Jack Ackroyd
Jack Ackroyd | |
---|---|
Chief of the Harold Adamson | |
Succeeded by | Jack Marks |
Head of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario | |
In office 1984–1991 | |
Preceded by | George Kitching |
Succeeded by | Andy Brandt |
Personal details | |
Born | 1925[1] |
Died | September 29, 1992 Toronto, Ontario, Canada | (aged 66–67)
Nationality | Canadian |
Spouse | Ethelyn Elizabeth "Lyn" (née Brown) Ackroyd [2] |
Children | Karen, Vivyan, Earl (1st marriage); Lynda, Kevin (step-children)[3] |
John Wesley Ackroyd (1925 – September 29, 1992) was a prominent Canadian
Policing career
Jack Ackroyd joined the
1977 Yonge Street clean-up
During the spring and summer of 1977, Toronto's city and metro councils were under pressure to do something about the sex trade and sex shops that were housed in the area along Yonge street from Queen to Bloor streets following the death of the twelve-year-old shoe-shine boy, Emanuel Jaques.[9] The crisis was more political than real; nevertheless, under pressure from Toronto mayor David Crombie, Ackroyd had to plan and implement a neighbourhood sweep on the scale of the 1968 Yorkville sweep.[10] Like in the Yorkville "crisis", Yonge street did not pose a major policing problem. The police were not raising a fuss for something to be done, it was the politicians, this time led by Crombie.[11] Another factor driving this sweep was economic, as the newly opened Eaton Centre did not want this 'riff-raff' near its business establishment.[9] So, over the course of a few months, Ackroyd – following the political directives issued by city council and the provincial government – ordered his officers to step up their patrols on this commercial strip and forced the closure of many shops and arrested prostitutes and their clients.[12]
1981 Bathhouse raids
Jack Ackroyd became the Metro Force's Chief of Police in 1980 following the tenure of
Ackroyd, in an interview with the Toronto Star, talked about how police officers should act professionally, despite their personal prejudices:
We can’t force people to give up their prejudices or their biases, not even policemen. But a cop has to be prepared to be professional. ...I might have some personal prejudices about the lifestyle choice of homosexuals, but that cannot enter into my work. Legally and morally, they are entitled to the protection of the police department.[14]
A few days later on February 5, 1981, under his reign as police chief, one of Canada's largest civilian round-ups occurred in the city's gay ghetto. It was the infamous "
Large protests followed these raids, and the raids became a rallying symbol for the Gay community.[17] Because the raids took place in the middle of a provincial election, it was seen by many observers including the Toronto Star, that the raids were politically motivated to help the ruling Conservative government gain a majority.[18] His career was an interesting dichotomy of progressive reform with the community-based policing approach, as well as accusations that the police force became an instrument for political advantage as seen in his handling of the policing of the Gay community.[19]
Post Police Chief career
Head of the LCBO
At the age of 58, Jack Ackroyd made a career change: he became an Ontario Civil Servant, by accepting the position of vice-chairman of the LCBO.
Ackroyd hadn't completely abandoned his policing background during this time though. He made sure his policing legacy would endure by donating the funds for an "academic excellence in police related studies" prize, administered by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Research Foundation.[20]
Sickness and death
Ackroyd spent many months confined to a hospital bed due to a blood illness. He died in the early morning hours of September 30, 1992 at Toronto General Hospital from long-term complications due to the blood disorder.[8] His funeral was held on October 3, 1992, at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, a house of worship accustomed to holding the city's notable funeral services.[21]
An official tribute, on the floor of the
References and notes
- ^ Peterson, Kris 'Peterborough K' (2013-05-10). "Jack Wesley 'Kojack' Ackroyd". Find A Grave. Archived from the original on 2018-11-11. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ Ackroyd, Lynda (2012-01-10). "Lyn Ackroyd". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
- ^ "Obituary: Ackroyd, Jack Wesley". Toronto Star. Torstar. 1992-10-01. p. C31. Retrieved 2023-08-18 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Tenszen, Michael (1992-10-04). "Former chief Jack Ackroyd 'a good cop, a kind cop'". Toronto Star. Torstar. p. A3. Retrieved 2007-05-14 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Welsh, Moira (1992-10-01). "JACK ACKROYD 1926–1992 Jack Ackroyd 'a policeman who cared'". Toronto Star. Torstar. p. A4. Retrieved 2007-05-13 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Aspler, Tony (1987-01-17). "Quiet revolution going on at LCBO headquarters". Toronto Star. Torstar. p. F6. Retrieved 2007-05-13 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b "Transcript of Debates. Issue number: L062 – Tue 6 Oct 1992". Hansard. Hansard Reporting and Interpretation Services, Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1992-10-06. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
- ^ a b c d e Welsh, Moira (1992-09-30). "'Kojack' Jack Ackroyd, former police chief". Front Page. Toronto Star Newspaper. pp. A1. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
- ^ a b Beare, p.25
- ^ Beare, p.26
- ^ Beare, p.24
- ^ Beare, p. 28
- ^ a b Beare, pp. 29–30
- ^ Sutton, Joan (1981-02-02). "Ackroyd still wants to be a 'better' cop". Toronto Star. p. A19. Retrieved 2023-08-18 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b McKenna, Terence (1981-02-15). "The Toronto bathhouse raids". CBC RADIO archives. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2005-02-20. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
- ^ Hall, Joe (1981-02-10). "Protests Mount Over Police Raids on Homosexuals". Toronto Star. p. A13. Retrieved 2023-08-18 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Beare, p.29
- ^ Giorno, Frank; Glassco, Jane L. (1981-03-01). "Moral Majority Hit America (and the Ontario Elector as Well)". Toronto Star. p. B5. Retrieved 2023-08-18 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Beare, pp.24–32
- ^ Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Research Foundation – Jack Ackroyd Scholarship
- ^ Star Staff (1992-10-02). "Funeral guard for Ackroyd". Toronto Star. Torstar. p. A6. Retrieved 2007-05-13 – via ProQuest.
Further reading
- Beare, Margaret (2004-06-29). "The History and the Future of the Politics of Policing" (PDF). Conference Draft. Ipperwash Inquiry, Government of Ontario. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-13.