Youth In Policing Initiative Kickoff

News Release           

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Police Headquarters, July 3, 9:30 a.m.,

157 Youth Join Ranks of the Toronto Police Service For Summer

Broadcast time: 17:00  Friday, June 29, 2012
Area Field Command:  416−808−7735

On Tuesday, July 3, at 9:30 a.m. in the Toronto Police Service Headquarters Lobby, Chief William Blair will join MPP (Pickering−Scarborough East) Tracy MacCharles, Toronto Police Services Board Chair Dr. Alok Mukherjee and 2010 Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI) alumnus Jarome Merchant in welcoming 157 young people from across the city to their first day of work at the Toronto Police Service.

For the seventh consecutive summer, the Toronto Police Service will be offering young people from across the city an opportunity for summer employment through its Youth in Policing Initiative.

They will be assigned to work in 65 areas throughout the Service, including each of our 17 Divisions and several support units like the Forensic Identification Services unit, the Public Safety &Emergency Management Unit and the Mounted Unit. Students will gain job experience and life skills through their work with police officers and community members.

”It gives us the opportunity to get to know the youth of our city, their perspectives, their aspirations and how they want their city to be,” Chief William Blair said. “We all have a lot of work to do together to make this the safe city we want.”

The Youth in Policing Initiative is part of the Government of Ontario’s Youth Opportunities Strategy. This strategy is helping to build stronger communities by establishing and expanding community programs that help youth achieve a brighter future.

“This is more than a summer job for these young people,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario’s Minister of Children and Youth Services. “It is an opportunity for them to build their resumes, experience the workplace and gain the self−confidence needed to achieve success in the future. Across Ontario, the program also helps to build bridges between youth from high−needs communities and the police.”

The young people, aged 14 to 17, represent the neighbourhoods of: Eglinton East−Kennedy Park; Scarborough Village; Kingston−Galloway; South Parkdale; Westminister−Branson; Steeles−L’Amoreaux; Weston−Mt. Dennis; Lawrence Heights; Flemingdon Park−Victoria ID: 23878 1 / 2Village; Crescent Town; Malvern; Jane−Finch; Jamestown; Regent Park; and Dorset Park.

For further information, call YIPI Coordinator Danielle Dowdy at 416−808−7618

Kevin Masterman, Corporate Communications for Danielle Dowdy, Youth In Policing Initiative

ID: 23878

Click for source

Regent Park Life - Summer Edition

Click on images to enlarge

Chief Walks Beat with YBBBA

The Chief walked the beat in 51 Division to talk shop with business owners.

Chief Bill Blair met with business owners and residents in 51 Division during a walkabout on a hot June 28 afternoon.

Accompanied by Yonge Bloor Bay Business Association co-chairs Gee Chung and Alex Stuart, Blair toured St. Paul’s Church on Bloor St., Spirits Bar & Grill on Church St., Progress Place, a recovery centre for people with mental illnesses, and the 519 Church St. Community Centre.

“This is a wonderful community outreach,” said Chung, who is also the president of the Greater Yorkville Residents’ Association that represents 29 residential buildings with nearly 4,000 residents.
“It brings the police and people in the area closer and shows them that the police are here to protect and help them. It’s a real positive experience."

“It’s great to have the Chief do this,” said Stuart, who is the managing partner of the Pilot Tavern on Cumberland St.

“He’s such a personable guy and everyone likes to come out and meet him. What is really important, though, is that the Community Response Unit officers are always out here interacting in the community and many of them are familiar in a good way with business owners and residents.”

Deputy Chief Mike Federico, 51 Division unit commander Supt. John Tanouye and Insp. Gary Meissner, Community Response Unit manager S/Sgt. Rudy Pasini and Crime Prevention Officer Lynne Robertson also participated in the walkabout along with auxiliary officers.

On his last stop at 519 Church, Blair sat down for tea with executive director Maura Lawless and development & community engagement director Matthew Cutler.

Source:  http://goo.gl/eiQwj

Pride displayed by Service

Chief Blair & Enza Anderson

The Service’s active participation in Pride celebrations represents a growth and maturity that has developed over years, says Chief Bill Blair.

“I have been on this job for 35 years and I have a long memory of the relationships between the Toronto Police and members of the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgendered (LBGT) community in Toronto,” Blair said, at the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) and Chief’s Pride reception at headquarters on June 27.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished together and where we have come as an organization.”

Recognizing the need to enhance its relationships with the LBGT community, the Service started celebrating Pride Week 12 years ago.

