Hank Idsinga spoke about antisemitism and anti-black racism during his time on the job in a recent CBC interview<\/p>\n
Published Apr 27, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 10\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Canada is a country troubled by racism and anti-police sentiment, and perhaps no more so than in Toronto.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Now, former head of Homicide in Toronto Hank Idsinga has thrown fuel on that fire in his memoir, The High Road: Confessions of a Homicide Cop.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Joe Warmington writes<\/a> in the Toronto Sun that in an \u201cinterview with the CBC\u2019s chief correspondent Adrienne Arseneault where he talked of hearing antisemitic and racist language and discovered officers handling such complaints may have been expressing such sentiments.\u201d<\/p>\n Idsinga has also said, \u201che witnessed a \u2018culture\u2019 problem within the Toronto Police Service.\u201d<\/p>\n Given nearly daily protests in the city, many of which target Jews in Canada, it is especially troubling to think that the soft approach police have taken to the situation might be because there is antipathy toward Jews in the officers themselves.<\/p>\n A different opinion from another cop<\/p>\n Another long-time homicide detective with the Toronto Police Service is Mark Mendelson, who told me he was the third Jew ever hired by TPS.<\/p>\n What was his experience?<\/p>\n On my NEWSTALK1010 radio show, Mendelson, who serves as a police and crime expert and commentator for the station and for CTV, discussed the issue.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIn my over thirty years with the Toronto Police Service from 1977 on, I worked in uniform, I worked in undercover drugs, I was one of the original members of what has now become the hate crime unit, and I spent half of my career in the homicide squad,\u201d Mendelson said.<\/p>\n \u201cHank has his lived experience, and I don\u2019t have any qualms with that at all. I have mine as well, and all I can tell you is that in all my years, not one time did I ever experience any form of antisemitism whether it was overt, whether it was to my face, I just didn\u2019t experience it.\u201d<\/p>\n Toronto police\u2019s response<\/p>\n Naturally, Toronto police want to investigate and, to that end, have requested that Idsinga talk with them and give information. No names are given in the book.<\/p>\n So far, it appears Idsinga has not accepted that offer.<\/p>\n Mendelson says, \u201cHank\u2019s a good man, he isn\u2019t stupid, but from my experience I can\u2019t say in all honesty that I ever experienced one moment of it.\u201d<\/p>\n I followed by saying that while we have Idsinga\u2019s story, but if it was the case that TPS had a systemic problem, institutional racism in the force, \u201cI think you would have encountered it.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Mendelson said, \u201cOh, without question. It has been suggested by other organizations that it is a systemic problem within the police service. I think people are wrapping in what happened with Hamas and Gaza and Israel a couple of years ago in October and police response.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have no issue being critical of the police,\u201d Mendelson said, \u201cand we talked about how they reacted to these demonstration early on. I don\u2019t give a damn about the thin blue line. Reality is reality. But I don\u2019t see anything that would warrant the suggestion there is systemic antisemitism within the Toronto police.\u201d<\/p>\n Mendelson said, \u201cIt all has to start with naming names, giving details and giving context. He\u2019s a big boy; he can stand on his own feet quite well.\u201d<\/p>\n Idsinga served the city well, but if he wants to be seen as someone more than just a guy trying to sell a book, he has to step up one more time.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n HOMICIDE HERO: Retired cop Hank Idsinga solved some of Toronto’s biggest murders<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QMI_TS20160205JB007-scaled-e1718235306562.jpg\")
Toronto Police homicide Sgt. Hank Idsinga speaks to the media about the slaying of Sylvia Consuelo on Feb. 5, 2016. Photo by Jack Boland \/Toronto SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.0.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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