Latest news with #TorontoPoliceAssociation
Toronto Star
13-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Man arrested in TTC bus crash that injured 9 last year now facing charges in string of GTA home invasions, police say
The man accused of crashing a stolen vehicle into a TTC bus last autumn is now facing charges related to a string of 'violent' home invasions that occurred days before the collision. Toronto police responded to a collision between a white, stolen BMW X6 and the transit bus near Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue shortly before 2 a.m. on Nov. 18. A total of nine people were sent to hospital, with two suffering life-threatening injuries. WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO Video captures moment of impact as stolen BMW hits TTC bus, injuring five people Estella Ren, Andy Takagi Several days before, on Nov. 13, five people with their faces covered went to a home in Mississauga near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road around 2:40 a.m., police said. They allegedly broke into the home through the front door, stole the victim's vehicle keys and drove off in their vehicle. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Later that morning around 3:45 a.m., the thieves allegedly broke into another home near Countryside Drive and Goreway Drive in Brampton. With their faces still covered, they allegedly stole several items from the home while the victims were asleep. Man in stolen BMW involved in TTC bus crash has history of car theft Approximately two hours later around 6 a.m., the home invaders broke into a home near Major William Sharpe Drive and Flowertown Avenue in Brampton through the front door, police continued. They confronted the victims on the home's second floor and allegedly demanded their vehicle keys at gunpoint before fleeing in the victim's vehicle, Peel police wrote in a media release. A 32-year-old man from Pickering has been charged with nine criminal offences related to the break-and-enters while he was already in custody in connection to the TTC bus collision. He was one of four people charged following the crash, including two 19-year-olds and a 33-year-old. In a post on X following the crash, the Toronto Police Association said that two of the four people in the stolen BMW were on bail at the time of the crash, including one for a violent robbery. News Fourth suspect arrested in connection to carjacking and stolen BMW that crashed into TTC bus Anastasia Blosser Security footage released by Qunubu Cannabis, a business in the area, showed the dramatic moment of impact in the early hours of Nov. 18 that caused the TTC bus to careen 180 degrees after it was hit while passing through the intersection, slamming its rear end into a guardrail. Heavy smoke could be seen rising from the rear of the car after the collision. Photos taken at the scene show the BMW destroyed from the impact — including a totalled hood, damaged rear and all four doors torn off — while the bus appeared severely damaged before it was towed away. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The BMW was allegedly stolen at gunpoint on Nov. 1 near Sandalwood Parkway East and Conestoga Drive. A stolen BMW was totalled and two people were sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a crash with a TTC bus early Monday morning. The crash occurred near Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue around 1:50 a.m. Read the full story: Investigators said a victim was travelling in their white BMW X6 when a black sedan cut them off. Two people, including one with a handgun, got out of the sedan and approached the victim demanding they hand over the vehicle, police said. The two then drove off in the BMW X6 with the black sedan travelling in tandem. On the same day as the three break-and-enters, the stolen BMW was driven to a home near Bathurst Street and Brooke Avenue where five people got out of the car and used a rock to smash the front glass door. Police said they were unable to enter the home because the door was reinforced with security film. The stolen BMW sustained substantial damage as a result of the collision. Michelle Mengsu Chang/ Toronto Star About half an hour later, police responded to another break-in at a residence near Bayview Avenue and York Mills. The five suspects allegedly forced open the front door, entered the home and took some personal items before fleeing the area in the same BMW X6. The man from Pickering was subject to a judicial release order related to similar criminal offences. He was held for a bail hearing and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, where he was remanded into custody pending a future bail hearing. Peel police said the investigation is ongoing and they anticipate more charges will be laid. With files from Andy Takagi and Estella Ren
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WARMINGTON: Current, former cops say it's time to get serious about fighting crime