“It’s no secret that Pride is one of Toronto’s best celebrations,” said TPSB Chair Alok Mukherjee.

“We celebrate a spirit in this city that is inspiring and invigorating. It is a celebration of love and harmony, of partnerships and unity and it’s a celebration of acceptance of all peoples, of diversity and of our commitment to the fundamental principles of democracy.

TPSB Chair Alok Mukherjee

“In celebrating Pride, we honour and cherish these principles and remind ourselves of their importance to all of us. There is currently tremendous goodwill and a spirit of cooperation between the police and the community. A great deal of hard work on the part of the community and the police has gone into achieving these. We should be very proud of this success and commit ourselves to building upon it in the years to come.”

Mukherjee said he was happy that the service was hosting the event at headquarters.

“To me, this speaks to the fact that we as an organization have great pride in our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members,” he said.

“We must recognize the challenges that some of these members may encounter. It is important that all of us stand behind them and make sure that they know that their fight is our fight.”

Former Toronto acting Deputy Chief Jeff McGuire, who is now the Niagara Police Chief of Police, former Community Mobilization LBGT liaison officer Tom Decker, Eagle Canada Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere executive director Helen Kennedy and Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays president Irene Miller attended the event.

LGBT liaison officer Const. Danielle Bottineau was the Master of Ceremony.

Click here for source

We all have the potential to be victims of crime

News Release           

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Public safety alert, Potential sexual offender,

Break−and−enter increase

Broadcast time: 12:42, Thursday, June 28, 2012
22 Division:  416−808−2200

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an increase of break−and−enters in the area bordered by Eglinton Avenue West−The Queensway−Kipling Avenue−Royal York Road area.

It is reported that:
− on Thursday, June 28, 2012, just after 3 a.m., a man removed a mesh screen and entered a home on Fernalroy Boulevard through a living room window
− a 54−year−old woman was in her bedroom and heard the suspect in the home
− she called out to him thinking it was her daughter who was also home at the time
− the suspect pushed open the woman's bedroom door and grabbed the woman by the throat and pushed her onto the bed
− the woman struggled and ran out of the room to call police
− the suspect was seen getting into a waiting vehicle which drove south on Norsman Street

The suspect is described as white, 5'10", 150−169 lbs., , dark brown hair, wearing black pants, grey shirt, and wearing a black face mask.

The vehicle is described as a blue sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.

Constable Wendy Drummond, Corporate Communications, for Detective Bruno Miron, 22 Division

ID: 23874

Click for source

We all have the potential to be victims of crime. Each of us can REDUCE THE RISK of our homes/property being victimized by eliminating the opportunity.

Window security

·         Most windows can be pinned for security.

·         Drill a 3/16" hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame - place a nail/pin in the hole to secure the window

·         Sliding glass doors/windows can be lifted out of their tracks with relative ease.

·         Install self-tapping screws in the upper track that allow the door/window to slide into place

·         Place a piece of wood snugly into the bottom track - this will resist lateral forcing

Door security

·         Locks with key holes in the knob are NOT reliable - they can easily be forced

·         Doors should be mounted so hinge-bolts are not facing outwards

·         Install one-inch deadbolt locks on all exterior doors

·         Chain locks are poor security - install a wide angle viewer instead

·         Padlocks should be 'heel-and-toe' locking

·         If keys are lost or if you move, locks should be changed

Going on vacation

·         Inform a neighbour of your departure and return dates

·         Where possible, cancel all deliveries

·         Arrange to have the lawn cut and walkways cleared

·         Use clock timers to activate lights/radios at various intervals

·         Have a neighbour pick up newspapers and mail

·         Store small valuables in a safe deposit box

·         Ensure all entry points are secured, including mail chutes, milk chutes, garage doors and upstairs windows

·         DO NOT leave notes indicating you are not at home

Helpful hints

·         Keep a record of your valuables

·         Identify your property by engraving an identifying mark - proper identification makes it easier for the police to return personal property

·         When engraving, hold the engraver straight up NOT on a slant

·         The identification should be readily visible without marring the appearance of the item

·         Be a good neighbour and report any suspicious activity

If a crime has occurred

·         DO NOT enter - the criminal may still be inside

·         Use a neighbour's phone and call the police

·         DO NOT touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence

·         Note the licence number of any suspicious vehicle

·         Note the description of any suspicious person(s)

B-ball tourneys see kids, cops at play

A dozen teams from across the Greater Toronto Area took part in the annual South & West Asian youth basketball tournament at Humber College recently.

