Kathleen O'Toole
Encyclopedia
Kathleen M. O'Toole is the Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, set up to ensure that the resources available to the Garda Síochána
are used so as to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration, as measured by reference to the best standards of comparable police services and report to Ireland's Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on changes to improve efficiency in line with best international practice.
She was the first female police commissioner of Boston, Massachusetts when appointed by the Mayor of Boston. She was appointed by mayor Thomas M. Menino
in February 2004. On 9 May 2006, O'Toole officially announced that she was leaving the Boston Police Department
to move to Ireland.
with a B.A. in 1976 and from New England School of Law
with a JD in 1982.
from 1992 to 1994; she was appointed to the cabinet position of Secretary, Executive Office of Public Safety in Massachusetts, by Governor Weld in 1994 and served in this position until 1998. She then became a member of the Patten Commission
headed by Lord Patten of Barnes which reformed policing in Northern Ireland
and led to the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
.
during the celebrations of the Boston Red Sox
victory over the rival New York Yankees
in the 2004 American League Championship Series
, in which riot police fired a "less lethal" pepper spray round, which missed its intended target and struck Ms Snelgrove in the eye, entering her brain and killing her. While Commissioner O'Toole demoted one superintendent and suspended two officers involved in the incident, no prosecution or dismissal was brought against any officer in the case.
pronounced that it was "staggered" by the level of indiscipline and insubordination in the force and the Irish Government is to respond with a revised code of discipline.
.
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
are used so as to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration, as measured by reference to the best standards of comparable police services and report to Ireland's Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on changes to improve efficiency in line with best international practice.
She was the first female police commissioner of Boston, Massachusetts when appointed by the Mayor of Boston. She was appointed by mayor Thomas M. Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
in February 2004. On 9 May 2006, O'Toole officially announced that she was leaving the Boston Police Department
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
to move to Ireland.
Upbringing
She was born in 1954 and grew up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She graduated from Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
with a B.A. in 1976 and from New England School of Law
New England School of Law
New England School of Law is a private law school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1908 as a law school for women.-History:...
with a JD in 1982.
Career
Her career includes service as Lieutenant Colonel of Massachusetts State PoliceMassachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
from 1992 to 1994; she was appointed to the cabinet position of Secretary, Executive Office of Public Safety in Massachusetts, by Governor Weld in 1994 and served in this position until 1998. She then became a member of the Patten Commission
Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland
The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland was established in 1998 as part of the Belfast Agreement, intended as a major step in the Northern Ireland peace process. Chaired by Conservative politician Chris Patten, it was better known as the Patten Commission. The other members of...
headed by Lord Patten of Barnes which reformed policing in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and led to the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
.
Snelgrove Controversy
While serving as Commissioner of the Boston Police, O'Toole was a central figure in the controversy surrounding the fatal shooting of Victoria SnelgroveVictoria Snelgrove
Victoria Snelgrove was a junior majoring in journalism at Emerson College. She had transferred from Fitchburg State College in the fall of 2003. She was hit with a crowd-control round and mortally wounded by Boston police officer Rochefort Milien on October 21, 2004 when she was eight days away...
during the celebrations of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
victory over the rival New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the 2004 American League Championship Series
2004 American League Championship Series
The 2004 American League Championship Series was the Major League Baseball playoff series to decide the American League champion for the 2004 season. It was played between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, at Fenway Park and the original Yankee Stadium, from October 12 to October 20, 2004...
, in which riot police fired a "less lethal" pepper spray round, which missed its intended target and struck Ms Snelgrove in the eye, entering her brain and killing her. While Commissioner O'Toole demoted one superintendent and suspended two officers involved in the incident, no prosecution or dismissal was brought against any officer in the case.
Ireland
The Garda Inspectorate, which will have three members, will examine operational, investigative, managerial and policing strategies to ensure that these meet best practice. Her role within the Garda will be to clean up the current spate of scandal in the Gardaí. The Morris TribunalMorris Tribunal
The Morris Tribunal is a Public Inquiry to address allegations of the 1990s and early 2000s against the Garda Síochána , the national police force of the Republic of Ireland...
pronounced that it was "staggered" by the level of indiscipline and insubordination in the force and the Irish Government is to respond with a revised code of discipline.
Family
She is married to Dan O'Toole, now a retired Boston police officer. They have one daughter, Meghan, who received her masters from National University of Ireland, GalwayNational University of Ireland, Galway
The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland...
.