After emotional pleas from the family of Toronto Police Constable Todd Baylis, the Parole Board of Canada has made the right decision to keep Clinton Gayle in custody, after making his fourth attempt at release.
While we are encouraged by this decision, the work to reform the Parole Board of Canada is far from over.
“Today’s decision to keep a murderer behind bars offers a measure of hope that Canadians can have confidence in our justice system. Nevertheless, important gaps remain, and we are committed to advancing the reforms necessary to address them,” said TPA President Clayton Campbell.
“The lived experiences of victims and their families must be recognized as undeniable reality and given priority over the requests and release of violent individuals who do not have the privilege to be out of prison. We stand with the Baylis family and thank them for their strength and courage in helping to drive meaningful change.”
We will continue to work with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal government, including Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree, to push forward our recommendations.
This work is more pressing than ever.
Today’s decision comes two days after cop killer Craig Munro was returned to custody and his parole revoked after being arrested in Victoria, British Columbia. Munro was convicted of the 1980 murder of Toronto Police Constable Michael Sweet.
The time to reform the parole system to ensure respect and dignity for victims is now. The Baylis family, the Sweet family, and all Canadians, deserve better.
Victim Impact Statement from Todd’s brother, Cory Baylis
Victim Impact Statement from Todd’s mother, Sharon Baylis
Victim Impact Statement from Mike Leone
We are grateful for the support and expertise of our counsel, Tim Danson. Tim’s unwavering commitment to the families of our fallen officers and to upholding their rights through parole reform is beyond reproach. Please review his letter, sent to the Federal Government on our behalf, which includes recommendations for Parole Reform.
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The Toronto Police Association represents almost 9,000 police and civilian members of the Toronto Police Service. We are a professional organization dedicated to advancing the interests of our members through education, political action, and legislative advocacy. We operate in an open, ethical, and professional manner and strive to promote professionalism and accountability within the ranks of our members. Our foremost priority is the wellbeing of our members and the community we serve.
For More Information:
Meaghan Gray
Chief Communications Officer, Toronto Police Association
mgray@tpa.ca | 647-530-8911