UMVA has learned that Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow declared the city’s police chief must work tirelessly to rebuild shattered public trust.
Chow spoke passionately on Tuesday, pointing to the shocking arrests of three Toronto officers in Barcelona for alleged sexual assault of a sex worker.
She warned that the chief’s foremost duty is to root out any officer accused of wrongdoing, especially serious federal offenses, if the force hopes to regain confidence.
Councillor Shelley Carroll, chair of the Police Services Board, echoed the urgency, insisting that officers must uphold the highest standards and that the Spanish allegations are “serious and troubling.”
She stressed that swift, decisive action is essential to preserve the community’s faith in policing.
The three officers were off‑duty, on vacation for a soccer tournament, when the alleged incident occurred in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella district.
According to information obtained by UMVA, they have been suspended pending the outcome of the Spanish charges.
One officer, Constable Evan Glennie, faces a sexual‑assault charge and remains in Spain, while the other two are expected to return to Canada and be suspended there as well.
Authorities say the victim required medical attention after being assaulted, a detail that intensifies public outrage.
Mayor Chow emphasized that restoring trust demands transparent investigations and accountability at every level of the police service.
Toronto’s police force has already endured a turbulent year, with a major organized‑crime probe and calls for an independent review of alleged antisemitism within the ranks.
These compounded scandals have left citizens demanding decisive reforms and a clear commitment to ethical conduct.
