The Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB) is the civilian police board that governs the Toronto Police Service (TPS). The board is responsible for approving the annual police budget, defining objectives and policies for TPS, and hiring Toronto's police chief.
The role of police service boards are outlined in sections 37-39 of the provincial Community Safety and Policing Act. The board makes decisions governing the structure and environment of the police service, but the chief of police leads the day-to-day operation of the police. Neither the board or its members can direct members of the police service. Only the chief of police, who is responsible to the board as a whole, receives direction on objectives, policies and priorities.
Membership of the board includes the mayor of Toronto (or a designate), two city councillors, one civilian member appointed by city council and three civilian members appointed by the province.
The board is administrative in nature and it does not investigate police conduct or complaints, as is the mandate of the Special Investigations Unit, Ontario Civilian Police Commission or Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which are oversight agencies.
Membership The board comprises seven members, three appointed by the Province of Ontario and four by the City of Toronto. Three civilian members are appointed by the province and one by the city; two city councillors and the mayor of Toronto as the head of council sit on the board. A chair (presently Ann Morgan) and vice-chair are elected from its membership. The Community Safety and Policing Act requires the board to meet at least four times a year.
The Community Safety and Policing Act also stipulates that a judge, justice of the peace, police officer, or a person who practices criminal law as a defence counsel may not be a member of a police board.
Since January 14, 2025, membership is as follows:
Name Type Appointed by Joined boardShelley CarrollChairToronto City CouncilApril 17, 2024Chris BrillingerVice-chairToronto City CouncilJune 27, 2024 Ann Morgan Member Province March 27, 2021 Lisa Kostakis Member Province July 25, 2020 Lily Cheng Councillor Toronto City Council November 23, 2022 Nicola (Nick) Migliore Member Province May 18, 2023 Amber Morley Councillor Toronto City Council August 10, 2023
History Prior to amalgamation, the Metropolitan Toronto Police were governed by the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board from 1990 until 1998. Previously, it was called the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission (or Board of Police Commission) from 1955 until 1990, when the name of the board was changed as a result of amendments to the Police Services Act.
Chairs BodyChairTenureMetropolitan Toronto Police CommissionCharles O. Bick1956–1977Philip Givens1977–1985Clare Westcott 1985–1988June Rowlands1989–1990Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board1990-1991Susan Eng1991–1995Maureen Prinsloo1995–1998Toronto Police Services BoardNorm Gardner1998–2004Alan Heisey2004Pam McConnell2004–2005Alok Mukherjee2005 – July 31, 2015Andrew Pringle2015–2019Jim Hart2019–2023Ann Morgan2023–2025Shelley Carroll2025–PresentSource: Toronto Police Services Board
See also
Ministry of the Solicitor General Ministry of the Attorney General Toronto City Council
References
External links Toronto Police Service