Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw has stated that the force is treating allegations of antisemitism within its highest ranks with utmost seriousness, following the release of a memoir by former homicide detective Hank Idsinga.
In his book titled 'The High Road: Confessions Of A Homicide Cop,' Idsinga claims he encountered 'racism and dysfunction' within the Toronto Police Service (TPS). He describes instances of alleged antisemitism that left him 'feeling physically ill,' according to reports from CityNews.
Chief Demkiw responds
During a press conference on Thursday morning, Chief Demkiw was questioned about Idsinga's allegations. Acknowledging a 'dramatic rise of antisemitism' in Toronto and the associated 'fear and concern,' Demkiw emphasized that 'any allegation of a Toronto police officer being involved in any kind of racist behaviour, we take very, very seriously.'
Demkiw revealed that TPS has approached Idsinga to participate in an investigation, but the invitation 'has been declined at this point, although we are examining the allegations very carefully.' He added that later on Thursday, he would meet with TPS members and the internal Jewish support network executive to ensure responsiveness to the findings.
The chief reiterated the TPS's commitment to investigating the allegations 'thoroughly and completely.'
Idsinga's accusations
While Idsinga acknowledges in his book that 'members of the Toronto Police Service are overwhelmingly good, decent people,' he contends that the force is not immune to societal biases, including antisemitism, anti-Black racism, misogyny, and homophobia. He specifically accuses 'vile racism in the uppermost ranks of the police service.'
One instance Idsinga recounts involves a video shared internally about a divisional officer. He recalls walking up to a senior officer watching the video, who paused it and said, 'The only reason he gets away with this is because he's a f*****g Jew.' In another incident, when his office had to present to a lawyer at police headquarters, the same senior officer remarked, 'I can't believe we have to pander to this f*****g Jew.'
Idsinga, whose grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust, writes that he never considered filing a formal complaint because 'the very people and the very institution that I would be complaining to about this, are the ones I would have to rely on to conduct that investigation, and I have no faith in them whatsoever to conduct that investigation.'
Chief Demkiw's response underscores the TPS's commitment to addressing these allegations, as the force continues to grapple with issues of racism and discrimination within its ranks.
