I have spent the weekend thinking about numbers as they relate to guns in this city and what can be done to decrease those numbers. Here are the numbers:
Total number of firearms seized in 2007 by the Toronto Police Service was 2603.
• 817 of these firearms were identified as crime guns.
• 368 of these crime guns had their origins proven, of those
• 190 (51.5% of the 368) were proven to be smuggled into Canada.
• 178 (48.5% of the 368) were domestically sourced
Last Thursday, Chief Bill Blair spoke to the Toronto Police Services Board on the issue of guns in the City. You may have seen some of the media stories here and here.
No one can deny that we have a gun problem in the City of Toronto. I have blogged on the issue numerous times. It is an issue that the Toronto Police Services Board cares deeply about. It is an issue that needs to be addressed head on.
How can we address it?
WITH A HANDGUN BAN.
A handgun ban is something that the TPSB, the Mayor , Ontario’s Attorney General, Ontario’s Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Premier of Ontario have all called for.
And yesterday, June 23, the Toronto City Council overwhelmingly approved a strategy to keep guns out of our community. Read about it here, here and here.
It is time for our political leaders, particularly those in Ottawa, to step up to the plate and work towards a handgun ban.
While a handgun ban alone is not the solution, it is an extremely necessary part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the horrific effects of gun crime.
Every worthwhile endeavour needs a starting point. The starting point for Toronto is a ban on handguns.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD
GUEST BLOGGER - JUDI COHEN, MEMBER OF THE TORONTO POLICE SERVICES BOARD
Last night I had the honour of representing the Toronto Police Services Board at the Officer of the Year Award event. This award, created by the Toronto Board of Trade, recognizes Toronto Police Service officers who have significantly contributed to making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world. This year, there were 23 officers nominated .
As I mentioned in my remarks last night, the men and women who work for the Toronto Police Service are an impressive group. The Service is a world leader in law enforcement, garnering international attention and accolades for its dedicated members and its innovative approach to community policing.
This year, we honoured 23 officers for their part in making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world.
These officers embody the Service’s Core Values, principles that the Service holds paramount and, in so doing, they serve as heroes to Service members and community members alike.
Each nominee has a remarkable story. Each one demonstrates ethical conduct, professionalism, dedication and bravery of the highest degree. Each one went beyond the call of duty and performed impressively and admirably. These officers are our heroes, each one of them.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I want to congratulate this year’s winners - Police Constables Mark Tan, Jennifer Anderson, Frederick Hillier & Trevor Morrison.
You may have read about these officers in the media last December. Here is their story:
On December 10th, 2006 a three-tiered emergency response was initiated at a large water reservoir. Several youths were playing soccer in the vicinity of the reservoir. At this time, one of the boys was standing on the ice for several moments before the thin ice gave way and he was submerged into the frigid water. Three of the boys ran to get help, while another boy proceeded onto the ice in an attempt to rescue his friend. He was able to reach the location, grabbed the victim’s hands and attempted to lift him from the water. The thin ice gave way and the second boy also was engulfed in the water. The sequence of events had been witnessed by a man who quickly grabbed an extension cord from his garage, jumped into his vehicle and drove to the footpath on the east side of the reservoir. Upon arrival he ran to the side of the boys but could only see one boy in the water. He threw the extension cord to the boy but he was unable to grasp the cord due to the onset of hypothermia.
At this time, police units arrived on scene. Constable Mark Tan removed his equipment belt and jacket and immediately entered the water to assist the boys. Constable Jennifer Anderson also entered the water however she was still wearing her equipment belt and jacket. Constables Frederick Hillier and Trevor Morrison stood in the shallow part of the water to assist the other officers. Constable Tan and the witness walked onto the ice and immediately fell through into the frigid waters. They soon realized they could stand on the bottom and began breaking the ice around them in order to walk out to where the victim was floating. Unaware that within a few metres of the shore line there was an abrupt drop, Constables Tan, Anderson and the witness became completely submerged in the water. Constables Hillier and Morrison entered the water and pulled the officers and the witness back to safety. The Toronto Fire Services Recovery boat was launched and together with Marine Unit personnel pulled the boys from the water. One of the boys however succumbed at the scene. The other boy was transported to the hospital but within hours, he too had succumbed.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board I want to again extend congratulations to the winners and all of the nominees of the Police Officer of the Year Award. You play a crucial role in keeping the city safe.
