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Follow us!Guest Blog: Drifting police service needs renewed direction from next mayor
- Posted on: March 23, 2010
- Submitted by: votetoronto2010 staff
By David Soknacki
Is there a problem with policing in Toronto?
Most residents would likely say no. Crime rates are dropping. Evidence of major corruption seems to be behind us. New initiatives are reducing violence in at-risk areas. Residents tell pollsters that they feel safer, and are more satisfied with Toronto’s police services, than at any time over the past decade.
These results are even more remarkable when compared to other Canadian cities. One only needs to look at the riot sparked by a fatal shooting by police in Montreal, Vancouver’s troubled downtown eastside, or higher urban crime rates across the country. Within this context, our policing issues appear as mere irritants.
If only it was true.
In reality there are deep undercurrents that need immediate attention. Addressing them now, as part of an election debate for a new mayor is not only good policy. It will also make our city safer, sooner.
There are three common assumptions about policing in Toronto that need to be challenged. First, that Toronto’s falling crime rate is exceptional. Second, that enhancements to public safety simply require more funding. Third, that policing priorities are the exclusive preserve of the Police Services Board. Together these views are making us less safe.
Let’s look at those comforting crime statistics first. Viewed in isolation, declining crime rates are reassuring. But a different picture emerges when one reviews comparative figures and wider definitions.
Fifteen years ago, Toronto was one of the safest cities in North America in terms of overall violent crime per capita. For nonviolent crimes such as burglary our rates were particularly low, although they were higher than Los Angeles and New York. Since that time our overall crime rates have declined, but public safety has improved much faster in both New York and Los Angeles. And thanks to a rapid decline in Chicago’s crime rates, it now has a violent crime rate similar to ours. Simply put, other North American cities are making better headway in the fight against crime.
Which brings us to the second assumption: can we do better at public safety without spending more? Currently the Police Services Board submits annual budget increases above the increase in City revenues and, regardless of the administration, Council agrees to them.
In fact, research shows that there is no short-term correlation between police force size and crime. But in our case, without a vision to guide policing expenditures, the easiest path is to agree to budget increases.
Practically, there is little choice. If Council and the Police Services Board were to ever disagree on the adequacy of the Police budget, either party could appeal to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. Although the Commission has never been called upon to judge the adequacy of Toronto’s police budget, Council is wise enough not to try.
As to the third assumption, the vast majority of large Police Service Boards assure effectiveness and refresh their mandates through a strategic plan. It is through this process that the public is engaged to discuss expectations, effectiveness, and priorities within limited public resources.
For Toronto, this vital piece has been missing since 1992. In its place, the Board issues publications. But it is not the same as going to the public to address core issues.
As a result, there has been drift. Without the discipline of a strategic plan review, the Board continues to operate a number of non-core activities such as an on-street parking business, providing off-duty officers for construction projects, and employing school crossing guards.
Admittedly, there is no crisis facing policing in Toronto at present. But there is the need to review fundamentals. The best place to start the conversation is within the current mayoral campaign.
So far the mayoral candidates have had much to say about finances, bike lanes, tolls and transit. Successful policing is at least as important as any of these. As such it is vital that our next mayor articulate a vision on how we can expect to have our public safety enhanced. Hopefully that vision will include a way to refresh the vision of the Board. It’s not only good politics, but it should make for good policy.
The timing couldn’t be better. Given five years of stability and strong current relations between police and stakeholders, now is the time to discuss priorities and to chart a course for the future. The risk, if the candidates fail to engage this issue, is that the drift will become more pervasive, and our city will become less safe than it could be.
David Soknacki is the Chair of Parc Downsview Park. He is a former Toronto city councillor and was budget chief from 2003 to 2006.
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As Mayor I would set up a Task Force into the spending habits of our police force because a lot of our Toronto Police officers are overworked.
I also want to set up another Task Force to find out what has changed in the past twenty years for more of our citizens to stop respecting our laws.
Toronto’s Police Budget Needs Realistic Spending Cuts, Zero Based Budgeting in 2011.
Incumbent councillors will not debate the police budget for 2010 but just give lip service for the need to reduce spending as they have for the past seven years with no meaningful long term results.
Their chronic spending habits will continue until they are soundly defeated at the polls on October 25, 2010.
I, Peter CLARKE propose the following for implementation prior to the 2011 Police Service Boards Budget process by a new council.
Considering that over 90% of The Police budget goes for salaries and benefits for 5, 510 police personnel and 2,000 civilian employees, we must start by having all benefits on a co-payment basis and NOT paid 100% by the city. Perhaps on a 70% to 30% benefit cost sharing plan.
Policing is only one of the core services of Toronto and a fundamental one but like all budget components of the city it must be based on realistic costing beginning in 2011 with a zero based budgeting process.
I strongly believe that a new council, in order to maintain the public’s trust and confidence for a safe city, must prioritize the existing services and programs of the Police department on a line by line basis by also reducing the civilian component of the force by 10% to 15% in 2011.
