Nearly two years after Umar Zameer was acquitted in the death of Detective Constable Jeffrey Northup, the Toronto Police Service has received findings from a review conducted by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). This review was prompted by "adverse comments" made by the Superior Court justice during Zameer's trial.
In an official statement from the Office of Chief Myron Demkiw, it was noted that the service is currently reviewing the OPP report. They emphasized the importance of taking the necessary time to notify and brief affected individuals about the findings before making the report public.
Umar Zameer was found not guilty of first-degree murder by a jury on April 21, 2024, in connection with the death of Northup, who was working in plainclothes when he was tragically struck and killed by a vehicle. The case has raised intense scrutiny of the events surrounding the incident.
Eyewitness testimony was provided by three police officers, including Northup's partner. They asserted that the veteran detective had his hands raised just before he was fatally struck. However, conflicting expert testimony from crash reconstruction specialists—one called by the Crown and one by the defense—suggested that Northup had been sideswiped and knocked down by the vehicle as it was reversing, and that he was already on the ground when he was run over.
During the trial, Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy issued a rare apology to Zameer, indicating that she believed the three officer witnesses might have possibly colluded, a claim they all denied. This prompted a request from Demkiw for an OPP review based on the judge's comments. Additionally, Demkiw ordered a comprehensive internal review of all aspects of plainclothes policing, which encompasses equipment and procedures aimed at ensuring safety for both officers and the public.
The OPP's findings are expected to be released to the public "in due course." The statement from the Office of the Chief reiterated the service's commitment to transparency and confirmed that the report will be shared publicly once all necessary notifications have been completed.