As a cop, Ron Chhinzer was known for stopping crimes before they happened. This is why he decided to run for politics. He started his career in intelligence, which offered an opportunity to intercept a plan before it happened and to try to protect his community. He was good at it and won awards, including Toronto Police officer of the month in 2014. From guns and gangs to community policing, Chhinzer did an amazing job for two decades with the Peel Region and Toronto services before also going into private business. Born as Randeep but known by everybody as Ron, he has continually said that his goal is to make Canada safe again. WARMINGTON: Man fatally shot by cops for pointing a gun had done this before WARMINGTON: Exclusive video shows Toronto cops had to shoot 16-year-old who was shooting at them Chhinzer, who is the Conservative candidate for Oakville East, said one of the biggest problems during this campaign was no one was talking about crime as the mayhem was raging all around. Of course, he is right about that. 'If you're a Canadian who's been a victim of a crime and can't figure out why dangerous repeat offenders keep walking free,' he said, 'know that in the English Liberal leadership debate they never even mentioned crime.' Head-in-the-sand approaches don't stop crime. 'In places like Oakville and all over, regular people — families, workers — are getting victimized by organized crime, auto theft, carjackings and home break-ins so violent you're staring down a gun,' Chhinzer said in an online forum on violent crime, adding 'victims matter' and the public deserves better. Now is the chance to make things better. Now that the votes are in, the time is here to get serious about mental health, drugs and guns in the street. No more excuses. No more sugar-coating it. It's a national emergency and it needs a national solution. Cities and towns are losing this war. And people are dying. With the election out of the way, there should be no delaying people rolling up their sleeves and getting to work on this. Don't wait for any more mass slayings or foiled ones, whether it be death by car, stray bullets or overdoses. 'When will we see change?' said Toronto Police Association president Clayton Campbell, who has been ringing the bell on this issue for the last year. The change has to come immediately. Canada deserves better than the country to slip into looking like a zombie apocalypse. The public is counting on the next prime minister and cabinet to make public safety and family affordability priorities of this new government. And it must be done before anything else is accomplished. If there is any lesson to be learned from the car attack in Vancouver that left at least 11 people dead and dozens injured, it is that police and health professionals had more than 100 interactions with the accused, Kai-ji Adam Lo, before he was charged with eight counts of murders and more expected to come. The question is: How was this guy released into the public with such an extensive history of mental illness calls involving authorities? Why are violent people so easily released? And why do politicians dump all of this onto constables policing the streets? Officers are asking this question, too. 'Like everyone impacted by this tragedy, they, too, will be changed forever by what they saw and experienced that day,' said Campbell. 'It is incredibly frustrating to see so many lives affected.' But there has to be lessons learned. 'Mental health does not equal violence,' said Campbell. 'And yet innocent lives are lost and police are left to pick up the pieces.' Peel Regional Police Association president Adrian Woolley agreed. 'I have to call out the (previous) Liberal government's continued failure to take crime and mental-health issues seriously,' said Woolley. 'Saturday's tragic events in Vancouver and a shooting at Pearson Terminal 1 only six days ago are stark reminders of what happens when leaders prioritize politics over public safety. 'Communities across Canada are being left vulnerable, while frontline officers face growing threats every day.' Both police association leaders, who went into those roles for the same reasons Chhinzer did, have had to endure the trauma of each having two officers fire their weapon at an assailant who pulled a gun on them last week. Things are not safe in Canada for officers or the public. In both cases, the young men who pulled a gun on officers were shot and killed. In North York, Toronto Police officers fired on what turned out to be a 16-year-old boy, who video shows produced a gun and fired it. At Pearson airport, Peel cops were faced with a 30-year-old man, Daniel Dolan, who sources said was being dropped off at the airport by his sister and her boyfriend to travel to Yukon to stay with a friend when a disagreement ensued. Despite de-escalation tactics used by security and police, he allegedly produced a gun and was shot. Whatever the reason, it's tragic, unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately with the newly elected government. 'The next government will take the bold steps necessary to protect public safety, protect those with mental-health issues and protect those who protect others,' said Campbell. 'The incident in Vancouver is just devastating and our thoughts go out to the victims and their families. We also want to send our support to the police members and other first responders.' Woolley added that 'it's time for real action and change, not empty promises.' They say that time is now. Will the newly elected members of Parliament listen?
