Toronto’s Police Chief Issues Apology for Remarks Following Acquittal in Cop Death Case

Toronto’s police chief issued an apology on Apr. 30 for the way he articulated his response to the acquittal of a man accused of fatally hitting a plainclothes officer, acknowledging the public’s concerns about his wording.

Chief Myron Demkiw addressed the Toronto Police Service Board, expressing his reflection on the statement he made outside a downtown Toronto courthouse on April 21 after Umar Zameer was acquitted in the death of Det. Const. Jeffrey Northrup. Initially, Chief Demkiw stated that while police respect the judicial process, they had hoped for a different outcome in the trial.

“I apologize for my choice of words in those early moments outside the courthouse. I want to be very clear and reiterate that I respect and accept the jury’s decision,” he informed the board.

“As mentioned previously, closure should never compromise justice. I should have clarified that I endorse and acknowledge the verdict.”

The chief did not directly reference Zameer in his address to the board. This apology follows two previous attempts to clarify his remarks.

Legal observers and civil rights advocates criticized Chief Demkiw’s initial reaction to the verdict, stating that it undermined the justice system and eroded public trust in it by casting doubt on the jury’s decision.

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The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which previously called for Chief Demkiw to apologize, characterized his statement to the board on Apr. 30th as “a first step.”

“The Toronto Police Service Board must now ensure it implements policy measures to prevent the chief of police and assigned officers from disparaging bail decisions or criminal verdicts publicly in the future,” stated the director of the organization’s criminal justice program, Shakir Rahim, in a release.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was questioned about the chief’s apology but chose not to comment. Instead, he referred to the case as “a very sad situation … on all fronts” and offered condolences to Northrup’s family. The premier also stated his full support for the police.

Northrup, aged 55, was struck by a vehicle in an underground parking garage at Toronto City Hall nearly three years ago.

Zameer pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, explaining he was unaware of Northrup and his partner, who were both in plain clothes, being police officers. He recounted trying to escape safely from what he perceived as an assault on his family when two strangers approached his car and started hitting it.

Chief Demkiw recently announced that his force requested the Ontario Provincial Police to conduct an independent review of the case after critical comments from the presiding judge during the trial.

The chief also initiated a thorough internal review of all aspects of plainclothes policing, vowing to present the findings to the board and share as much information as possible about the reviews.

During Zameer’s trial, Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy instructed the jury to consider the possibility of collusion among three officers who witnessed the incident. She also highlighted the lack of supporting evidence for the Crown’s theory that Northrup was hit while out of view of a security camera in the parking garage.