked Tulloch to prioritize making recommendations as to how information in SIU reports could be made public in future, as well as whether past SIU reports should be made public, and the form this information would take.

The government expects to receive these prioritized recommendations in the coming months.

The Ministry of the Attorney General is releasing the SIU Director’s decision and analysis, a part of the SIU report prepared in relation to the Andrew Loku investigation.

A father of five, Loku was shot dead by Toronto Police on July, 5, 2015, on Gilbert Ave. in the Eglinton Ave. W. and Caledonia Rd. area. Loku allegedly refused to comply with police demands to drop a hammer and threatened to kill a friend of a guest in the apartment.

His death has sparked several protests across the city and repeated demands that the entire SIU report be released to the public.

Tulloch served as a judge with the Superior Court of Justice since 2003 and was a criminal defence lawyer and assistant Crown attorney before becoming a judge.

He also served as a special prosecuting agent with the federal justice department and has participated in reviews including the Ontario government Review of Civilian Oversight on Policing.