Former police chief Vern White to aid use-of-force probe

Ontario's ombudsman has appointed former Ottawa police chief Vern White and former Edmonton police chief Mike Boyd to aid his investigation into provincial guidelines for police on use of force.

Andr Marin began investigating the direction provided by the province to police for de-escalating conflict situations in August, following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim, who had been carrying a knife, in a Toronto streetcar.

Marin said Tuesday both White and Boyd would share their expertise during the investigation.

White is the former chief of the Ottawa and Durham police services and former Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP and now sits in the Senate. Boyd is the former chief of the Edmonton Police Service and former deputy chief of the Toronto Police Service.

The investigation is reviewing the training provided to police through the Ontario Police College, as well as how the province has responded to recommendations from numerous inquests into police-involved deaths. The Ombudsman's office has received 164 complaints and submissions relating to this investigation, Marin said Tuesday in a news release.

The Ombudsmans office is also contacting every police chief, police association and police services board in the province to invite their co-operation in the investigation.