CBC
26-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Toronto police service board ratifies 5-year agreement with union
The Toronto Police Service Board and its union have ratified a five-year collective agreement following weeks of bargaining. In a news release, the board said it voted unanimously to ratify the agreement with the Toronto Police Association (TPA) at a special board meeting on Friday. The TPA represents about 8,000 uniform and civilian members of the Toronto Police Service. "This agreement is not just about terms and conditions — it's about recognizing the critical and extraordinary work our Service Members do each and every day, and supporting them in a strategic way that builds strength and stability for the future," board chair Shelley Carroll said in the release. The release said the agreement complements the multi-year hiring plan that was approved by the board in December 2024. That plan, according to the release, focuses on "enhancing organizational stability, improving response times, and expanding key initiatives like the innovative Neighbourhood Community Officer Program." The agreement includes measures to improve both recruitment and retention, ensuring that the police service continues to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves, the release said. "This agreement reflects our Board's continued commitment to implementing common-sense reforms, while also making significant investments to attract and retain the best and brightest Members to keep Torontonians safe," Carroll said. In a post on X on Friday, Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw congratulated the board and union for reaching and ratifying the agreement. "The new agreements and our multi-year hiring plan offer stability and will help us deliver adequate and effective police services to meet the unique challenges and opportunities of serving the city of Toronto," Demkiw said in the post.
Toronto Sun
25-04-2025
- Toronto Sun
HUNTER: Toronto Police Association wants politicians to keep 'violent idiots' in prison
Get the latest from Brad Hunter straight to your inbox Investigators gather evidence the morning after two males were gunned down near Bain and Logan Aves., in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun How are things going for the cops? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On Sunday, Toronto officers shot a 16-year-old boy after he pulled a gun and began shooting during a routine traffic stop in North York. The kid died in hospital Tuesday. More? On Thursday, two Peel Regional Police officers fired their guns at an armed man with a history of violence and a weapons ban at busy Toronto Pearson International Airport. It started over a parking disagreement. Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell. Photo by Supplied When cops arrived, the man allegedly pulled a handgun. He was dead at the scene from a police bullet. For cops, these disturbing and potentially life-threatening incidents have sadly become daily occurrences. Toronto Police Association president Clayton Campbell told the Toronto Sun his members are witnessing the daily death spiral of social order and criminality. It is the same sad story: Guns, lax sentencing, parole and bail. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney. Photo by Bryan Passifiume / Greg Southam / Postmedia Network 'We arrest the same people over and over again for violent offences,' Campbell told the Sun . 'They're getting second and third chances when they get out on bail. That's crazy.' The past decade has been a haze of criminality in Canada, and no one knows this better than cops. Violent crime is up 15%, gun crime is up 116%, and extortion and auto theft are up 357% and 46%. Campbell said the TPA sent questionnaires to the Liberals and Conservatives with a quartet of questions. Both wrote back. One of two handguns seized followed an attempted Toronto robbery on April 5. Photo by Toronto Police 'The Liberals do have some good things in there, but the Conservatives were supportive of us long before the election,' he said. 'The Liberals do want to get tougher on repeat offenders.' The TPA wants to see the former Trudeau government's widely criticized Bill C-75 repealed. Among the catch -and-release law's most controversial elements was giving bail to repeat offenders at all costs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That has led to countless violent crimes committed by killers out on bail. The law demanded that the courts focus on release instead of detention. Toronto Sun front page for Wednesday, June 22, 1994. `HE SERVED US WELL.' Conast. Todd Baylis 1969-1994. 'The Conservatives have said they want to repeal this,' Campbell said, adding that holding sureties to account is another focus cops like. A surety puts up money, or collateral in cash, homes or cars, allowing criminals to bail out. But Campbell said in the event of a breach, the court never collects. No consequences. Ever. The Tories were more specific on the criminal justice file, the Liberals more general, Campbell added. 'The Liberals have said they want a crackdown on gun violence, but they're targeting lawful gun owners,' the TPA boss said. 