Toronto to Increase Police Presence on Transit System Following Spike in Violence

Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave., in Toronto on Jan. 24, 2023 after a stabbing incident. The president of a Canadian transit union wants to convene a national task force as violent attacks on public transit reach what he calls "crisis levels." The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

Torontonians will see an increase in police presence as well as added social workers in and around the Toronto transit system, as officials address the recent spike in violence targeting passengers and employees.

Effective Jan. 26, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) will have upwards of 80 additional police officers in place throughout the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system every day, TPS Chief Myron Demkiw said today in a press conference.

“These deployments will focus on reducing victimization, preventing crimes of opportunity, and enhancing public safety," Demkiw said.

“Our officers will be on, in, and around the transit system—across the city, throughout the day, and late into the evening—each and every day,” he added. 

“Those who ride the transit will immediately notice an increased presence of Toronto police officers in the subways, on streetcars, and buses.”

Demkiw said this deployment will be done primarily through a significant number of callback shifts, which are shifts filled by off-duty officers in an overtime capacity.

“We are doing this so that on-duty, frontline officers remain available to respond to priority calls,” he said.

In addition to the increased police presence, the TTC will also add special constables to bolster security, said TTC CEO Rick Leary.

Leary said officials do not know what is behind the uptick in violence but the root causes are “complex” and require a “coordinated approach.” He noted there will be additional hiring of Streets to Homes workers in certain locations to provide more support to homeless people.

Other security improvements include the addition of security cameras and the deployment of more uniformed employees and supervisors, he added.

Spate of Violence

The announcement comes after a string of violent incidents, including several stabbings, were reported involving the TTC system in recent weeks.

On the morning of Jan. 26, Toronto police announced an investigation into a case in which several teenagers reportedly shot passengers with a replica BB gun near the York University subway station in downtown Toronto. Police said they have arrested two 15-year-old boys, one 15-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy.

A day earlier, a 16-year-old boy was seriously injured in a stabbing on a TTC bus near the Old Mill trail and Bloor Street West area, marking the latest in several stabbing incidents on the transit system. The police said in a statement that the suspect is around 20 years old, and was wearing a blue mask and black jacket with the hood up.

On the same day, TPS said they have arrested a 43-year-old suspect, Leah Valdez, who reportedly stabbed a woman aboard a southbound TTC streetcar near the Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue area on Jan. 24. The woman is facing several charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault, among others.

Police are also asking for public assistance in the search for a male suspect involved in a robbery at the Broadview subway station. The man, who is described as between 40 and 50 years old, 5' 6” tall, with short dark hair, reportedly grabbed a female victim’s purse as she entered the station, causing her to fall down the stairs, police said in a press release on Jan. 25.

In some cases, TTC employees were subjected to attacks.

On the morning of Jan. 25, TPS announced an investigation into an incident where a suspect allegedly chased two TTC employees with a syringe near Yonge Street and Dundas Street in downtown Toronto. The workers managed to get away unharmed. Police said the suspect has been arrested.

On Jan. 23, three uniformed TTC employees were allegedly attacked by a group of youths on a bus near Kennedy Road and Merrian Road in Scarborough, northeast of Toronto. Police said in a statement that they are searching for about 15 youths involved in the case.

Mayor Responds

Toronto Mayor John Tory told reporters on Jan. 26 that he has been speaking with Amalgamated Transit Union Canada President John Di Nino, who has called for a national transit task force to tackle the issue of rising violence on public transit systems.

“The bottom line for all of us is clear: the TTC must be safe for everyone, without exception, to the people who use it and the people who provide the service each and every day,” Tory said.

In a press conference on Jan. 25, Di Nino noted that there have been about 3,000 attacks on transit operators⁠ annually across the country. That doesn’t include attacks on riders or attacks that go unreported.

In response to the violence, Tory called for a summit that would see mayors, ministers, premiers and the prime minister discuss how better to support people living with mental health and addiction challenges.

ATU Local 113, the union local that represents 12,000 transit workers across Toronto, sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan. 26, asking for federal assistance and that resources be allocated to the issues of mental health and homelessness.

“We are at a breaking point. We’re in a situation where we have members saying they are in fear,” said Marvin Alfred, Local 113 president.

“We have Torontonians saying they are looking at options other than the TTC, which increases costs and emissions, versus taking public transit because they are too scared.”

The TTC’s latest CEO report from earlier this month shows reports of violence against customers spiked in early 2020 and has ebbed and flowed since then —but has not dropped back down to pre-pandemic levels.

The report also shows offences against employees have risen since 2017, peaking in the spring of last year.