About 75 per cent of the nearly 95 participants in the tournament were newcomers in the competition that started a decade ago.

“I challenged the organizers to attract new and younger players because I realised that most of the players here last year were getting up there in age and I was made to understand that many of them had been participating in the competition for years,” said S/Supt. Richard Stubbings.

Community volunteer Jessy Singh took up the challenge, posting messages on Facebook and sending out e-mails to his contacts for new recruits.

“I also host a South Asian online radio show, so I used that vehicle to spread the word on my weekly program also,” said Singh.

“The majority of the players on hand today are here for the first time, so we have achieved our goal and I want to thank Mr. Stubbings for making the call.”

Zul Kassamali, co-chair of the South & West Asian Consultative Committee (SWACC), and Stubbings welcomed the participants.

Const. Johnny Bobbili of the Divisional Policing Support Unit (DPSU), helped organize the tournament that attracted several SWACC members.

“You are going to be our next police officers, teachers and social workers,” Stubbings said.

“So make the most of this positive experience you are being presented with today.”

In an earlier tournament, DPSU members attended the two-day Victoria Invitational Basketball tournament at Hoopdome.

Several senior officers attended the event that attracted nearly 2,000 young people of Asian heritage from Canada and the United States.

“I was extremely honoured to be part of such a well-attended community event that promotes healthy activities and brings the Service and notable dignitaries together with the Filipino community,” said A/S/Insp. Doug Quan, who is the 13 Division unit commander.

“The competition was intense and I applaud the efforts of the participants and organizers and volunteers in pulling off a successful event.”

Lynda Javier, the president of the Filipino Centre Toronto, is the tournament’s principal organizer.

She challenged parents to be role models for their children and stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

“She plays a pivotal role in making her community safe as she embodies the true qualities of a leader,” said DPSU S/Sgt. Ron Khan.

The highlight of the tournament was an exhibition game featuring a Filipino youth team and the Toronto Police Asia Pacific Consultative Committee side led by Const. Renato Valdez.

Click here for source

Mural paints positive image of community

Rodney Lai paints with PC Ryan Ladurantaye

A Toronto Police-led rugby team helped create a positive community space in the downtown east end recently.

Members of the Jarvis Collegiate Institute rugby team, which is coached by Toronto police officers, joined 51 Division officers and the community in creating a mural on a wall of the Calgie lane wall of the Central Neighbourhood House that was plagued by graffiti.

Const. Marty McLaughlin, one of the team’s coaches, said the kids were eager to make a difference in their neighbourhood.

“The kids were all for it,” said McLaughlin, of the team members who showed up early Saturday morning to take on the defaced 30-metre long wall.

The team, however, had the help of artists in their fold including Jarvis student Rodney Lai and Const. Ryan Ladurantaye in creating the mural, which features Spiderman.

Sony Pictures donated the supplies for the mural. The students were also joined by 51 Division officers and Jarvis teachers as well as Sony Pictures volunteers.

“A lot of people walk by this wall every day and the mural gives a better sense of safety than graffiti,” McLaughlin said.
“We feel that most taggers will respect the work that was done rather than just painting over the wall.”

McLaughlin said the dedicated group of painters and artists took a lot from the experience.

“They saw it as a positive way to help out their community,” he said, noting one of the players had been to daycare there as a child.

“He really took something directly from it because he was giving back to people who had helped raise him.”

Source:  http://goo.gl/DbD4E

51 Division CRU, Jarvis Collegiate & Sony Pictures Clean Up Graffiti

PC McLaughlin (organizer)  and PC Huntley

City of Toronto, Toronto Police Service, Jarvis Collegiate and Sony Pictures Releasing Canada come together to clean-up graffiti vandalism.  The City of Toronto, students of Jarvis Collegiate and officers from Toronto Police Service, 51 Division, will join forces with Sony Pictures Releasing Canada, in anticipation of the upcoming movie, "The Amazing Spider-Man", to remove graffiti vandalism from the Central Neighbourhood House on Saturday, June 23. The event will start at 11 a.m.

PC Petrie, PC Ladurantaye & volunteers from Jarvis Collegiate 

Sony Pictures Releasing Canada has donated cleaning materials and paint to assist the students, volunteers and City staff who will come together to celebrate the hero in all of us, as they give their time and energy to help the local community remove the graffiti vandalism from the Central Neighbourhood House. A special mural will also be installed on Saturday.

