Mukherjee retained as Toronto Police Board chair

Toronto: Dr. Alok Mukherjee will continue for one more year, his last year, as chair of the powerful Toronto Police Services Board that oversees the functioning of 5,500 uniformed police officers and civilians as well, the largest police force in Canada.

The board’s meeting was held Jan 21, attended by all seven civilian members, including Toronto Mayor John Tory, who too sits on the Police Board. Six members voted in favor of Mukherjee continuing in his present position, his 10th year on this $90,000 annual salary, plus chauffeur driven official car.

Interestingly, only one member of the board voted against him. It was another Indo-Canadian, Dr. Dhun Noria. The board has only two Indo-Canadian members.

There were some doubts if he would be allowed to continue as last month the Toronto Mayor, after his November election, publicly criticized Mukherjee for his posts on Facebook pertaining to the tragedy involving a black person in New York who died because of headlock by the police when he couldn’t breathe and died due to cardiac arrest. In his post Mukherjee too said he can’t breathe. There was also a post about women.

"Police in senior positions of public service have to be very careful and have to set a higher standard with regard to their Facebook posts, and so these things do trouble me," said Tory. "I am just very concerned by these kinds of incidents where you see these kinds of postings… You have to be more careful and you have to be more sensitive…" said Tory.

Mukherjee offered an apology and then closed down his Facebook page.

In any case, the Toronto Police Association president, Bill McCormack is seeking Mukherjee should resign or be sacked. But the board members voted in favor of Mukherjee continuing because of two significant issues – the board has to appoint a new chief of police as the term of current chief, Bill Blair, expires in April. The board didn’t renew his third term.

Secondly, the board is now faced with contract renewal negotiations with the Police Association.

So, board members thought it would be helpful if Mukherjee with nine years on the Police Board as chair, with all his knowledge and experience, was allowed to stay on for one more year. His term as member of the Police Board expires next May.

McCormack, president of the Police Association, is still asking Mukherjee to resign from the board. Mukherjee said he’s "entitled to his views. We live in a country that protects freedom of expression. In the end we are not negotiating out of our egos."

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