News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Falling Death Investigation in Toronto

Case Number: 11-TCD-267   

Mississauga (23 February, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge an officer with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) with any criminal offence in relation to the death of 64-year-old Carman Gallo in December of 2011.

The SIU assigned six investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident.  The subject officer did not provide a statement to the SIU and declined to provide a copy of his duty notes, as is his legal right.  In addition to interviewing four civilian witnesses, four TPS officers were designated as witness officers. 

The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on Wednesday, December 28:
• In the afternoon of that day, the subject officer and his partner (a witness officer) were dispatched to the area of Bloor and Parliament Streets in response to a TTC driver who reported that a man had been pacing back and forth on the Rosedale Bridge for over an hour. 
• Once the officers arrived at the bridge, the subject officer exited the cruiser.  The partner, who was driving, could not exit the cruiser as he had to wait for a break in traffic.
• As the subject officer approached Mr. Gallo, Mr. Gallo ran toward the railing of the bridge and jumped.  The subject officer moved towards the railing and grabbed hold of Mr. Gallo.  At the same time the witness officer reached over the railing to assist, the subject officer lost his grip and Mr. Gallo fell to the ground beside Rosedale Valley Road.  He died of multiple traumas to his body as a result of the fall. 

Director Scott said, “As is his right, the subject officer declined to provide the SIU with his notes or to submit to an interview.  Due to this, I am relying mainly on the testimony given by the subject officer’s partner with regards to the events that took place once the officers arrived on the bridge.  I have no reason to disbelieve the witness officer’s recitation of the material events.  As was told to us by multiple witnesses, Mr. Gallo appeared to be in a state of emotional distress consistent with an individual who was contemplating suicide.  It would appear that the subject officer was attempting to assist Mr. Gallo from falling to his death and accordingly cannot be held criminally responsible for Mr. Gallo’s unfortunate demise.”    

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

• consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
• depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
• publicly report the results of its investigations