The Toronto Police Marine Unit is a part of the Specialized Emergency Response for the Toronto Police Service. The Marine Unit is located at 259 Queens Quay West. Marine Unit also has 3 sub-stations located at Bluffers Park, Centre Island and Humber River, which are all used for police and lifeguard functions. Marine Unit staffing is composed of a Superintendent, a Staff Sergeant, 9 Sergeants, 37 Constables, 4 Mechanics, 2 Crew Hand, and 2 Civilians, totalling 56 members.
The unit has a unique responsibility; it is the largest command, encompassing approximately 460 square miles of open water on Lake Ontario. The operational jurisdiction is from the Etobicoke creek (Peel Region) to Rouge River (Durham Region) and extending 13 nautical miles to the US/Canada border. Marine Unit is also responsible for all waterways within Toronto.
Within the mission statement of the Toronto Police Service and in compliance with the service priorities, Toronto inner harbour remains the number one priority. The unit provides support to the Harbour Commission, Billy Bishop Island Airport and the residents and guests of the Toronto Island. Marine Unit is also responsible for enforcing the Criminal Code, The Fisheries Act, Canada Shipping Act, Provincial Offences Act, and Toronto Port Authority by-laws. In addition to normal enforcement duties, Marine Unit is responsible for medical transport to the island communities, ice rescues, river rescues, recoveries of weapons and bodies, and other water related operations.
Search and Rescue is a very important part of operational strategies and mandates. Marine Unit officers continuously train and exercise with multiple agencies. The agencies include US/ Canada Coast Guards, US Department of Homelands Securities, Canada Border Services, RCMP, OPP, Peel, Halton, Durham, Niagara, York, Hamilton Regional Police Services. The unit has an outstanding fleet of boats for quick response, body recoveries, diving operations and rough weather rescues.
Community relations office acts as a liaison with the resident of the Toronto island communities as well as many safety councils. Officers also participate with safety programs, crime prevention and public education lectures. The unit works closely with by-law enforcement and liquor inspectors to address complaints involving tour and party boats. Officers are active in school presentations, public displays on water safety, and numerous tours of the unit from policing agencies from around the world.
The Marine fleet commands over 460 square miles of open water on Lake Ontario conducting search, rescue and patrol operations.
ViewDivers conduct search, rescue and recovery operations, manage marine crime scenes, and can specialize as underwater bomb technicians, dive medics and underwater death investigators.
ViewTraining for the Marine Unit involves swift water rescue, ice rescue, boat handling and intensive watercraft operations management and safety education.
ViewThe Marine Unit is responsible for ensuring all vessels are operating safely and are in good working order.
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Breed: Unknown
Adoption Date: September 2016
Porter is named after an airline that flies out of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. When Porter was found stranded in a tire along the seawall at the airport by a passing group of Marine officers, they adopted him and welcomed him the Marine Unit. Porter now wanders the Rees St. facility, and can be often found napping in a cat bed at the front counter.
