The Toronto Star has just published an op-ed piece I did about an innovation – cooperation between the police and public health departments – that could have averted the police killing of Sammy Yatim. Here is a link to the article:

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/08/08/sammy_yatim_innovation_that_could_have_saved_his_life.html

Canadian readers of my blog will be familiar with the back story. For non-Canadian readers, here is a brief summary. Sammy Yatim, a 17 year old, began brandishing a three-inch knife on a Toronto streetcar in the early hours of the morning on Saturday July 27. After Yatim ordered everyone off the streetcar, the police arrived on the scene. When Yatim moved towards the door of the streetcar, he was shot nine times and then, for good measure, tasered. Yatim died shortly thereafter in hospital. The Toronto Police Special Investigation Unit is now conducting an inquiry.