This year, we honoured 23 officers for their part in making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world.
These officers embody the Service’s Core Values, principles that the Service holds paramount and, in so doing, they serve as heroes to Service members and community members alike.
Each nominee has a remarkable story. Each one demonstrates ethical conduct, professionalism, dedication and bravery of the highest degree. Each one went beyond the call of duty and performed impressively and admirably. These officers are our heroes, each one of them.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I want to congratulate this year’s winners - Police Constables Mark Tan, Jennifer Anderson, Frederick Hillier & Trevor Morrison.
You may have read about these officers in the media last December. Here is their story:
On December 10th, 2006 a three-tiered emergency response was initiated at a large water reservoir. Several youths were playing soccer in the vicinity of the reservoir. At this time, one of the boys was standing on the ice for several moments before the thin ice gave way and he was submerged into the frigid water. Three of the boys ran to get help, while another boy proceeded onto the ice in an attempt to rescue his friend. He was able to reach the location, grabbed the victim’s hands and attempted to lift him from the water. The thin ice gave way and the second boy also was engulfed in the water. The sequence of events had been witnessed by a man who quickly grabbed an extension cord from his garage, jumped into his vehicle and drove to the footpath on the east side of the reservoir. Upon arrival he ran to the side of the boys but could only see one boy in the water. He threw the extension cord to the boy but he was unable to grasp the cord due to the onset of hypothermia.
At this time, police units arrived on scene. Constable Mark Tan removed his equipment belt and jacket and immediately entered the water to assist the boys. Constable Jennifer Anderson also entered the water however she was still wearing her equipment belt and jacket. Constables Frederick Hillier and Trevor Morrison stood in the shallow part of the water to assist the other officers. Constable Tan and the witness walked onto the ice and immediately fell through into the frigid waters. They soon realized they could stand on the bottom and began breaking the ice around them in order to walk out to where the victim was floating. Unaware that within a few metres of the shore line there was an abrupt drop, Constables Tan, Anderson and the witness became completely submerged in the water. Constables Hillier and Morrison entered the water and pulled the officers and the witness back to safety. The Toronto Fire Services Recovery boat was launched and together with Marine Unit personnel pulled the boys from the water. One of the boys however succumbed at the scene. The other boy was transported to the hospital but within hours, he too had succumbed.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board I want to again extend congratulations to the winners and all of the nominees of the Police Officer of the Year Award. You play a crucial role in keeping the city safe.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
LIFE-SAVERS IN THE TIME OF NEED
I have blogged before on the importance of Victim Services. Christina Blizzard's column in today's Toronto Sun puts a personal face on the important role that Victim Services plays in people's lives.
Friday, June 6, 2008
THE POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH AND YEAR AWARDS
Earlier this month I blogged about Constable Butt, one of the recipients of the Police Officer of the Month Award.
In the lead up to the Police Officer of the Year awards at the Toronto Board of Trade next week, I want to provide you with some background on the awards.
The Police Officer of the Month and Year Awards were initiated in 1967 by the Toronto Board of Trade young professionals. The purpose of the awards is to recognize officers of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world.
Each month, nominations to the program are initiated through the Awards Co-ordinator, Professional Standards Unit. A panel of judges comprised of members of the Toronto media and a young professional from the Board of Trade evaluate the nominations on an individual basis. Each judge ranks the nominations and then submits his/her recommendation back to the Awards Co-ordinator in the Professional Standards Unit, who gathers the results and determines the recipients of the Police Officer of the Month Award.
The nominees are judged according to the following criteria:
1. Bravery
2. Humanitarianism
3. Superior Investigative Work, and
4. Outstanding Police Skills.
The monthly winners are then re-evaluated by the same panel of judges and one individual is chosen to receive the Police Officer of the Year Award.
