A senior Toronto homicide commander has exposed systemic antisemitism, bungled protest responses and the reality behind Canada’s gun bans in a new memoir, calling the force’s handling of anti-Israel demonstrators “abysmal.” Hank Idsinga, unit commander of the country’s largest homicide squad, shared these revelations in his book The High Road: Confessions of a Homicide Cop during a July 23, 2026 podcast interview with Brian Lilley.
Corruption and culture: What’s really happening inside Toronto police
Idsinga, who leads a team investigating Canada’s highest volume of homicides, described a force where “many things are done right” but where recent corruption scandals involving Toronto officers reveal deeper cultural issues. The veteran detective, whose career spans decades in violent crime units, did not shy away from controversial topics, including what he called “vitriolic antisemitism” witnessed firsthand on the force.
His account contradicts official narratives of low crime rates, arguing that politically popular measures like gun bans fail to address root causes. “Real policing is nothing like those shows on TV,” Idsinga stated, challenging public perceptions shaped by entertainment rather than frontline experience.
Protest failures and public trust
The book’s most damning criticism targets the Toronto Police Service’s response to anti-Israel demonstrations, which Idsinga labeled “abysmal.” While he did not provide specific examples of operational failures, his assessment suggests systemic shortcomings in crowd control and community relations during politically charged events.
These revelations come at a time when Canadian law enforcement faces growing scrutiny over accountability and transparency. Idsinga’s position as a current unit commander adds weight to his observations, though his views represent one perspective within a complex institution.
What happens next for Canadian policing
The memoir arrives as Toronto police grapple with multiple corruption investigations and public demands for reform. While Idsinga’s book offers an insider’s view, it remains unclear whether his account will prompt internal reviews or policy changes.
For now, the force continues to operate under the shadow of these allegations, with public trust hanging in the balance. Readers looking for solutions will find more questions than answers in The High Road—but perhaps that’s the point.
