Ford government appoints new police watchdogs - 2019-11-27
Ford government appoints new police watchdogs November 27, 2019,
Premier Doug Ford's cabinet has chosen the new heads of the agencies that investigate allegations against police in Ontario, CBC News has learned.
The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) will be led by Stephen Leach, a veteran lawyer who has worked on governance building, justice sector reforms and anti-corruption activities in such countries as Iraq, Georgia and Tunisia.
The OIPRD probes public complaints against police and has the power to conduct reviews of systemic problems in policing.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) will be led by Joseph Martino, a lawyer who has spent 20 years with the agency and has been its interim director since April. The SIU investigates death and serious injury of civilians during interactions with police. It also investigates allegations of sexual assault involving police officers.