Bill Blair (police chief)
Encyclopedia
William Sterling "Bill" Blair, is the police chief of Toronto
, Ontario
. He was selected in a 4–2 vote of the Toronto Police Services Board
in early April 2005, and formally appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service
on April 26, 2005. He succeeded Mike Boyd, who had served as interim chief after the expiry of Julian Fantino
's contract. Prior to his appointment as chief, Blair worked for approximately 30 years as a Toronto police officer, with assignments involving drug enforcement, organized crime and major criminal investigations.
, Blair is president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
. In 2007, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
. He is a Member of the Venerable Order of Saint John
.
At a June 28, 2010 rally, protesters called for Blair's resignation, because of orders he gave that led to the detention of nearly demonstrators during the 2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests
. In a December 8, 2010 interview, Blair indicated that he would not resign, despite growing criticism of his leadership during and after the summit.
Responding to questions about a controversial regulation enacted by the Cabinet of Ontario to increase police powers during the summit, Blair was supportive, stating that "[i]t was passed in exactly the procedure as described in our legislation in Ontario". Post-summit reports revealed that on June 25, prior to the start of the summit and shortly after Blair defended a widely-reported misinterpretation of the regulation in a press conference, the police department received a government bulletin clarifying the misinterpretation and explaining that the new regulation accorded them no additional power to demand identification outside of the summit perimeter. Blair's spokesperson stated that as of the press conference, Blair was unaware of the clarification; however, Blair did not retract his prior remarks to the press after receiving the bulletin. When interviewed after the summit, Blair confirmed that there was never an extraordinary legal requirement for the public to present identification within of the perimeter fence, but that he "was trying to keep the criminals out". In December 2010, following a critical report by the Ontario Ombudsman
, André Marin
, Blair admitted regret that he had initially interpreted the regulation at face value, and did not promptly clear up confusion about the meaning of the regulation.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He was selected in a 4–2 vote of the Toronto Police Services Board
Toronto Police Services Board
The Toronto Police Services Board is the civilian oversight of the Toronto Police Service. It was called the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board from 1990 until 1998 and the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission from 1955 until 1990 when the name of the body was changed as a result of...
in early April 2005, and formally appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service
Toronto Police Service
The Toronto Police Service , formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Police, is the police service for the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest municipal police service in Canada and second largest police force in Canada after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police...
on April 26, 2005. He succeeded Mike Boyd, who had served as interim chief after the expiry of Julian Fantino
Julian Fantino
Julian Fantino is a retired police official and the elected Member of the Parliament of Canada for the riding of Vaughan following a November 29, 2010 by-election...
's contract. Prior to his appointment as chief, Blair worked for approximately 30 years as a Toronto police officer, with assignments involving drug enforcement, organized crime and major criminal investigations.
, Blair is president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is a national political lobby organization for police executives in Canada. It was founded in 1905 as the Chief Constables Association of Canada and adopted the current name in the early 1950s....
. In 2007, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
Order of Merit of the Police Forces
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved only for members of Canada's various police forces...
. He is a Member of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
.
At a June 28, 2010 rally, protesters called for Blair's resignation, because of orders he gave that led to the detention of nearly demonstrators during the 2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests
2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests
The 2010 G-20 Toronto summit protests began one week ahead of the summit of the leaders of the G-20 on June 26 and 27 in Toronto. Protests included demonstrations, rallies, marches, as well as a destructive riot that broke out on June 26 which caused vandalism to several businesses in Downtown...
. In a December 8, 2010 interview, Blair indicated that he would not resign, despite growing criticism of his leadership during and after the summit.
Responding to questions about a controversial regulation enacted by the Cabinet of Ontario to increase police powers during the summit, Blair was supportive, stating that "[i]t was passed in exactly the procedure as described in our legislation in Ontario". Post-summit reports revealed that on June 25, prior to the start of the summit and shortly after Blair defended a widely-reported misinterpretation of the regulation in a press conference, the police department received a government bulletin clarifying the misinterpretation and explaining that the new regulation accorded them no additional power to demand identification outside of the summit perimeter. Blair's spokesperson stated that as of the press conference, Blair was unaware of the clarification; however, Blair did not retract his prior remarks to the press after receiving the bulletin. When interviewed after the summit, Blair confirmed that there was never an extraordinary legal requirement for the public to present identification within of the perimeter fence, but that he "was trying to keep the criminals out". In December 2010, following a critical report by the Ontario Ombudsman
Ontario Ombudsman
The Ontario Ombudsman is an independent officer of the provincial legislature in Ontario, Canada. In the tradition of the classical parliamentary Ombudsman first established in Sweden in 1809, Ontario's Ombudsman oversees and investigates public complaints about the government of Ontario, including...
, André Marin
André Marin
André Marin is the Ombudsman of Ontario. He was appointed in April 2005 and reappointed in June 2010 to a second five-year term...
, Blair admitted regret that he had initially interpreted the regulation at face value, and did not promptly clear up confusion about the meaning of the regulation.