RESIDENTS VOICE THEIR CRIME CONCERNS TO CHIEF FANTINO

Violence, gangs and civilian participation in police matters were the major
topics of discussion at a town hall meeting held by Toronto Police Chief
Julian Fantino on Feb. 12.

The public forum also drew top officers from Etobicoke's two police
divisions, and was held at Richview Collegiate Institute in central Etobicoke.

"These forums have provided us to have some frank discussions," Fantino
said, opening the meeting. "Obviously, things are not perfect and one of
the most pressing issues is violence in our communities."

Fantino added that while overall crime in Toronto is down, Toronto Police
Services (TPS) responded to 378 more gun calls and seized over 100 kg of
marijuana last year. Fantino said drugs seized have increased 600 per cent
in one year.

In light of the recent push by the federal government to decriminalize
small amounts of pot, Fantino refused to wade into the politics of the
issue. "I won't make a moral statement about marijuana -- all I know is
it's against the law," he said.

22 Division Supt. Ed Hoey echoed Fantino, linking the use of crack cocaine
to the proliferation of prostitution in the south-end of Etobicoke.

"We've tried our best to keep these problems at bay," Hoey said. "Street
level prostitution is directly related to crack addiction." Hoey also
called for an overhauling of the vice laws that govern drugs and streetwalking.

Supt. Ron Taverner of 23 Division cited the introduction and subsequent
positive response to the Gunplay No Way program as a major accomplishment
over the past year.

Gunplay No Way takes in toy and replica guns in return for a non-violent toy.

"It's a preventative and a proactive thing we're trying to do," Taverner said.

The subject of police relations with ethnic communities came up quickly at
the meeting but the discussion did not become heated.

Concerned citizen Rosemarie Bryan said she is concerned that youth crime is
skyrocketing because the police are lagging in community response.

"I think its important to get more black people involved in what is going
on within their community," Bryan said. "I'm little embarrassed, because I
sit in this meeting tonight and I'm trying to think 'How many black
residents are here?' and there's really not (many)." Bryan said she took a
law enforcement course at Humber College, which centred on youth crime
prevention.

Bryan charged that TPS youth programs have all but disappeared.