Ontario's top police officer agreed on Monday to attend a summit that would address allegations of racial profiling by Toronto police officers.

Ontario Minister of Public Safety and Security Bob Runciman said he would be willing to meet with Toronto's mayor, chief of police and leaders of the city's black community, in a summit called for by Lincoln Alexander.

Alexander, the first black man to be appointed lieutenant-governor of Ontario, called for the summit after the The Toronto Star began running a series of articles on police relations with the city's black population.

The paper based much of its findings on the police department's own data.

Lincoln says racism among some police officers isn't new, but the report can't be ignored. He wants a constructive discussion of the issues.

"I don't want a town meeting where everybody's going to start screaming and ranting and raving," he said. "I want a meeting of the power structure. Starting with the mayor, starting with the chief of police."

Police chief Julian Fantino didn't comment on Monday, but issued a written statement that says he rejects the Star's argument and will meet with black community leaders.

The defensive reaction on the part of the police chief is regrettable, said Allan Borovoy, of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

He says no one believes Toronto police have an official policy of discrimination, but he wants the province to audit arrest records, to monitor how officers deal with different racial groups.

"It would help identify patterns," he said. "It might even help identify certain people whose behaviour ought to be addressed."

Toronto city councillor Sherene Shaw said on Monday the reports have created a crisis in confidence, and she plans to introduce a motion to council directing police to review its policies, guidelines and practices.