Sergeant Johnny Tanouye

This interview with Sergeant Johnny Ken Tanouye provides valuable insight into the experiences of a Japanese Canadian police officer with Metro Toronto Police Force from 1981. Tanouye shares his family’s history of internment during World War II, including his parents’ relocation from British Columbia internment camps to Toronto after the war. He describes his childhood experiences with discrimination in Scarborough schools and his decision to pursue policing after completing business management studies at Centennial College.

Tanouye details his progression through various roles in the Metro Toronto Police Force, from initial training at Aylmer Police College to positions in 33 Division’s Parks and Schools Unit, Major Crime Office, and eventual promotion to Sergeant. His experiences span both community policing in middle-class areas and high-crime work in the Jane and Finch corridor at 31 Division. He provides candid observations about the challenges and advantages of being a visible minority officer, discussing both the benefits for undercover work and the disadvantages of being easily identifiable.

The interview offers insights into police training, promotional procedures, affirmative action policies, and the evolution of police equipment and methods during the 1980s. Tanouye reflects on balancing family life with shift work, the importance of community respect for police, and the Metro Toronto Police Force’s efforts to adapt to the city’s changing demographics under new leadership.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.