Let’s have police patrol TTC system
Re Clear the air on beating, Editorial April 3 There now appears to be no question the TTC subway system needs patrolling by Toronto Police Service uniformed officers rather than TTC security guards (special constables). The Union Station incident video shows the interaction between TTC security and two suspected fare jumpers went way out of control.
This occurrence would have been handled better by trained uniformed police. It is not difficult to have police patrols in the subway system, and cost would be minimal. Two uniformed police officers from the on-duty divisional station platoon could be assigned subway foot patrol covering only the subway line and stops in their divisional area.
This would result in ample coverage throughout the system as the TTC subway travels through many police divisions thereby presenting a healthy uniform presence along the entire subway system. Above-ground TTC routes would continue being covered by regular uniformed patrols.
Last spring, the previous TTC board, headed by chair Karen Stintz, lobbied hard to the Toronto Police Services Board to reinstate the special constable designation to TTC security personnel, which had been lifted by Toronto police Chief Bill Blair following several negative public interactions.
The TTC gave assurances their security force would have better training, control and oversight of the conduct of their officers toward the public. Well it didn’t work at Union Station in January and not as presented in another recently released video showing these same two TTC officers taking down an accused fare jumper.
The people riding the TTC deserve quality security service and would have far more respect for police officers patrolling the system. They don’t need glorified, inferior-trained and confrontational security guards.
TTC chair Josh Colle and the present board should get to work with Toronto police and make it happen. W. Chambers, Toronto Police Service pensioner, Markham