'I feel like I let you down a bit': Trailblazer on police board departs with call to action on diversity
Chair Susan Toth resigned from the London Police Services Board (LPSB) just as she had joined it in 2017 — pushing for improvement, compassion and diversity.
At the end of Thursday’s meeting, Toth surprised everyone with her decision to step down after being reappointed by council late last year.
She described a growing realization that she’s “at the end of my rope.”
Toth expressed her mixed feelings about leaving the seven-member board with only one seat filled by a person from a racialized community and said, “Felt like a disservice to the community, and to my community in particular as a racialized woman, if I wasn’t going to be able to give a hundred percent.”
To the BIPOC community she admitted, “I feel Iike I let you down a bit.”
However, the board’s accomplishments during her tenure suggests otherwise.
London police hired a psychologist to treat officers, urged the federal government to recognize femicide, and established advisory panels on racism, mental health and addiction.
She also had a role in hiring the current chief, deputy chief and participated in negotiating the current collective bargaining agreement with the London Police Association.
As the first Latina woman on the board, Toth faced racism and harassment from members of the community.
She urged city council to select her replacement from the Indigenous or Black communities.
“In moments where we understand the critical importance of diversity, and the importance in particular of having a Black or Indigenous member, you need to actively seek out those members, you need to actively go out and put out a call,” she said.
Toth supported the appointment of Ali Chabar as the new chair of LPSB and Megan Walker as vice-chair.
“You are an asset to this board and an asset to this community,” Chabar said to her on behalf of the entire board. “Please don’t deny the city of London your voice.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.