Article content

Toronto Police Const. James Forcillo is currently serving six years in jail for the 2013 shooting death of Sammy Yatim. This week, an Ontario court dismissed Forcillo’s appeal.

Despite all of this, Forcillo is still a Toronto police officer. He has been suspended without pay, but he hasn’t been fired.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Why is it so impossible to fire a government employee? Back to video

If Forcillo worked at a railyard or an oil drilling platform, there would be no question that going to prison for a violent crime would result in immediate dismissal. But Forcillo keeps his badge until he’s had his case put before a disciplinary hearing that Toronto Police haven’t yet convened.

Canadians are correct to assume that it is almost impossible to fire a public employee, even if that employee was found guilty of a violent criminal offence while on duty.

This story isn’t trying to pick on cops, bureaucrats, teachers or other public servants. Nevertheless, below are a few reasons why those fields are so consistently unable to terminate incompetent and even dangerous employees.