By Jennifer PagliaroCity Hall Bureau
Thu., July 12, 2018
Chief Mark Saunders and Mayor John Tory have pitched a $3 million plan to put 200 more officers in priority areas between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. for eight weeks in response to recent gun violence.
Another $12 million, Tory said Thursday, is being proposed to fund existing community programs serving at-risk youth.
Another $12 million, Tory said Thursday, is being proposed to fund existing community programs serving at-risk youth.
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That redeployment plan would start next Friday and continue for eight weeks, putting more resources on the streets when “most of the gun violence takes place across the city,” Saunders said at a press conference at police headquarters.
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Saunders and Tory presented a united front — what was promised to be “gun violence reduction plan — after they have both been the subject of attack by the police association and uniformed officers who claim a push to modernize the police force is to blame for a recent increase in violence.
“Today’s plan is a coordinated effort with city hall,” Saunders said, thanking the mayor, Toronto Community housing and other city divisions.
Tory announced he will push to see “significant and immediate new investments in programs which already work” after he requested an audit of existing community programs. Those with a proven track record will receive new funding, he said, including youth employment programs and those targeted at youth living in neighbourhood improvement areas and Toronto Community Housing.
The mayor will be seeking that funding as well as the spending for the increased uniform presence, at a council meeting later this month.
Saunders and Tory presented a united front — what was promised to be “gun violence reduction plan — after they have both been the subject of attack by the police association and uniformed officers who claim a push to modernize the police force is to blame for a recent increase in violence.
“Today’s plan is a coordinated effort with city hall,” Saunders said, thanking the mayor, Toronto Community housing and other city divisions.
Tory announced he will push to see “significant and immediate new investments in programs which already work” after he requested an audit of existing community programs. Those with a proven track record will receive new funding, he said, including youth employment programs and those targeted at youth living in neighbourhood improvement areas and Toronto Community Housing.
The mayor will be seeking that funding as well as the spending for the increased uniform presence, at a council meeting later this month.
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It’s unclear where the funding to begin the redeployment next week will come from. Saunders said that plan would be achieved using overtime. A press release from the mayor’s office said that plan would cost “up to $3 million.”
City staff, the press release says, are making applications for federal funding for community programs. New investments from both and city and federal government, Tory’s office said, “will total up to $12 million.” It’s not clear how much council will be asked to approve in increased city spending.
City staff, the press release says, are making applications for federal funding for community programs. New investments from both and city and federal government, Tory’s office said, “will total up to $12 million.” It’s not clear how much council will be asked to approve in increased city spending.
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“We all want to keep our city safe. We all want to support our police service. We all want to support our communities,” Tory said. “I want to pay particular credit to the chief and to the men and women who serve with him. I believe that today’s initiative, along with significant additional details to be announced next week will give them and the people of Toronto the substantial additional help that they’re seeking. The safety of this city is a collective effort.”
Tory’s comments come after he and police association president Mike McCormack traded barbs this week over the uptick in shootings, which has alarmed some residents and sent officials looking for a rapid response.
But experts have warned there is no quick-fix solution for the underlying causes of crime, nor is it possible to determine a trend in crime data, which often goes through peaks and valleys, without looking at more than two or three years of numbers.
In the last decade, homicides have been on a downward trend, statistics published by Toronto police show. To date, there have been 212 reported shootings. At the same time last year there were 188.
There were 395 shootings in total in 2017, down from 407 total occurrences in 2016. So far this year, there have been 53 homicides, including the 10 people killed in the Yonge St. rampage.
Of the homicides so far this year, 26 have been shooting deaths. The number of shooting deaths declined in 2017 from 41 to 39. There were 61 total homicides in 2017.
Tory’s comments come after he and police association president Mike McCormack traded barbs this week over the uptick in shootings, which has alarmed some residents and sent officials looking for a rapid response.
But experts have warned there is no quick-fix solution for the underlying causes of crime, nor is it possible to determine a trend in crime data, which often goes through peaks and valleys, without looking at more than two or three years of numbers.
In the last decade, homicides have been on a downward trend, statistics published by Toronto police show. To date, there have been 212 reported shootings. At the same time last year there were 188.
There were 395 shootings in total in 2017, down from 407 total occurrences in 2016. So far this year, there have been 53 homicides, including the 10 people killed in the Yonge St. rampage.
Of the homicides so far this year, 26 have been shooting deaths. The number of shooting deaths declined in 2017 from 41 to 39. There were 61 total homicides in 2017.
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