Independent Civilian Review into Missing Persons Investigations has started its work

TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2018 /CNW/ - The Hon. Gloria J. Epstein has today officially started her assignment as head of the Independent Civilian Review into Missing Persons Investigations. 

Judge Epstein retired from the Court of Appeal for Ontario on Sept. 1, 2018 in order to devote herself to the important work of the Review. The Review was set in motion in March of this year, when the Toronto Police Services Board unanimously approved the creation of an external review into how Toronto police conduct missing persons investigations. It was triggered by concerns expressed by the LGBTQ2S+ community about how such investigations are being conducted, particularly in relation to vulnerable and marginalized individuals.

The Review will focus both on policies and procedures governing missing persons investigations generally and on how Toronto police officers investigated the disappearance of identified members of the community who tragically died. The Review is mandated not to prejudice related criminal proceedings currently ongoing.

Judge Epstein has appointed Mark J. Sandler as Lead Counsel of the Review.

One of her earliest steps will be to appoint an advisor and an advisory group to assist in the Review's work.

The Review has already created a website: www.missingpersonsreview.ca. The website provides more detail on the work of the Review, and will be updated as the Review progresses.

Anyone wishing to contact the Review can do so in the following ways:

Correspondence:

Independent Review into Missing Persons Investigations
439 University Avenue
Suite 1900
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1Y8
Attention: Mark Sandler

email [email protected]

or

email [email protected]

phone [phone]

SOURCE Independent Civilian Review into Missing Persons Investigations

For further information: Media inquiries contact Peter Rehak, Media Relations, at: [email protected] or 416 585 9191. For other inquiries contact Mark Sandler, Lead Counsel, at [email protected] or 416-585-9191