Police dismiss complaint of racism

by Gay Abbate
Staff Reporter
The Globe and Mail

A Toronto Police tribunal has thrown out a complaint that two police officers stalked and harassed a man because of his skin colour.

"There was no evidence to support the allegation of racism," concluded Superintendent Ed Hoey, who adjudicated the internal police-tribunal hearing earlier this year.

Selwyn Pieters, a law student, filed a complaint against Detective Constables Mark Denton and Michael Abbott of the drug squad following a confrontation in his apartment building in March, 1998.

He claimed that the officers, who were there to arrest a drug dealer, refused to identify themselves, that Det. Constable Denton made an obscene gesture with his finger and that the officers kept him under surveillance because he is black.

Mr. Pieters was not arrested, nor was he connected with the drug dealer.

Both officers were charged with insubordination under the Police Services Act. Det. Constable Denton also faced a charge of neglect of duty. The two denied the allegations.

Supt. Hoey said he found Det. Constable Denton to be forthright and not evasive.

Courtesy of the Globe and Mail
September 29, 2000

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