Members of Toronto's LGBTQ+ community expressed concern after the new head of the Toronto Police Service (TPS), Myron Demkiw, was sworn in and officially took office.

Demkiw participated 22 years ago in a raid carried out by Toronto police on a gay and transgender public bathhouse.

In 2002, an Ontario court ruled that the police were wrong in carrying out this operation targeting an event organized by the group "Pussy Palace".

In the end, the Toronto Police Service issued an apology following a class action lawsuit against it.

Soon after the decision to appoint Demkiw as Toronto Police Chief last September, news emerged about his involvement in that raid, where since last October Chanel Galant, who was among the organizers of that event in 2000, and other activists have been demanding a public meeting with Toronto Mayor John Tory.

"Mayor Tory appointed a person who, as we can see, is an old-school cop characterized by some lack of accountability and a readiness to violate the human rights of Toronto residents," said Chanel Galant.

On the sidelines of his swearing-in ceremony yesterday, Demkiw acknowledged that there is work to be done to rebuild the LGBTQ+ community’s trust in the police.

He added that he has already begun holding meetings with LGBTQ+ community leaders who have asked him to apologize. However, Demkiw said he wants above all a broader "dialogue," adding: "It is very important for me as the incoming and new chief to take the necessary time to meet communities (locally) and have conversations with them to understand what a real apology means to them."

For his part, the office of the Toronto mayor said it repeatedly offered Galant and her group a private meeting with the mayor, adding that these offers were declined.

Also yesterday, Mayor John Tory said that Demkiw is "the right person to lead our police force." He added that Demkiw understands that he must earn the "trust" of the residents.