Toronto Police Service 2008 Annual Report Cover: Constable David Alexander at his graduation ceremony held at Nathan Phillips Square A Marine Unit boat participates in a training exercise with a Canadian Forces helicopter Toronto Police Service 2008 Annual Report The Annual Report is produced by the Toronto Police Service Public Information Unit 40 College St. Toronto, Ontario M5G 2J3 torontopolice.on.ca 416-808-7100 [email protected] Chair’s Message 6 Chief’s Message 7 Mission Statement 8 Service Priorities 9 CONTStatistics 28 Community Mobilization Awareness campaigns 11 TAVI S 12 School Resource Officers 15 FNTD 13 Cultural events 16 Justice Circles 14 Pixels for Pistols 17 Rogers TV 18 Enforcement Project Blackhawk 20 Child abuse rescues 24 Counterfeits bust 21 Human trafficking 25 Bicycle seizures 22 RIDE 26 Neighbourhood bullies 27 ENTS Innovation Wellness 32 Overseas missions 33 International partnerships 37 Field Intelligence 34 Emergency Planning 38 Divisional Review 35 Human Rights partnership 39 Forensic imaging 36 Top employer award 40 Inside the Service Officers of the year 42 Operator of the year 46 African odyssey 43 Memorials 47 New horse 44 Laura Ellis tribute 48 Women Build 45 Medal mystery 49 Message from Toronto Police Services Board Chair Alok Mukherjee n behalf of the Toron to Police tive effort to eliminate racism and the members of the Toronto Police OServices Board, I am pleased all other forms of discrimination. Service who, on a daily basis, work to report on the Board’s major In addition, in July, I had the priv- for and with our community to achievements over the past year. ilege of representing the Canadian make Toronto a safer and healthier In August, our Board was the Coalition of Cities against Racism place to live. We see evidence of proud host of the 2008 Canadian and Discrimination at UNESCO’s partnerships between police and Association of Police Boards 3rd World Forum on Human the community all around us, from (CAPB) Conference. The theme of Rights held at Nantes, France. I programs engaging our young peo- this year’s conference was: “Civil- provided both a briefing on civilian ple like the Youth in Policing Ini- ian Governance and Social Re- governance of police in Canada and tiative (YIPI) to targeted sponsibility: Safety, Community background on the measures that enforcement and mobilization ac- and Sustainability.” The wide- we have developed to combat tivities like the Toronto Anti-Vio- ranging conference addressed top- racism in Toronto. lence Intervention Strategy ics related to both environmental Last year, the Board, in consul- (TAVIS). responsibility and social responsi- tation with the Chief, prepared the I am proud of our commitment to bility in police governance and in- Business Plan for 2009-2011. The community safety and I am confi- cluded speakers in areas such as Business Plan, which the Board dent that we – the Board, the Serv- mental health issues, the use of has a legislated responsibility to ice and the community - will Tasers, and ways to “green” our po- develop every three years, sets out continue to work together in the lice services. the objectives and priorities for the year to come so that our city re- In 2008, the Board continued its Service and provides strategic mains safe and maintains a qual- commitment to valuing diversity as focus and direction. Working with ity of life that is the envy of the well as working to deal with dis- the community, we developed a world. crimination. Our Human Rights strong and comprehensive Busi- Lastly, I would like to thank my Charter Project, a joint initiative of ness Plan that covers a wide range colleagues and the staff of the the Board, the Service and the On- of areas with an emphasis on pri- Board for their dedication and hard tario Human Rights Commission, orities that matter most to our work. I look forward to a new year has continued its critical and communities. of challenges and successes in groundbreaking work in a collec- The Board is extremely proud of 2009. Vice-Chair, City Councillor Chair Alok Mukherjee Pam McConnell 6 Judi Cohen City Councillor Hamlin Grange Hugh Locke Mayor Provincial Appointee Frank DiGiorgio Provincial Appointee Provincial Appointee David Miller Message from Toronto Police Service Chief William Blair s we look back at 2008, I am issues we all face. were given a dedicated police offi- Aenormously proud of the ac- Families, teachers, religious offi- cer, whose job is to build relation- complishments of the men and cials, community leaders and ac- ships with young people, provide a women of the Toronto Police Serv- tivists; they all have a vital role in mentoring presence, and deter ice. Their dedication, effort and reaching out to young people, of- those who may consider breaking professionalism have, once again, fering moral guidance, and provid- the law. The reaction from school resulted in a significant reduction ing alternatives to the deceptively