Toronto Police Service
www.tps.ca
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News Release
Chief Myron Demkiw’s remarks on the Service’s approach to safety in Toronto for the one-year anniversary of October 7, 2023, Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Broadcast time: 10:12 AM
Date: Wednesday, Oct 02, 2024
Unit: Office of the Chief
Case #: n/a
*Check Against Delivery*
Good morning, everyone.
Thank you for being here today.
To Jewish residents of Toronto – Shana Tova.
As you know, Monday will mark the anniversary of the October 7th attacks on Israel. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to deeply affect communities across our city, and we know that the coming days and weeks will be a difficult time for many.
Emotions are understandably running high, and we recognize this is a moment of reflection and pain for many people.
My role, and the role of the Toronto Police Service, is to keep people safe.
Since October 7th, our officers have managed more than 1,500 demonstrations across Toronto and conducted thousands of proactive visits to schools, places of worship, and community centres to ensure the safety and security of our residents.
As tensions rise around the world and we approach the one-year anniversary of October 7th, we know world events always have an impact here at home. This includes the potential for increased protest activity and acts of violence.
As a result, Toronto residents will notice an increased police presence across the city. This is part of our commitment to ensuring all communities are safe – and feel safe.
Our overarching response to Middle East-related events remains Project Resolute. This effort continues to include a seven-days-a-week Major Incident Command Centre, under the direction of a dedicated Incident Commander, and different deployed units, including our Public Safety Response Team, mobile Community Response Officers, and Public Order Sections.
In the coming weeks, there will be an increased presence of both plainclothes and uniformed officers, Public Order Sections, Mounted Units, and Police Liaison teams.
Marked police vehicles will be patrolling some communities with static red and blue lights on their rooftop bars to enhance visibility.
In addition, three mobile command posts will be stationed in Jewish neighborhoods: one at Bathurst and Glencairn, another at Bathurst and Sheppard, and a third at Bathurst and Finch. Additionally, a fourth mobile command post will be deployed to various mosques across the city.
The public is familiar with our large command vehicles. Now you will also see three smaller versions that have been developed to help us be more accessible to our communities.
The Toronto Police Service will be a visible and reassuring presence for as long as necessary.
We are working closely with our municipal, provincial, and federal partners, as well as our intelligence services, to monitor potential threats and respond to any situation that may arise.
We have enhanced our coordination with these partners, and strengthened our intelligence-gathering efforts and our ability to identify and mitigate potential risks.
Unfortunately, hate crimes have risen in Toronto, particularly targeting the Jewish community. Year-to-date, 350 hate crimes have been reported to our Hate Crime Unit – a 40 per cent increase since this time last year. While many different communities have been targeted, the greatest increase has been against the Jewish community, by 69 per cent.
We strongly encourage the reporting of any suspected hateful act to police. Our expanded Hate Crime Unit continues to investigate every reported instance of hate, including on the ground at demonstrations, to gather evidence and investigate any suspected hate crimes, or hate speech, or signage.
This includes the presence of flags that promote terrorist organisations, as identified by Public Safety Canada.
We remind everyone that charges can be laid at any time–whether it’s hours, days, or even weeks after an incident, including those that take place at demonstrations.
Since October 7th, Toronto Police have made 72 protest-related arrests. On Monday evening, we arrested a woman at Pearson International Airport who was wanted for offences related to two separate demonstrations – one in November and one in March – while she was trying to leave the country.
And last night, a person who was wanted by police from a previous demonstration was seen in the crowd and also taken into custody.
As we have for the past year, we will continue to ensure that demonstrations are safe while people assemble to express their views.
But, let me be clear: hate has no place in Toronto, and we stand united in protecting our diverse communities.
We know emotions are intense, and as demonstrations continue, we must balance the right to assembly with the need to maintain public order and public safety. This is not just for those attending demonstrations but also for the broader community and our officers.
Over recent weeks, some demonstrators have become increasingly confrontational, and we have seen assaults on officers, including the use of weapons and physical attacks. These actions are dangerous for everyone.
Engaging in confrontations with law enforcement, obstructing officers in the course of their duties, or resorting to violence is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Our officers will not hesitate to enforce the law and make arrests where warranted. Again, an arrest can happen at any time after an offense.
Communities are hurting, and the trauma of the conflict is deeply personal for many. For those who have family members directly affected by the violence abroad, the feelings of helplessness and frustration are real.
But we must stand together as a city, and violence and hate, whether directed at each other or at the police, is not the solution.
Before we conclude, I want to address the recent gun violence in our city over the past several days and weeks.
I understand the anxiety, and the data does reflect an increase in gun violence compared to last year. While we share those concerns, I want to reflect on the fact that when we compare this year’s numbers to pre-pandemic years, gun-violence remains on par, even as our population continues to grow.
That said, I’m always hesitant to talk about statistics because we must acknowledge the pain and trauma that families feel as a result of gun violence, and this pain impacts generations.
These numbers do not bring people back.
We offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent further tragedies.
We are working tirelessly and have increased our presence in the neighbourhoods most affected by gun violence.
Proactive policing and the strategic deployment of our specialized units are central to our strategy. So far in 2024, we have made 746 firearm-related arrests and seized 671 crime guns.
Our top priority is keeping our communities safe. But we cannot do it alone. We will continue working with residents, educators, community and faith leaders, and local agencies and our SafeTO partners, to offer people a better path forward.
Thank you. I’ll now take any questions.
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Watch the Chief’s media conference on YouTube.
Stephanie Sayer for Office of the Chief
Images for this release are available on our website.
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https://www.tps.ca/
