Toronto Police ramping up public presence after recent incidents

TheGlobeAndMail.com
Oct. 22, 2014
Oliver Moore

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said they were ramping up their presence in the streets – although there is “no specific or identified credible threat” in the city – in order to reassure the public and deter possible attackers.

The head of the city’s largest municipal police force said it would be “all hands on deck” in the aftermath of a still-unfolding shooting incident in Ottawa and a fatal hit-and-run on soldiers in Quebec on Monday.

“Torontonians will see, today and over the coming days, a very visible police presence at various public institutions and in public spaces,” Chief Blair said Wednesday afternoon. “We have a responsibility to reassure them of their safety, by being visibly present out there with them, and doing everything possible to prevent these things from taking place.”

The increased police presence is expected to include regular uniformed officers, the heavily armed emergency task force and elements that will not be visible to the regular public. City hall and the provincial legislature, government buildings, court houses, consulates and military facilities are among the places where the public can expect to see more security than usual.

The chief did not specify the number of extra officers who will be out on the street.

Also Wednesday, both the Toronto Transit Commission and the regional GO Transit said that they were raising their security levels. In the case of the TTC, they said the new measures came on top of a ramping up two weeks ago in the face of anti-Canada rhetoric from the Islamic State.

Chief Blair stressed that his force was “vigilant” and co-operating fully with other police forces.

“I’ve cancelled some leave, I’ve got some people working overtime, we’re making sure that we’ve got people out there today,” he said.

“We’re out there to reassure them that we stand united and firm in our resolve to keep them safe. And so we’ll be out there, and we’ll be visible and we’ll be there as long as we are needed.”