"Reducing graffiti vandalism is one way that we can improve the safety and overall look of our community," said Councillor Cesar Palacio (Ward 17 - Davenport), Chair of the City's Licensing and Standards Committee. "It's up to all of us to volunteer, get involved and be heroes in our neighbourhoods."



Founded in 1911, Central Neighbourhood House is the second oldest settlement house in Toronto. Since its establishment, the staff and volunteers at the Central Neighbourhood House have been working with local residents to provide programs for children and youth, new Canadians, families, women and seniors who live in the area. Central Neighbourhood House is located at 349 Ontario St.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" officially opens across Canada on July 3.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media contact: Steve Johnston, Senior Communications Coordinator, 416-392-4391, sjohnsto@toronto.ca

Police ride for hospice care

PC Bland and S/SBlackman S/Sgt. Chris Blackman and Const. Debbie Bland are avid cyclists who relish using their recreational passion to contribute to charity. They will get the opportunity to enjoy the health- and karma-boosting combination on June 24 when the Toronto Police makes its first appearance in the Healing Cycle Foundation fundraising bike ride in Mississauga. Nearly 60 Service members will take part in the eighth annual event organized by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) to support 10 city hospices. Bland has been riding recreationally for the past eight years. “I used to compete in triathlons, but a serious injury suffered after a car accident nine years ago while I was off duty has affected my ability to run competitively,” said the 10-year officer. “So I am now limited to riding and I really enjoy doing it for charitable events. I like to do events that allow me to combine riding and giving back to the community and charity.” Two uniformed officers from each of the Service’s 17 divisions will ride police bikes between 10 and 50 kilometres on behalf of a local hospice while members of Specialized Operations Command and the Toronto Police Amateur Athletic Association (TPAAA) bike team will ride for HPCO. Blackman will captain the 16-member TPAAA team in the Healing Cycle 160-km Gran Fondo race. “Cycling is a passion for me and to do that and also make a contribution to society means a lot to me,” he said. “In addition, we have an aging population and we will need palliative care – be it for ourselves, family members or friends – at some stage in our lives.” Last year, the Healing Cycle Foundation completed a $1 million pledge for Credit Valley Hospital’s palliative care unit. At a press conference on June 19 at Perram House Hospice to promote the event, HPCO executive director Rick Firth welcomed the Service’s participation. “A few months ago, I approached Chief William Blair with the idea and he fully supported the concept of his organization being part of this initiative,” said Firth. “Hospice in Ontario is still quite unknown and getting the word out and raising the profile are some of the reasons why we approached the police. It will be a great visual presence to have officers in uniforms on their Service bikes showing their support for hospice palliative care in this province.” Toronto Police is the first law enforcement agency to be affiliated with the fundraising ride that raised almost $500,000 last year. 51 Division CRU Supt. Mario Di Tommaso, the 14 Division unit commander, and 51 Division Insp. Gary Meissner attended the press conference. “Members of the Toronto Police Service are also family caregivers who recognize that at some point in their lives, they will likely be caring for suffering loved ones who will be in need of hospice palliative care,” Di Tommaso said. “It was these very services that my family and I relied on during the end-of-life phase of my mother’s final unsuccessful battle with cancer. This support and these services are vitally important to the community that the Toronto Police serves.” The Bike Ride starts and ends at GlaxoSmithKline, 7333 Mississauga Rd. Riders have the option of taking part in 10, 25, 50, 100 and 160-kilometre rides that will be professionally timed. To donate to the TPAAA team, click here.

Crime mapping tool recognized

A system designed by Sex Crimes Unit analyst D/Const. Manny San Pedro to monitor sex crimes and offender tracking has won a Pitney Bowes Software People’s Choice Meridian Award. Four years ago, Pitney Bowes developed and implemented a suite of spatial products for the Service, including a web-based mapping application using Korem’s Push ‘n’ See and MapInfo MapXtreme, as a portal to access geocoded data and perform practical crime mapping functionality. The Crime Mapping and Analysis Portal has been used in crime analysis across the Service’s 17 divisions. With this system, the Sex Crimes Unit was able to monitor sex offence incidents and arrests across the city on a daily basis. There were separate database systems that managed these records and as a result members of the unit would run routine searches daily from the various systems to monitor these activities. “When I was redesigning the Sex Crimes Unit intranet website just before the New Year, I decided to incorporate interactive crime mapping for sex offenders and sex offences,” said San Pedro, who has been an officer for the past 24 years. “On the site, you can see where reported sex assaults and potential sex offenders are over a three-week period. It makes it easy to pick out where things are happening and this is very useful for officers, especially those in the field. Frontline members are able to access this portal by way of their mobile workstation in their police vehicles and investigators are able to create their own views of specific areas of the city allowing them to regularly monitor incidents and potential sex offenders.” In addition, officers can share information with other agencies across the province of out of-town offenders arrested and charged in Toronto. The Meridian Awards honour the most innovative applications of Pitney Bowes and Portrait Software solutions and technology. The awards were presented on June 14 at the Insights 12 User conference in New Orleans.  As a result of a Social Media campaign the Crime Mapping portal won in the People’s Choice category garnering over 1,300 5,000 votes as the best favourite software tool. “Each year, we recognize outstanding companies for their innovative and creative use of Pitney Bowes Software technologies and each year the challenge of picking the best becomes more of a challenge for us,” said the organization’s president John O’Hara. “It’s such a pleasure to see some of the amazing ways that companies are using our software to build strong and long-lasting relationships with their customers.”

