At its public meeting held on Thursday June 18, 2009, the Toronto Police Services Board announced the next steps in the development of a public transit safety framework. This important initiative will ensure that our public transit system is safe, effective, efficient, and contains appropriate oversight mechanisms.
Currently, the TTC has about 100 special constables patrolling the transit system. This new initiative will include a system for accountability to the public, civilian oversight, a public complaints mechanism, and Use of Force guidelines. It is certainly my view, shared by the Board, that only the Chief of Police has the responsibility and authority to oversee law enforcement throughout our City. This includes areas of the TTC, both on the surface and below.
In November 2008, the Board and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) agreed to work together to establish a framework and process for developing a shared vision for policing on the TTC. The Board created a working group comprised of Chair Alok Mukherjee, Board Member Judi Cohen, and I to work with Commission Chair Adam Giambrone and Toronto Police Service and TTC staff to examine the current conditions and to move towards a solution.
The safety and security for everyone who uses the TTC was paramount in all of our discussions over the last eight months. To improve the level of security, it is necessary to ensure that those patrolling the transit system have enhanced training and powers, to bring it in line with the type of protection the public expects in every other part of the City. Obviously, this work is most properly performed by members of the Toronto Police Service.
For these reasons, the Board unanimously authorized the Chief of Police to negotiate the transfer of public safety and security responsibilities from the TTC to the Toronto Police Service. An agreement between the Board and the Commission will be drafted, with the Chief consulting the Board’s working group for input.
There are a number of complex issues that need to be resolved in the negotiation process. The parties will need to resolve several legal and logistical issues, questions regarding organizational structure, financial considerations, and communications challenges. However, I am confident that these can be worked through to everyone’s satisfaction in a relatively short period of time.
One of the key issues is related to human resources. As the transfer takes place, we want to preserve jobs and open up new opportunities for those TTC personnel affected.
Ultimately, the issue of civilian oversight and accountability will remain one of the hallmarks in this transfer to the Toronto Police Service. Once this transition is complete, a civilian complaint system and Use of Force requirements will be managed by the Service. Civilian oversight is essential to effective democratic policing organizations everywhere.
I am proud of the Board’s enthusiastic and unanimous endorsement of this framework, and I look forward to the Toronto Transit Commission’s decision when they discuss this at their next meeting, scheduled for July. I believe that residents can look forward to a public transit system that is one of the safest in the world, with the enhanced presence of the Toronto Police Service.
Currently, the TTC has about 100 special constables patrolling the transit system. This new initiative will include a system for accountability to the public, civilian oversight, a public complaints mechanism, and Use of Force guidelines. It is certainly my view, shared by the Board, that only the Chief of Police has the responsibility and authority to oversee law enforcement throughout our City. This includes areas of the TTC, both on the surface and below.
In November 2008, the Board and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) agreed to work together to establish a framework and process for developing a shared vision for policing on the TTC. The Board created a working group comprised of Chair Alok Mukherjee, Board Member Judi Cohen, and I to work with Commission Chair Adam Giambrone and Toronto Police Service and TTC staff to examine the current conditions and to move towards a solution.
The safety and security for everyone who uses the TTC was paramount in all of our discussions over the last eight months. To improve the level of security, it is necessary to ensure that those patrolling the transit system have enhanced training and powers, to bring it in line with the type of protection the public expects in every other part of the City. Obviously, this work is most properly performed by members of the Toronto Police Service.
For these reasons, the Board unanimously authorized the Chief of Police to negotiate the transfer of public safety and security responsibilities from the TTC to the Toronto Police Service. An agreement between the Board and the Commission will be drafted, with the Chief consulting the Board’s working group for input.
There are a number of complex issues that need to be resolved in the negotiation process. The parties will need to resolve several legal and logistical issues, questions regarding organizational structure, financial considerations, and communications challenges. However, I am confident that these can be worked through to everyone’s satisfaction in a relatively short period of time.
One of the key issues is related to human resources. As the transfer takes place, we want to preserve jobs and open up new opportunities for those TTC personnel affected.
Ultimately, the issue of civilian oversight and accountability will remain one of the hallmarks in this transfer to the Toronto Police Service. Once this transition is complete, a civilian complaint system and Use of Force requirements will be managed by the Service. Civilian oversight is essential to effective democratic policing organizations everywhere.
I am proud of the Board’s enthusiastic and unanimous endorsement of this framework, and I look forward to the Toronto Transit Commission’s decision when they discuss this at their next meeting, scheduled for July. I believe that residents can look forward to a public transit system that is one of the safest in the world, with the enhanced presence of the Toronto Police Service.
