‘No racial profiling’ – Toronto police

‘No racial profiling’ – Toronto police

The recent spike in gun-related slayings happening in the city of Toronto are part of an alarming trend that police say is related to drugs and gang retaliation. According to police records there are 59 homicides this year, 41 are gun related incidents.

“Most of the problems we are having when it comes to shooting are related to gang activity – around drugs and territory. Each of these gangs wants to have his own territory,” explained Roy Pilkington, Superintendent No 32 Division in Toronto during an interview about the gun slayings that has plagued the city this summer.

While some police officers have believed that the recent shootings are retaliatory and are part of gang wars, concerned citizens also believe that the street violence stemmed from other problems including poverty, unemployment and family issues.

For Norberto Daan who works as a Medical Radiation Technologist in Parliament Street, he has remained steadfast on his cultural values in pursuing strict disciplinary measures to his 6 children. “I always advice my children not to get involved with gangs,” Daan said.

Commenting on the crimes that are perpetrated by these notorious youths, Daan added, “Kulang sa disciplina lang ang mga ‘yan (they just lack discipline).”

With so many gunmen walking in the streets, the Filipino community is also anxious of their safety. Bobby Sanchez, a medical lab assistant takes precautions on her transport means. “I avoid riding a bus at night. I prefer to ride a TTC train”

Concerned parents like Delia Agra provide a cellphone to her two children and remains adamant to give them a curfew and a ‘no sleepover” policy.

Several measures are already undertaken to combat these crimes including hiring more new police officers and redeploying officers into troubled neighborhoods.

Pilkington further added, “Yes, we have a gang unit, software programs that we use while working with our crime analyst bureau to determine who the gang members are, their relationships with each other and to help us show how to combat the gang activity.

We have held numerous meetings with community leaders, politicians in the area so we can work together to resolve the issue.”

The Toronto police are also reaching out to the community through sports and community events. One of them is their recent participation during the Philippine Chamber of Commerce trade show held in Toronto. Filipino Canadian SGT Willie Isip of the Toronto Auxilliary Police was there to supervise their booth. He said, “We have been invited to bring some crime prevention information to the community. We always come and do presentation of crime prevention and whatever info we can give to the public.”
Some measures to combat the crime in Toronto are appreciated by the community while other suggested measures angered certain groups. Michael Thompson, Toronto’s only black councilor made a controversial call to target young black men for random police checks.

Referred as a desperate measure, it has reminded Canadians of what is believed as a controversial issue: racial profiling

Pilkington has been quick to clarify the issue. “ We do not stand for any racial profiling whatsoever in the Toronto Police service,” he explained. “When it comes to my attention that certain police officers are discriminating based solely on color of skin, I deal with it decisively. There’s a zero tolerance of racial profiling in the Toronto police service.”

Fil-Can police officer Jose Camacho believes that racial profiling is unacceptable in their policy. “I’ll be lying if I’d say there isn’t any. Is it prevalent? NO. Our chief and our senior officers do their best in training officers on diversity and human rights.”

Camacho reiterated that the police officers pride itself in making sure that they have been trained properly in dealing with a multicultural society.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Police have intensified their efforts in pursuing criminals. Camacho further added that in dealing with these on going crimes, they simply have to be vigilant and learn how to communicate with the public effectively.