Community policing initiative Project Post starts Friday, June 15, 2012

51 Division Community BBQ

News Release     

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Media advisory, Saturday, June 16, 2012, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., 51 Division Community BBQ, Oak Street near the North Regent Park rinks

Friday, June 15, 2012 - 8:10 AM
51 Division: 416-808-5100

On Saturday, June 16, 2012, between 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., the 51 Division Community BBQ will be held by the North Regent Park rink.

This community event will include hot dogs, a bicycle rodeo and lots of other activities for kids.

The event will be held on Oak Street near the North Regent Park rink. All are welcome to attend.

Constable Wendy Drummond, Corporate Communications, for Detective Matt Moyer, 51 Division

Online Game Teaches Internet Safety to Children

What is ‘Zoe and Molly Online’ all about?

The Zoe and Molly Online website is operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. Our goal is to reduce child victimization by providing programs and services to Canadians.

The Zoe and Molly Online Grade 4 comic book is based on a true case submitted to Cybertip.ca - Canada’s national tipline to report the online sexual exploitation of children. It tells the story of a young girl who is being manipulated by an individual she meets online while playing a game. This person asks her to send increasingly personal information and pictures, leaving Zoe and Molly unsure how to respond. It reinforces the safety strategy ‘If asked to share and your parents aren’t aware, say no!’ The newly released Grade 3 comic book - Zoe and Molly Online – Caught in the Net – focuses on a different safety message. It tells the story of young girls Zoe and Molly who are playing online games when they accidently come across inappropriate online content. It teaches children what to do when they find themselves in this uncomfortable situation.

All of the activities have been designed to help parents and educators teach kids how to stay safe while playing games online and to help educate kids about the risks associated with sharing their personal information and sending pictures online. The program includes lesson plans for Grades 3 and 4 teachers, as well as several additional components for the Grade 4 teachers including an online storybook and interactive activities, as well as take-home activities for children to complete with their parents/guardians.

http://www.zoeandmolly.ca/app/en/zoe_molly_intro

Don't forget this weekend is the Regent Park Community Barbecue

June 16, 2012:  Regent Park Community Barbecue 

Who:        Everyone!

Where:    North Regent Ice Rink and Basketball Court on Oak Street

When:     Saturday June 16, 11am - 2pm
Why:        Free Hot Dogs, drinks, bike rodeo, prizes, bouncy castle and more!

Communications Services PSA campaign, Proper use of 9-1-1

Proper use of 9-1-1: 
Remember the joys of fatherhood, and who is waiting at home for you
Broadcast time: 13:30, Monday, June 11, 2012
Communications Services: 416-808-8800

The Toronto Police Service is launching its sixth of 12 PSA campaign videos promoting the proper use of the 9-1-1 emergency system. This month's focus is on calling 9-1-1 to report suspected impaired drivers. Remember the joys of fatherhood, and who is waiting at home for you. Happy Father's Day.



Impaired driving is the #1 cause of criminal death in Canada, yet every impaired driving crash is preventable. By calling 9-1-1 and reporting suspected impaired drivers to police, all Canadians can play a role in keeping our roads safe and reducing impaired driving crashes, deaths and injuries. This message is delivered by MADD Canada and supported by the Ontario Associations of Chiefs of Police.

In 2011, over 5,200 calls were made to 9-1-1 to report a suspected impaired driver, and over 4,200 people have been charged with Criminal Code driving offences, which include Driving While Impaired and Over 80mg, in 2011.

