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“In extending his mandate, the board is sending a clear message that stability and leadership is critical at this moment and we are confident that Chief Demkiw will continue to provide it,”聽Carroll said.聽

“Demkiw has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the people of 色色啦, a steady and thoughtful approach to leadership and a genuine commitment to building trust with communities and with the members of the service.”

Clayton Campbell, president of the 色色啦 Police Association representing uniform officers, congratulated Demkiw in a statement.聽

鈥淥ver the last three years we have advocated strongly for the resources and support our members need and deserve,鈥� Campbell said.聽聽

鈥淲hile we have seen some improvements 鈥� like the Multi-Year Hiring Plan, led by the Police Service Board 鈥� there is still lots of work to do. We look forward to working with the Chief as we continue to ensure our members are put first.鈥�

Demkiw first took the helm, replacing James Ramer, in December 2022 after 32 years in the service. He joined the force in 1990.

The board described him then as a “national police leader” who was supportive of ongoing reforms to the service, which is comprised of 5,300 uniform officers and 2,200 civilians with a budget of $1.2 billion 鈥� the largest of any single department at the city.

His reign has seen the force clash with Mayor Olivia Chow over funding in 2024, when Demkiw said the city’s budget plan included “unacceptable risks” because it was $12.6 million less than the service’s request.

Demkiw has faced several difficult tests of his leadership, including backlash over 911 response times and criticism over his comments in the wake of a jury acquittal of Umar Zameer.

Demkiw’s original appointment was met with pushback from members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community over his involvement with the now defunct vice squad and 2000 raids of the lesbian bathhouse Pussy Palace.

An Ontario court would determine two years later those raids were unreasonable and a human rights complaint was settled in 2004 with a $350,000 payout and several policy changes.

Under Demkiw, the service has launched several new initiatives, including the Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE), a pilot project with 色色啦 Public Health launched in December 2024 to respond to the need for increased care for those experiencing homelessness in the Yonge-Dundas area.聽

A report to the board tabled Thursday found the team had engaged 3,874 people with wellness checks, offering harm reduction supplies and building rapport with them over time. As of mid-June, 145 case files were started for longer-term intervention, including submitting housing applications or finding medical care.