Toronto’s police chief says he accepts, supports Umar Zameer acquittal amid criticism of post-verdict comments

Toronto’s police chief says he wants to make it clear he accepts and supports the not-guilty verdict delivered by a jury in the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a police officer.Umar Zameer was acquitted Sunday in the death of Det. Const. Jeffrey Northrup, who was hit by a vehicle in an underground parking garage at Toronto City Hall nearly three years ago. Zameer had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and testified he didn’t know Northrup and his partner – who were in plain clothes – were police officers.Police Chief Myron Demkiw was seen hugging Northrup’s widow after the verdict was announced and said that day that police respect the judicial process but “were hoping for a different outcome.”