Toronto officer to apologize for 'sluts' remark

A Toronto police service officer will apologize for his conductafterhe was heardtelling women at a York University assembly they could avoid sexual assault by not dressing like "sluts."

The remarks were made by one of two police officers who were at a campus safety information session at York's Osgoode Hall Law School on Jan. 24.

"The comments have been investigated. The officer will be apologizing to the faculty and students at Osgoode Hall. And he has been disciplined," said Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash.

Pugash wouldn't comment on how the officer had been disciplined.

York University's student paper Excalibur reported that the comment was heard by Ronda Bessner, an assistant dean at the school.

"It is appalling to hear that individuals such as the police, who are supposed to protect survivors of sexual assault, are making these comments," said Darshika Selvasivam, a vice-president with the York Federation of Students.

Police chief weighs in

Toronto police Chief Bill Blair said the comments highlight a "training issue" in the force.

"If that type of, frankly, archaic thinking still exists among any of my officers, it highlights for me the need to continue to train my officers and sensitize them to the reality of victimization," he said.

The comments attributed to the officer "place the blame upon victims, and that's not where the blame should ever be placed," he said.