superintendents, principals, teach- in crime, making Toronto one of the easy temptations of gangster life. ers and students was incredibly safest big cities in North America. I am encouraged by the willing- positive. The program will expand. As law enforcers, mentors, com- ness of people, in communities all We continue to make excellent munity partners and role models, across this city, to work with us, progress in ensuring that the TPS the uniform and civilian members providing energy and creativity, to is more and more reflective of the of the Service demonstrate, on a make their communities safer. We city we serve and protect. We had daily basis, their dedication to are reaching out to all parts of the three recruit graduations in 2008, keeping Toronto a successful and city, in ways we never have before. all of which exemplified the incred- liveable city. The dividends are impressive but ible cultural and linguistic diversity Policing has, to many, been we have only just begun. of Toronto. The percentage of about locking up criminals and Crime was down, again, in 2008, women and visible minorities rises seizing weapons and drugs. But, in across all major categories. There each year, their presence at all lev- Toronto, we have long realized that were thousands fewer victims in els of the Service is now apparent. enforcement, on its own, is not 2008. We are having great success, We achieved much in 2008. enough. but there is still much to do. Much remains to be achieved but, To succeed, more and more citi- We made further, significant in- as more and more Torontonians zens of this city are realizing they roads to reaching young people join us, our collective ability to con- have to join us, have to work along- with our School Resource Officers tinue to make this city safer will get side us, to provide solutions to the in 2008. A total of 29 high schools stronger and stronger. Chief of Police William Blair Deputy Chief Kim Derry Deputy Chief Jane Dick Deputy Chief Keith Forde Deputy Chief Tony Warr CAO Tony Veneziano Divisional Policing Executive Human Resources Specialized Operations Administrative Command Command Command Command Command Mission statement We are dedicated to delivering police services in partnership with our communities to keep Toronto the best and safest place to be. Core values Honesty Respect We are truthful and open in our interactions with each We value ourselves, each other, and all members other and with members of our communities. of our communities, showing understanding and appreciation for our similarities and differences. Integrity Reliability We are honourable, trustworthy , and strive to do We are conscientious, professional, responsible, what is right. and dependable in our dealings with each other and our communities. Fairness We treat everyone in an impartial, equitable, Team Work sensitive, and ethical manner. We work together within the Service and with members of our communities to achieve our goals, making use of diverse skills, abilities, roles, and Positive Attitude views. We strive to bring positive and constructive influences to our dealings with each other and our communities. 8 Community Policing Safety of Vulnerable Community Safety and Partnerships Groups Security Effective, accountable policing is the The Service will continue to address Members of the community should be result of a partnership between the the dangers to, and concerns of, able to move about and conduct their police and the community. Commu- those most vulnerable to victimization personal and business lives without nity issues cannot be dealt with solely in our society, particularly women and fear of intimidation, harassment, or by police, and community members children. While addressing the needs attack. Even a small number of often have a better understanding of of women and children who are vic- crimes, especially violent crimes, can the problems and concerns in their timized is a multi-faceted task that the negatively affect perception of safety neighbourhoods. The Service is com- police must carry out together with and quality of life. Effective police re- mitted to transforming the organiza- community partners, improving the sponse and a relationship with the tion through a strategy of community police response in particular should community that encourages input, co- mobilization, that is, actively engaging provide these victims with reassur- operation, and participation are vital the community and social agencies in ance that the Service is committed to to the prevention and investigation of developing and implementing sustain- their safety, and assist them in ac- these crimes. able solutions to local problems. cessing the help they require to pre- Effective police-community partner- vent further victimization. ships, oriented to the needs of the community, should not only reduce crime, but also decrease fear of crime and enhance the quality of life in the community.