Police associations call for 'immediate action' on bail reform after Toronto gunfight
CTV
Three police associations are calling on the federal government to take “immediate action “on bail reform after officers performing a bail compliance check in Toronto’s west end found themselves in the middle of a gun fight between two groups.
Three police associations are calling on the federal government to take “immediate action “on bail reform after officers performing a bail compliance check in Toronto’s west end found themselves in the middle of a gun fight between two groups.
The gunfire erupted outside of a recording studio near Queen Street West and Sudbury Street at around 11:20 p.m. on Monday night.
Police have said that three suspects arrived in the area in a stolen vehicle and opened fire on a group who had gathered outside the building.
Nearly 100 shots were fired, some of which struck an unmarked police vehicle with plainclothes officers inside.
Police ultimately took 23 people into custody and seized 16 firearms following the shootout.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the Toronto Police Association (TPA), the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) and the Police Association of Ontario said that the incident could have turned tragic and underscores the need for “effective bail reform.”
“Over the last two years, we’ve seen serious incidents related to our bail system that have put the lives of police service members and our communities in danger. This incident in Toronto could have had a very different result. Luckily, it didn’t. But it should serve as a call to action for the federal government to fix our bail system so repeat and violent offenders can’t continue to harm our communities while out on bail,” Mark Baxter, President of the Police Association of Ontario, said in the statement. “Stricter bail policies for repeat and violent offenders prioritize the safety and security of our communities.”
