The “devastated” Toronto police officer being investigated in the shooting death of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim has been identified as Const. James Forcillo.

On Monday, Forcillo was suspended from the force after he became the subject of a Special Investigations Unit probe into Yatim’s death on an empty Dundas streetcar early Saturday morning. No charges have been laid in the case.

It appears that even more than a decade ago, Forcillo knew he wanted to be a police officer.

MORE ON THESTAR.COM

Sammy Yatim is Edmond Yu: Fiorito





‘In his death he will live forever,’ says Sammy’s mother

‘This is a tragedy for all involved,’ family says

On the website for a Toronto gym started with a high school friend, a James Forcillo, then a Grade 12 student who played football in 1999 for what is now the Toronto Grizzlies, was described as planning on studying law enforcement at a college in the GTA. When contacted by the Star, the friend refused to comment.

The Star learned the officer’s identity from a police source Tuesday, as the Toronto police and the SIU continued to keep the name a secret.

When reached by the Star at his home Tuesday night, Forcillo refused to speak to a reporter, saying: “Please respect our privacy.”

Forcillo, who has been on the force for six years, is currently assigned as a uniformed officer at 14 Division in the downtown core where the shooting occurred — near Dundas St. W. and Grace St. Based on various social media profiles, Forcillo appears to be married with young children.

“The guy’s distraught,” said Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack, who refused to confirm the officer’s identity. “He’s having a tough time with it.”

McCormack said the officer’s family is also “devastated” by the event.

“It’s tragic for everybody,” McCormack said, also acknowledging Yatim’s grieving family. “This is not a situation anybody wanted to be in.”

Forcillo’s defence lawyer Peter Brauti echoed those comments Tuesday.

“Like any officer involved in a loss-of-life incident, this officer is devastated,” Brauti said. “All we can do at this point is wait for the investigation into the matter to conclude. It is important that people not rush to judgment in this matter.”

Brauti said his client has not yet been interviewed by the SIU. He is still reviewing the information provided to him before advising his client whether he should exercise his right to remain silent.

When asked Tuesday night if Forcillo was devastated by the turn of events, a colleague at 14 Division said: “That’s an understatement.”

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Forcillo has been suspended with pay, the Toronto police said Monday. By provincial law, all Ontario officers under suspension receive pay.

According to the provincial disclosure of public salaries, better known as the “Sunshine List,” Forcillo was paid $106,800 in 2012.

McCormack said he has spoken to Chief Bill Blair about the suspension.

“The chief said that it’s not a punitive suspension and it’s to protect the integrity of the investigation,” McCormack said.

McCormack said his understanding is the 22 witness officers identified by the SIU all work at 14 Division and the suspension was to ensure that the investigation is not impeded by the officers daily interaction.

Even as media confirmed the name of the officer Tuesday evening, officials refused to confirm or deny his identity, citing the ongoing investigation.

Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said they do not release the name of an officer who has become the subject of an SIU investigation.

“If we were conducting an investigation and another agency released information, I think that would be a problem. It is their investigation and it is a matter for them,” Pugash said.

The SIU, a provincial police watchdog which investigates incidents of serious injury and death involving police, also said it does not release the name of the officer being investigated, citing provincial law.

“The release of such information is prohibited by the personal information provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act,” said SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon.

The SIU will, however, release the officer’s name if their investigation deems criminal charges should be laid.

But Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, argues the identity of a police officer being investigated for misconduct should be revealed through the official channels sooner. For one thing, police officers performing their duties have little or no expectation of privacy when they are doing their jobs, she said.

“They are acting on our behalf and therefore their identity is to be known to us and usually it’s known through the process of the badge number,” Des Rosiers said.

Uniformed Toronto police officers have been required to wear a badge showing their first initial and last name since 2006.

Within hours of Forcillo being identified by media, he was being vilified online by Facebook and Twitter users calling for him to be brought to “justice” and blaming him for a death many have called unnecessary.

With files from Alyshah Hasham

Read more about: