Civilian police watchdogs need to be more transparent, says Ryerson professor

If a police officer is involved in a situation where someone is injured, dies or alleges sexual assault, do you want that officer's colleagues to determine whether an offence has taken place? 

For almost every province in Canada, the answer to that question is no. 

Right across the country, governments have created independent civilian agencies to take on that role — the underlying theory being it fosters public confidence in policing, and improves transparency. 

The information we are allowed to get seems to be contracting with every single year that passes.- Lisa Taylor

Because, really, who wants to live in a place where police are above the law? 

"In theory, they were a wonderful development in policing," says Lisa Taylor. 

But in recent years, the associate professor of journalism at Ryerson University, says the flow of information from these civilian agencies has slowed down. 

"We really need all that basic information — you know, what's being investigated," says Taylor. 

And most basic of all, Taylor says, is the name of the victim. 

But she says that information is being increasingly withheld.

"The information we are allowed to get seems to be contracting with every single year that passes," says Taylor. 

One reason put forward by agencies, she says, is privacy, and at first glance it seems like a rational argument. 

"Privacy on its face sounds fantastic," says Taylor, but she says it's a red herring because of the way Canada has created both policing and the justice system. 

Taylor, a lawyer as well, says an unexpected death caused by another person is not a private matter — but rather is seen by the law as a public matter. Policing is also a public matter, and Taylor says given that, privacy concerns need to be pushed aside. 

The second reason put forward is the notion that the information will harm the investigation. 

"It's offensive," says Taylor. "There is nothing about being under investigation that puts a blanket prohibition on information."

Click the play button above to hear Lisa Taylor's full interview with guest host Stephen Quinn.