We further must reduce and redeploy 30 officers from the mounted unit along with a reduction of the present number of 28 horses to 18. Thus leaving the mounted unit with 13 officers, which is similar to the number for mounted units in other cities.
The current TTC special transit police should be retired and not absorbed by the Toronto police force. The TTC could offer them other positions within the TTC and if they refuse then unfortunately they would have to be laid off.
The parking enforcement unit should be taken completely out of the hand of the Police Services Board and come under the bylaw control department on a self sustaining operating basis that must produce a profit on an annual basis.
Eliminate the time and half paid for these employees to attend court as this is just part of their job. With cameras at intersection for speeders and stopping infractions this revenue will cover the cost for the time these officers would not be issuing tickets because of court appearances.
The pay for court time for police officers should be uploaded to the province and included in the provinces justice ministers budget as that is where it belongs.
All awards issued by provincial arbitrators that are above the annual rate of inflation must be uploaded back to the province as they mandated such salary increase.
Police officers retention pay must be eliminated and based solely on job preference, education and ability to handle the position. This also must apply to all promotions from within the force to ensure that all promotions are based on education, ability and special skills not on gender or other issues.
Eliminate the two officers in a patrol car that was an arbitration wards by the province. This would free up hundreds of our officers for other more pressing duties as driving around the city two per car.
With today’s GPS technology etc, an officer can always call for immediate back up when necessary. Further upload these costs for a two officer patrol unit back to the province as it was their arbitration award in the first place.
In no way would any of these proposals adversely affect “the delivery of effective and adequate policing” for the citizens of Toronto.
If the current Chief and his senior staff cannot manage within these types of frame work then perhaps the time has come to consider other cost reducing measures along with a new chief of Police together with a new Police Service Board.
For a new council in 2011 not implement some or all of these proposals would be irresponsible and reprehensible considering the current fiscal problems facing Toronto Renters, Condo, Homeowners and Businesses alike and all thanks to incumbent councillors and the outgoing Mayors left leaning ideologies of the past seven years.
peterclarketoronto.com
Incumbent councillors will not debate the police budget for 2010 but just give lip service for the need to reduce spending as they have for the past seven years with no meaningful long term results.
Their chronic spending habits will continue until they are soundly defeated at the polls on October 25, 2010.
I, Peter CLARKE propose the following for implementation prior to the 2011 Police Service Boards Budget process by a new council.
Considering that over 90% of The Police budget goes for salaries and benefits for 5, 510 police personnel and 2,000 civilian employees, we must start by having all benefits on a co-payment basis and NOT paid 100% by the city. Perhaps on a 70% to 30% benefit cost sharing plan.
Policing is only one of the core services of Toronto and a fundamental one but like all budget components of the city it must be based on realistic costing beginning in 2011 with a zero based budgeting process.
I strongly believe that a new council, in order to maintain the public’s trust and confidence for a safe city, must prioritize the existing services and programs of the Police department on a line by line basis by also reducing the civilian component of the force by 10% to 15% in 2011.
We further must reduce and redeploy 30 officers from the mounted unit along with a reduction of the present number of 28 horses to 18. Thus leaving the mounted unit with 13 officers, which is similar to the number for mounted units in other cities.
The current TTC special transit police should be retired and not absorbed by the Toronto police force. The TTC could offer them other positions within the TTC and if they refuse then unfortunately they would have to be laid off.
The parking enforcement unit should be taken completely out of the hand of the Police Services Board and come under the bylaw control department on a self sustaining operating basis that must produce a profit on an annual basis.
Eliminate the time and half paid for these employees to attend court as this is just part of their job. With cameras at intersection for speeders and stopping infractions this revenue will cover the cost for the time these officers would not be issuing tickets because of court appearances.
The pay for court time for police officers should be uploaded to the province and included in the provinces justice ministers budget as that is where it belongs.
All awards issued by provincial arbitrators that are above the annual rate of inflation must be uploaded back to the province as they mandated such salary increase.
Police officers retention pay must be eliminated and based solely on job preference, education and ability to handle the position. This also must apply to all promotions from within the force to ensure that all promotions are based on education, ability and special skills not on gender or other issues.
Eliminate the two officers in a patrol car that was an arbitration wards by the province. This would free up hundreds of our officers for other more pressing duties as driving around the city two per car.
With today’s GPS technology etc, an officer can always call for immediate back up when necessary. Further upload these costs for a two officer patrol unit back to the province as it was their arbitration award in the first place.
In no way would any of these proposals adversely affect “the delivery of effective and adequate policing” for the citizens of Toronto.
If the current Chief and his senior staff cannot manage within these types of frame work then perhaps the time has come to consider other cost reducing measures along with a new chief of Police together with a new Police Service Board.
For a new council in 2011 not implement some or all of these proposals would be irresponsible and reprehensible considering the current fiscal problems facing Toronto Renters, Condo, Homeowners and Businesses alike and all thanks to incumbent councillors and the outgoing Mayors left leaning ideologies of the past seven years.