"Using 9-1-1 is an effective way to report emergency situations to police. Impaired drivers pose a significant risk to public safety and certainly are emergencies. Do not put yourself in danger; call 9-1-1 and provide the information to our call-takers. Everyone can assist in keeping our roads safe and reducing impaired driving collisions, injuries and deaths," said Superintendent Elizabeth Byrnes, Unit Commander of Communications Services.

What do I do if I suspect someone is driving impaired?
1. Call 9-1-1
2. Advise the call-taker why you are calling and provide the call-taker with the requested information that might include:
     - vehicle description
     - licence plate of vehicle
     - colour of vehicle
     - make and model of vehicle
     - direction of travel for the vehicle
     - description of driver
3. What makes you think the driver is impaired?
4. Are you following the vehicle?

The call-taker will advise any caller who is following an impaired driver to stop following the vehicle. The Toronto Police Service does NOT encourage citizens to follow or pursue vehicles or persons under any circumstance.

Click here to view previous 9-1-1 PSA videos.

Constable Wendy Drummond, Corporate Communications, for Superintendent Elizabeth Byrnes, Communications Services

http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/pdfs/23725.pdf

Sexual Assault Alert, Church Street/Carlton Street area, Man wanted

Toronto Police Service News Release

Monday, June 11, 2012 - 8:17 AM
51 Division:  416-808-7474

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of a sexual assault and robbery that occurred on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

It is reported that:
- a man approached a 20-year-old woman walking in the Church Street/Carlton Street area
- the man grabbed the woman from behind, pushed her against a wall, put a knife to her neck, sexually assaulted her, and robbed her of a quantity of money

He is described as a white, 25-30, 5'9", brown curly hair, beard, with acne complexion, dark eyes, yellow/slightly crooked teeth. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.

Constable Wendy Drummond, Corporate Communications, for Detective Constable Teresa Curtis, Sex Crimes Unit

Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal Campaign

News Release                                       

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Serious Pedestrian Collision, Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal campaign continues

Friday, June 8, 2012 - 2:25 PM
Traffic Services: 416-808-1900

On Friday June 8, 2012, at 8:38 a.m., police received a call for a pedestrian struck collision at Yonge Street south of Davisville Ave.

It is reported:

• a 27-year-old man was crossing Yonge Street from the east side to the west side mid-block
• a 36-year-old man was driving a BMW 323 sedan northbound in the in the passing lane and struck the man, the man was thrown into the curb lane
• a 51-year-old man was driving a KIA Soul northbound in the in the curb lane and struck the man, after he was struck by the BMW
• the 27-year-old man was transported to hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries

Today, the Toronto Police Service launched the second of three Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos "Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal."

Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects all Torontonians. Walking is great exercise as well as a convenient and effective way to explore our city. We are all pedestrians at some time of day.

However, walking in the city of Toronto sometimes comes with a terrible cost.
Each year in Toronto, many pedestrians are injured and killed on our roadways. In 2011, a total of 2,101 pedestrians were struck, 18 of them fatally. In nearly half these cases, the pedestrian was at fault – not the driver of the vehicle. Tragically, many of these collisions were avoidable. In a world where we are bombarded daily with information from electronic signage and personal communication devices, it is easy to overlook devices that are designed to keep us safe while walking: crosswalks, traffic lights, pedestrian signals, and posted signs.

The Toronto Police Service is concerned about the increasing level of pedestrian distraction, and dangerous pedestrian behaviours that can result in serious injury and death. The Service would like to remind the public to exercise caution, and remain alert at all times, while walking on sidewalks and roadways and especially while crossing the street.

The Toronto Police Service has created a pedestrian safety awareness campaign, which will run during the month of June 2012, entitled “Heads Up! Distraction Can Be Fatal.” The campaign consists of three PSA videos, produced by the Toronto Police Service Video Services Unit, which will be posted on the Toronto Police Service YouTube page combined with a social media messaging campaign throughout June. The PSA videos demonstrate various types of dangerous pedestrian behaviour, as well as corrective information provided by uniformed officers of the Toronto Police Service.

The campaign seeks to:

• increase public awareness of the issue of distraction, inattention, and poor decision-making by some pedestrians
• raise awareness of the dangerous and often fatal consequences of risky behaviours
• encourage better communication and understanding between pedestrians and drivers
• reduce incidents of pedestrian injuries and fatalities

For further information, please contact Constable Clinton Stibbe 416-808-1920

Constable Tony Vella, Corporate Communications, for Constable Clinton Stibbe, Traffic Services