'We know that 85% of the 700 guns we seized last year came from the U.S., and the only reason it wasn't higher was because we couldn't trace the other 15%.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. YOU AGAIN: Schoolgirl killer Paul Bernardo, right. Photo by Files / TORONTO SUN The TPA are also tired of the families of fallen members enduring the horror of facing cop killers in pointless parole hearings, year after year. 'We also advocate for the families of members killed in the line of duty, like Michael Sweet and Todd Baylis, when there is yet another parole hearing,' he said, adding that the TPA lawyer is Tim Danson, who also represents the families of serial killer Paul Bernardo's victims. 'Why should these people have to face Bernardo every year? That's ridiculous.' Read More Campbell added that the TPA also wants to see anyone convicted of a crime who isn't a Canadian citizen get the boot. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But he noted that it is a small number of violent criminals committing the majority of crimes. Non-violent first-timers should be given a break. The hardcore? Not so much. 'Almost everyone we arrest is failing to comply with their bail or parole conditions. The most violent need to be kept away from the public. 'People should be able to go about their daily lives without fear. We can do that by keeping the real bad guys in prison. That's a simple solution. Keep violent offenders in prison. 'Illegal firearm? Prison. It's just simple changes that will keep these violent idiots in custody. Serial killers and cop killers should never see the light of day.' bhunter@ On X: @HunterTOSun RECOMMENDED VIDEO Ontario Canada Federal Elections Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs
Japan Today
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Carney takes election campaign to British Columbia battleground
By Promit Mukherjee and Rod Nickel Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, riding high in polls, looked for support on Wednesday in British Columbia, one of a few fiercely competitive areas that will help determine the outcome of Monday's national election. Carney's Liberals are leading in the most populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec, after running a campaign focused on countering U.S. President Donald Trump, while the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, dominate the Prairie provinces. British Columbia's 43 electoral districts, on the other hand, are among the country's most closely contested battlegrounds. "B.C. is important in a way that's kind of similar to the 905, in Ontario, and it's no accident that the leaders are spending time out here this week," said Richard Johnston, a retired political science professor at University of British Columbia. The 905 refers to the greater Toronto area. Johnston added that the larger number of districts in Ontario and Quebec makes those provinces the most critical to winning the election. B.C.'s Lower Mainland and parts of the two larger provinces could determine whether Carney wins a majority government or one that relies on other parties to govern, said Johnston, who doubts the Conservatives' chances of winning. "I'm asking you to vote with me for positive reasons, regardless of which party you voted for in the past," Carney told a crowd in Victoria, a part of B.C. where the New Democrats have traditionally been strongest. The Conservatives' tough on crime message appeals to some in British Columbia, which saw rising voter concerns about crime and public safety in last year's provincial election, including the province's pilot project to allow open use of some illegal drugs. Poilievre was in southern Ontario on Wednesday, where he thanked the Toronto Police Association for its endorsement and announced a plan to dismantle tent cities. A rolling three-day Nanos poll released on Tuesday put the Liberals at 44.1% public support nationally, with the Conservatives at 38.5%. The left-leaning New Democrats trailed at 7.7%. If repeated on election day, the Liberals would cap a dramatic comeback and secure a majority of the House of Commons' 343 seats. The Nanos poll of 1,313 people was carried out from April 20 to 22 and is considered accurate to within 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The poll placed the Liberals and Conservatives even in B.C. support. The decline of support for the third-place NDP could benefit both the Conservatives where they are competitive, such as on Vancouver Island, and the Liberals, in Vancouver's eastern and southeastern suburbs, Johnston said. "What's interesting about B.C. is that it's the most difficult province to understand in terms of the polls, of how we've converged on sort of a statistical tie between the Conservatives and Liberals," said Sanjay Jeram, senior lecturer in political science at Simon Fraser University. "We also see a lot of toss-up ridings." British Columbians, like Canadians broadly, have focused on worries about Trump's tariffs and threats of annexation, Jeram said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