Here is the list of winners for 2007:
JANUARY
Sgt. COXON, Shawna (7551)
Diversity Management Unit
FEBRUARY
PC GILBERT, Ronald (6384)
Mounted Unit
PC McCARTHY, Kristopher (7519)
Mounted Unit
PC STAVRAKIS, Michael (99666)
Mounted Unit
MARCH
PC BUTT, Amir (9210)
31 Division
APRIL
D/Sgt. BOTT, Bryan (6653)
43 Division
PC SMITH, Hunter (5153)
32 Division
MAY
Sgt. RAMJATTAN, Rick (2360)
31 Division
JUNE
PC INGLEY, Paul (9065)
55 Division
PC HALL, John (4589)
55 Division
JULY
PC LINDLEY, Keith (8257)
Public Safety & Emergency Mgt.
AUGUST
PC FUJINO, Alan (4658)
33 Division
SEPTEMBER
Det. WHITE, Paul (2208)
14 Division
PC GREAVETTE, James (7095)
52 Division
OCTOBER
PC MacINNIS, Matthew (65662)
54 Division
PC WOJTKIEWICZ, Victor (8706)
54 Division
NOVEMBER
S/Insp. FERNANDES, Cyril (6807)
Forensic Identification Services
D/Sgt. KEYS, Roger (3691)
55 Division
Sgt. NOLAN, David (1904)
55 Division
DECEMBER
PC TAN, Mark (8954)
42 Division
PC ANDERSON, Jennifer (9237)
42 Division
PC HILLIER, Frederick (8929)
42 Division
PC MORRISON, Trevor (8904)
42 Division
In the lead up to the Police Officer of the Year awards at the Toronto Board of Trade next week, I want to provide you with some background on the awards.
The Police Officer of the Month and Year Awards were initiated in 1967 by the Toronto Board of Trade young professionals. The purpose of the awards is to recognize officers of the Toronto Police Service who have made significant contributions to making Toronto one of the safest cities in the world.
Each month, nominations to the program are initiated through the Awards Co-ordinator, Professional Standards Unit. A panel of judges comprised of members of the Toronto media and a young professional from the Board of Trade evaluate the nominations on an individual basis. Each judge ranks the nominations and then submits his/her recommendation back to the Awards Co-ordinator in the Professional Standards Unit, who gathers the results and determines the recipients of the Police Officer of the Month Award.
The nominees are judged according to the following criteria:
1. Bravery
2. Humanitarianism
3. Superior Investigative Work, and
4. Outstanding Police Skills.
The monthly winners are then re-evaluated by the same panel of judges and one individual is chosen to receive the Police Officer of the Year Award.
Here is the list of winners for 2007:
JANUARY
Sgt. COXON, Shawna (7551)
Diversity Management Unit
FEBRUARY
PC GILBERT, Ronald (6384)
Mounted Unit
PC McCARTHY, Kristopher (7519)
Mounted Unit
PC STAVRAKIS, Michael (99666)
Mounted Unit
MARCH
PC BUTT, Amir (9210)
31 Division
APRIL
D/Sgt. BOTT, Bryan (6653)
43 Division
PC SMITH, Hunter (5153)
32 Division
MAY
Sgt. RAMJATTAN, Rick (2360)
31 Division
JUNE
PC INGLEY, Paul (9065)
55 Division
PC HALL, John (4589)
55 Division
JULY
PC LINDLEY, Keith (8257)
Public Safety & Emergency Mgt.
AUGUST
PC FUJINO, Alan (4658)
33 Division
SEPTEMBER
Det. WHITE, Paul (2208)
14 Division
PC GREAVETTE, James (7095)
52 Division
OCTOBER
PC MacINNIS, Matthew (65662)
54 Division
PC WOJTKIEWICZ, Victor (8706)
54 Division
NOVEMBER
S/Insp. FERNANDES, Cyril (6807)
Forensic Identification Services
D/Sgt. KEYS, Roger (3691)
55 Division
Sgt. NOLAN, David (1904)
55 Division
DECEMBER
PC TAN, Mark (8954)
42 Division
PC ANDERSON, Jennifer (9237)
42 Division
PC HILLIER, Frederick (8929)
42 Division
PC MORRISON, Trevor (8904)
42 Division
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