Toronto police to expand community policing program to include new areas and the TTC
CBC
Toronto police say they are expanding community patrols to four new neighbourhoods and boosting their presence on two sections of the TTC.
At a news conference Wednesday, Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw said the service will deploy 16 officers in the four areas as part of its neighbourhood community officer program by the end of this year.
The officers will work in Dufferin Grove, Banbury-Don Mills/Victoria Village, Wexford-Maryvale and Etobicoke City Centre. Each neighbourhood will receive four community officers.
As for the TTC, the service will dedicate four officers between Union and Wellesley stations and another four officers between Bloor and Eglinton stations to allow for "seven-day-a-week dedicated coverage" on Line 1 to ensure transit riders feel safe.
Demkiw said there will also be "prioritized patrols" at Union and Bloor stations. Officers will continue to work with TTC special constables, TTC community engagement officers and city staff to help vulnerable communities and those in crisis on the TTC, he added.
"Community policing means working hand in hand with the people we serve, solving problems together and addressing issues before they become a crisis,” Demkiw told reporters.
“It means bringing to life the idea of codeveloping, codesigning and codelivering community safety and well-being with the communities we serve.”
Demkiw said the four neighbourhoods were chosen based on incidents of violent crime and crimes involving youth, community safety indicators, proximity to transit and schools and recommendations from the city.
The neighbourhood community officer program aims to use police resources, working with residents, to find solutions to reduce crime, he said. Currently, the service has community officers in 56 neighbourhoods in Toronto.
"Neighbourhood community officers are embedded within communities. People know them by their first names. Their role is to address and prevent issues," Demkiw said.
Demkiw added the expansion is possible in part because of the service's multi-year hiring plan.
Josh Colle, TTC’s chief strategy and customer officer, said the TTC sections on Line 1 were chosen based on where there is need and what the transit agency is hearing from employees.
In a news release, police said: "The goal of adding dedicated officers to the TTC is to not only respond to criminal acts along the subway line, but to prevent criminal activity through enforcement, education, intervention and prevention."
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said neighbourhood community officers make a difference to the areas they serve.
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