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Chief Myron Demkiw

Chair, as you know, yesterday was Remembrance Day.

You and I were at an event at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church this past Sunday, and one here at HQ yesterday.

These traditions are important because they remind us of the sacrifices made by the women and men who came before us, so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Just last month, four service members at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright lost their lives. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by this tragic loss.

And here a the Toronto Police Service, this week of remembrance carries special meaning.

On Monday, we added the name of Constable Marc Pinizzotto to the plaque in our lobby that honours the officers we have lost in the line of duty.

Marc was a hero.

He contributed so much to this Service, to his community, and to our city.

His legcy lives on through the people he mentored, the lives he touched, and the example he set for all of us.

He will never be forgotten.

Chair, we have a packed agenda today.

First, as promised, you will receive a comprehensive presentation from the team on the various actions taken since Project South to strengthen trust and accountability.

A significant amount of work has been done on this front, and before the presentation, I would like to give you a brief overview.

The province-wide inspection that we requested from the Inspectorate of Policing is ongoing, and we have already responded to the first phase of document production and disclosure.

As the inspection progresses, we will continue to collaborate, as necessary, with the Honourable William Hourigan and his team.

Once they submit their report, the Inspector General of Policing will review it and issue any legally binding findings, recommendations, or directions.

In addition to this, we have expanded our capacity to reinforce professional standards and address corruption.

That means we now have more people conducting internal inspections, and more people focused on identifying and investigating possible corruption.

And, earlier this year, I announced two initiatives: the Chief's Anti-Corruption Project and the OneTPS Project.

Both are now fully underway and are developing recommendations on how to better address corruption issues in the future while also strengthening the positive aspects of our internal culture.

Also today, we will present our operational approach to implementing the Board’s Strategic Plan and how we are embedding its five priorities into the way the Service operates and delivers policing.

Thank you, I will now pass it over to Deputy Barredo.

Deputy Chief Frank Barredo

Thank you.

Chair, I want to say a few words today about the recent home invasion in the Bridle Path and the concerning trend of violent home invasions more broadly.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and I want to assure the public that our investigators are dedicated to bringing those responsible to justice.

We understand that there are questions about why a suspect was not arrested at the hospital that day.

The reality is that police officers cannot detain or arrest an individual simply to gain more time to investigate.

Any arrest or detention must be supported by evidence and lawful grounds.

I know the public wants to know if we did surveillance.

We are always committed to being as transparent as possible, but we must also protect the integrity of the investigation.

For that reason, we cannot discuss specific investigative techniques or disclose sensitive details while the investigation remains active.

But again, I want to reassure everyone that we are focused on finding those responsible and holding them accountable.

When it comes to home invasions more generally, we understand why Torontonians are concerned.

Your home is where you should feel safe, and these incidents can, and have had, profound impacts on victims and their families.

Our Hold Up Squad is investigating 107 home invasions this year.  

We have also seen an increase in break and enters for the purpose of stealing vehicles.

This is a troubling trend, and we are responding to it.

We have dedicated additional resources to these investigations, increased both visible and covert deployments in strategic locations, which includes Project Aegis.

So far this year, we have made 33 arrests related to home invasions, including 8 young people below the age of 18. And we seized a number of handguns.

While we continue to do everything we can to address this, we encourage residents to take steps to help secure their homes, whether that means installing security cameras, improving exterior lighting, reinforcing doors and windows, or adopting other crime prevention measures.

Over the past months, our officers have attended multiple town halls where residents are invited to ask questions and receive live advice on best practices to safeguard their property.

People can always contact their local division for practical tips, and we will continue to make ourselves available.

Thank you, I will now pass it over to Deputy Johnson.

Deputy Chief Rob Johnson

Chair, since we last met, there have been a number of events I would like to highlight.

First, thank you for joining us for the launch of Crime Prevention Week.

The Service used this opportunity to announce the creation of Buy & Sell Exchange Zones at all 16 divisions to help prevent crimes that can occur when people buy and sell items online.

We will have more to say when the zones officially launch in the coming weeks.

I would also like to mention the graduation of 25 new Communications Operators who joined the Service just last week.

The role of communications operators and dispatchers is absolutely essential. They are the first voice people hear when they call for help, and they serve as a vital link between the public and our officers in the field.

Thank you, Chair, for being there last week to welcome them to the Service.

And before I pass it over to the CAO, I also want to highlight some positive news regarding our Counter-Terrorism Security Unit (CTSU).

As you may recall, we announced the creation of the CTSU in March to proactively detect, prevent, and disrupt terrorism and violent extremism in Toronto.

The unit has been up and running within Intelligence Services since then and, as of last week, it is now officially a standalone unit with its own dedicated resources and leadership structure.

This transition builds on the important work already underway to strengthen the Service’s response to terrorism-related threats, violent extremism, hate crimes and other complex safety concerns.

Thank you. I will now pass it over to the CAO.

CAO Maria Duran-Schneider

Chair, today, I would like to highlight our annual Wellness Day, which we held on October 29.

This was a partnership between the Board, the TPA, and the SOO, and it demonstrates our shared recognition that the wellbeing of our members is essential.

We heard from guest speakers on grief and loss, the importance of sleep for first responders, and finding peace in an increasingly noisy world.

Members also took part in physical activity and meditation sessions, and shared their feedback through a group activity and table discussions.

Most importantly, it was an opportunity to share information about the resources available to members and how to access them, including through a vendor resource fair with wellness organizations and support groups.

I want to thank the Wellness Day Planning Committee and all of our partners who made this event a success.

Thank you. I will now pass it over to CTO Stairs.

CTO Colin Stairs

Thank you.

Chair, I want to share with you that since November 2nd last week, the TTC Transit Control is now able to report non-emergency police matters through a dedicated workflow within Toronto Non-Emergency Technology (or TNET).

So, what happens is when TTC identifies itself for non-emergency police-related incidents and requests, TNET guides them through a series of questions.

This helps streamline the reporting process by freeing up time for our call takers, providing a better understanding of what is happening, and allowing us to respond more effectively.

As for emergency calls, the TTC will continue to be directed to dial 911.

On the topic of TNET, we continue to see encouraging results.

We are seeing a significant decrease in transfers from TNET to our Communications Operators.

Compared to March and April 2026, transfers have decreased by approximately 38%.

This indicates that the tool is becoming more autonomous and increasingly effective at connecting callers with the right resources without the need for further intervention.

Despite increased call volumes over the summer months, non-emergency wait times have decreased by approximately 16% between January and September 2026.  

Substantially fewer callers are waiting in a queue only to be told their issue is better handled by another area of the Service, another agency, or another jurisdiction.

TNET helps us improve the caller experience while allowing Operators to focus on the calls that require their specialized training and skills.

Thank you. I will now pass it back to the Chief.

Chief Myron Demkiw 

Chair, in September, I participated in a Roundtable on Officer Safety alongside police service and police association leaders from across the country.

We signed a joint letter supporting Premier Ford's proposals to the Prime Minister on public safety.

Several of these proposals call for stronger penalties for individuals who commit acts of violence against police officers.

In addition, there’s one proposal in particular that would create a standalone offence for violent home invasions, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

These are important reforms.

In the case of home invasions, they would send a clear message that this kind of violence is unacceptable and that those who commit these crimes will face serious consequences.

In closing, I want to acknowledge that November is Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month.

This month, we also partnered with Victim Services Toronto on a series of social media posts aimed at raising awareness, including awareness of the resources available to those in need.

This concludes our update today.

Thank you.