Inspector General Memo #8: Public release of the first Decisions by the Inspector General of Policing with accompanying Findings Reports
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All Chiefs of Police and Commissioner Thomas Carrique, C.O.M. Chairs, Police Service Boards
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| FROM: |
Ryan Teschner, Inspector General of Policing of Ontario
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| DATE: |
December 15, 2025
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| SUBJECT: |
Inspector General Memo #8: Public release of the first Decisions by the Inspector General of Policing with accompanying Findings Reports
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I write to inform you of an important development in the work of the Inspectorate of Policing (IoP). On Wednesday, December 17, the IoP will begin publicly releasing my Inspector General Decisions with accompanying Findings Reports. These Decisions and Findings Reports flow from the IoP’s investigations into public complaints submitted to us under the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA). Publishing them is in keeping with our commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
Two types of IG Decisions
Under the CSPA, the Inspector General is required to make Decisions and Findings Reports publicly available. These Decisions result from investigations into Section 106 matters, which address the conduct of police service board members, and Section 107 matters, which examine whether policing services are adequate and effective, comply with the law, and follow policies or procedures set by boards, the Minister, or Chiefs of Police.
Each investigation—whether into board member conduct under section 106 or service delivery under section 107—concludes with a Findings Report that sets out the evidence and analysis gathered by the Inspectorate of Policing. Based on this report, the Inspector General issues a Decision confirming whether or not provincial policing laws and standards have been met. If a board member is found to have committed misconduct, the Inspector General can issue a formal reprimand, suspend the board member and remove the board member from their position. If a police service is found to be in non-compliance with Ontario’s policing laws and standards, the Inspector General may issue Directions to address the gaps, and if those directions are not followed will Measures be imposed to ensure compliance.
Without reference to specific organizations or cases, early Decisions underscore sector‑wide compliance requirements and expectations: boards must discharge governance mandates while not directing specific operations, and exercise caution in public communications; services should demonstrate risk‑based response and strong dispatch/communication standards; the interpretation of specific requirements for the deployment of specialized equipment; and, professionalism in public engagement is essential.
Importance of an organizational process for Decision review and application
Moving forward, these Decisions and Findings Reports will be posted regularly as batches of complaint investigations are completed. As these Decisions are legally binding and will serve as precedent for future matters, I strongly encourage each police service and board to build in a process to ensure these Decisions are reviewed and, where necessary, integrated into your operations to avoid future compliance concerns and to improve overall performance. My goal is to support a culture where accountability and excellence go hand in hand.
I want to reiterate what I have consistently emphasized during our engagements with you over the past two years: this next step in the IoP’s work is aimed at providing the policing sector with meaningful opportunities to learn from practical examples and to collectively strengthen performance standards. By sharing these Decisions openly, we aim to provide clarity on how standards are applied, highlight areas of strength, and identify opportunities for improvement in the sector. This transparency benefits everyone—police services, boards, and the communities we serve—by reinforcing trust and demonstrating that oversight is fair, evidence-based, and focused on strengthening police sector performance across Ontario.
Staying up to date on Decisions and contacting your Advisor
If you have any questions about how these Decisions can be used to support your work, please do not hesitate to contact your Policing Services Liaison Advisor. To stay informed about new Decisions and Findings Reports as they are published, we encourage you to subscribe to IoP news updates through our website: www.iopontario.ca.
Thank you for your continued partnership in building a policing system that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of Ontarians.
Sincerely,
Ryan Teschner
Inspector General of Policing of Ontario
c: Mario Di Tommaso, O.O.M.
Deputy Solicitor General, Community Safety