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Toronto Police Launch Project Dodger to Combat Violence in the Tow Truck Industry

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The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has launched Project Dodger, a new initiative aimed at addressing the rise in criminality and violence linked to the tow truck industry. This dedicated team will focus on tackling firearm discharge and shooting incidents and other criminal acts associated with a small group of bad actors within the industry.

Project Dodger’s primary goal is to improve safety for tow truck operators and the public. To achieve this, both plainclothes and uniformed officers will be deployed in critical areas across the city to deter violence and ensure compliance with industry regulations. The team will investigate violent incidents, including firearm discharges, shootings and arsons, which have been tied to ongoing territorial disputes within the tow truck industry.

The tow truck industry has seen a troubling increase in gun violence. In 2024, 63 firearm discharge and shooting incidents were linked to tow truck-related disputes, accounting for almost 13 per cent of all shootings in Toronto. In 2025, these incidents have escalated further, representing 70 per cent of the city's shooting incidents to date.

Project Dodger builds on the success of Project Beacon, a similar task force that operated from June to August 2024. Project Beacon resulted in the arrest of six individuals and 184 charges laid related to a homicide and 13 tow truck-related firearm discharge incidents. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of coordinated efforts between TPS and its law enforcement partners.

“We remain committed to addressing tow truck-related crimes with a service-wide approach, acknowledging that this violence stems from a small segment of the industry,” said Superintendent Paul MacIntyre of Organized Crime Enforcement. “The success of Project Beacon highlighted the impact of collaboration and enforcement. Through Project Dodger, we will continue to work diligently to protect our communities and ensure safety across the city.”

Most tow companies and operators comply with the regulations under the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) and play an essential role in maintaining road safety. To uphold these standards, TPS and its law enforcement partners across the GTA continue to enforce compliance, remove illegitimate operators, and lay charges where necessary.

To be an approved Towing and Storage Service Operator (TSSO), tow operators and companies must meet certain requirements, including criminal record checks and certification through the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO).

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Media interviews are available upon request on Monday, January 13. Please contact [email protected] for more information. 

 

The Toronto Police Service is dedicated to delivering police services in partnership with our communities to keep Toronto the best and safest place to be. We are committed to being a world leader in policing through excellence, innovation, continuous learning, quality leadership, and management.


By Stephanie Sayer

Stephanie Sayer

Manager, Media Relations

Corporate Communications

for Superintendent Paul MacIntyre

Superintendent Paul MacIntyre

Unit Commander

Organized Crime Enforcement

 

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