LISTEN: Former homicide detective for the Toronto Police Service tells his story
- Allied Voices for Israel (AVI)
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
On Episode 16 of the Common Voices podcast, we sit down with retired Toronto Police Service homicide detective and authour Hank Idsinga
Click the above animation to listen to Episode 16 of Common Voices, featuring former Toronto Police Homicide Detective Hank Idsinga
Our latest episode of the Common Voices podcast features a conversation between Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren and retired Toronto Police Service homicide detective Hank Idsinga, author of the bestselling memoir The High Road: Confessions of a Homicide Cop.
After a 35-year career—including 18 years in Toronto's homicide squad—Hank shares the experiences that shaped his career, from investigating some of the city's most notorious murders, to the childhood influence of Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal and his family's Holocaust history.
The conversation then turns to one of the most controversial chapters of his book: Hank's firsthand experiences with antisemitism while working with the Toronto Police Service. He discusses why he chose to tell these stories, the institutional challenges he encountered when attempting to report them, and the reaction from police leadership after the book's release.
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Daniel and Hank also examine the policing of anti-Israel protests in Toronto, allegations of unequal enforcement, the impact of intimidation in Jewish neighbourhoods, and what these issues mean for public safety, community trust, and policing in Canada.
Finally, Hank reflects on the overwhelming support he received from officers across the country—many of whom privately shared similar concerns but feared speaking publicly because of the professional consequences. Hank shares that despite what he's witnessed, he believes that there is less “willful ignorance” among officers on the ground than might be assumed.
While Hank acknowledges it is unreasonable to expect officers to know every symbol or chant, they argue that some knowledge should be expected after two and a half years of ongoing protests.
This is an unfiltered conversation about policing, accountability, leadership, antisemitism, and the courage to speak up when it matters most.
To listen to Former homicide detective for the Toronto Police Service tells his story, please click here.
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On our previous episode of the Common Voices podcast, Daniel sat down with Ishaq Ismail – a Palestinian-Canadian raised and based in Edmonton – to take part in something that's become increasingly rare: having an honest, respectful dialogue about one of the world's most complex conflicts.
The episode challenges common misconceptions about what it means to be pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli, rejecting the false choice between embracing one's identity and promoting hate.
Together, Daniel and Ishaq, who recently launched the Bridge of Dialogue podcast, confront hatred and online extremism targeting both Jews and Muslims, as well as the polarization fuelled by social media, arguing that empathy and dialogue are essential if coexistence is ever to become a reality.
To listen to A respectful dialogue with a Palestinian-Canadian, please click here.
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