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Former Officer Exposes Troubling Culture in Toronto Police
Ex-Toronto Police officer Firouzeh Zarabi-Majd recently revealed her inadvertent discovery of an unmonitored group chat within the 51 Division, leading to serious implications for both her and the Toronto Police Service. Zarabi-Majd noted that her awareness of the chat came “accidentally” through a colleague’s share, and she was appalled at the discussions she found, which included degrading comments about her body.
Ultimately, she faced dismissal for insubordination after sharing this content on social media alongside harsh critiques of the police force. In stark contrast, her colleagues involved in the chat have not faced any disciplinary actions publicly, despite their comments being used to undermine court testimonies in unrelated legal proceedings, resulting in significant cases being compromised.
“It was so heartbreaking,” Zarabi-Majd expressed. “Having seen that stuff and reporting it, I thought that the police service was gonna actually do something and deal with these, but of course they didn’t and I became the target.”
In October 2019, she began posting the offensive content from the Division 51 chats on her social media account, Dirty Shades of Blue. After her dismissal in May 2023, Zarabi-Majd sought justice through an appeal and has pending proceedings with Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal.
Legal Ramifications Arising from the Chat
Some judicial outcomes have also transpired due to the comments shared within the group chat. For instance, in a case against accused sex trafficker Kevin Barreau, his attorney utilized remarks made about Zarabi-Majd’s body to argue a case of racism attributed to Det. Const. Chris Hoeller. During Barreau’s trial, which began in 2021, Hoeller admitted to making inappropriate comments about Zarabi-Majd.
Hoeller described his remarks as “completely inappropriate” and “highly disrespectful,” terming it a “one-time thing.” However, Justice Russell Stuart Silverstein found Hoeller’s reluctance to confront the racist implications of his comments alarming, leading to concerns over the potential use of a racial slur during Barreau’s arrest.
Though Barreau was convicted, his lawyer, Chris Rudnicki, emphasized that the implications of the group chat evidence indicated a troubling culture within the police force. He noted the relevance of this material in portraying Hoeller as potentially biased and remarked that Zarabi-Majd took significant risks by disclosing the chat’s contents.
Systemic Issues in Police Communication
Rudnicki highlighted a systemic issue where police frequently utilize personal cell phones to communicate, intentionally circumventing typical protocols and diminishing the chances of these exchanges being made available for defense scrutiny. This behavior exemplifies a disturbing trend that undermines the integrity of police interactions and community trust.
In a separate incident, the integrity of a case involving two individuals accused of firearm and drug possession in the Moss Park area fell apart when damaging evidence against the officers was ruled inadmissible due to their own prior chat activity. Constable Ryan Kotzer faced intense scrutiny for comments he made in the same group chat, where he disparaged the judiciary and made racially charged statements about crime.
Despite facing the courtroom’s censure, neither Kotzer nor Hoeller has faced visible disciplinary measures. Hoeller was removed from the specialized human trafficking unit, as stated in the judge’s ruling regarding the Barreau case.
Police Department’s Stance
Responding to inquiries regarding the officers’ conduct, Toronto Police Service spokeswoman Nadine Ramadan stated that the department would not provide commentary on specific disciplinary proceedings absent substantial outcomes such as tribunal appearances or criminal charges. Efforts to obtain statements from Hoeller and Kotzer have been unsuccessful, with both individuals unavailable for comment.
This incident underscores the critical examination of police culture and accountability, as well as the repercussions of unchecked communication within law enforcement agencies.
Source
globalnews.ca