NCJ Number
66407
Journal
Police Marksman Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 4-7
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF THE TORONTO POLICE FORCE IS BRIEFLY TRACED SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS IN 1834, AND ITS CURRENT EFFECTIVENESS IS ATTRIBUTED TO GUN CONTROL, LACK OF SLUMS, A COMPUTERIZED RADIO DISPATCH SYSTEM, AND THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE.
Abstract
WHEN TORONTO OFFICIALLY BECAME A CITY IN 1834, A POLICE FORCE WAS ORGANIZED CONSISTING OF 5 FULL-TIME CONSTABLES AND 14 RESERVE SPECIAL CONSTABLES. IN 1859, CONTROL OVER THE POLICE COMPLEMENT OF 60 FULL-TIME OFFICERS WAS GIVEN TO A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. THE PRESENT METROPOLITAN TORONTO POLICE FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1957. IT REPRESENTS OVER 2 1/2 MILLION PEOPLE, HAS JURIDICTION OVER AN AREA OF 243 SQUARE MILES, NUMBERS OVER 6,600, AND IS ASSIGNED TO 5 MAJOR DISTRICTS. THE SUCCESS OF THE POLICE FORCE IS WELL ESTABLISHED. THE POLICE FORCE SOLVES AN AVERAGE OF 90 PERCENT OF THE HOMICIDES COMMITTED. IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH IT IS LARGER THAN THE POLICE FORCE OF MONTREAL BY OVER 300 AND SOLVES AN AVERAGE OF 20 PERCENT MORE CRIMES, THE METRO TORONTO FORCE COSTS $6 MILLION LESS TO OPERATE. AT LEAST SOME OF THE REASONS BEHIND THE FORCE'S EFFECTIVENESS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO STRICT GUN REGISTRATION LAWS, HOUSING SUBSIDIES WHICH PREVENT SLUM FORMATION, THE FLEXIBLE COMPUTER RADIO DISPATCH SYSTEM, AND THE ATTITUDE OF THE TORONTO PUBLIC WHO SEE THE POLICE AS DEDICATED AND HONEST PROFESSIONALS.