Police chief pleased with Toronto's falling murder rate.
Toronto police Chief William Blair talks to Toronto Community News in his office at police headquarters on Monday.
Staff photo/ANDREW PALAMARCHUK
Even with the drop in homicides this year, it's not enough for Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair.
"Although we may be very pleased with the reduction, I know that so far this year we've had 44 murders. That's 44 families and 44 communities that have experienced the tragedy of violence and just an unimaginable loss," Blair said in an interview last week.
"So we have to remain resolute in our determination to make sure there are fewer of those family tragedies in our city."
Toronto's murder rate has been dropping since 2007 when there were 86 homicides. There were 62 last year, and the city is on track this year to have the lowest level of homicides in 25 years.
"The numbers are quite positive. Homicide year-to-date is down about 27 per cent over last year, and last year was a pretty good year," Blair said.
"I think all of the investments that Toronto has made in its communities over the past several years is beginning to demonstrate a return on an investment. I'm pleased with the results. We've still got some work to do and a way to go, but we're making progress. I think we're on the right track."
Blair credits gang investigations, youth initiatives and the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy with reducing violent crime.
One major gang investigation, dubbed Project Marvel, ended Dec. 13 with a series of early-morning raids that resulted in 55 arrests and the seizure 27 guns.
Though violent crime is declining, financial crime via the Internet is on the rise.
"And there are other types of victimization and exploitation that takes place in a cyber environment," Blair said. "So we're going to have to develop new skills and develop new approaches...to create a more secure web environment for all of our citizens."
Line-of-duty death of Sgt. Ryan Russell
The year started on a tragic note with the line-of-duty death of Sgt. Ryan Russell.
The 11-year veteran of the force was struck and killed while trying to stop a stolen snow plow at Avenue and Davenport roads just after 6 a.m. Jan. 12.
"I've seen the pain and grief inflicted upon his family, upon his co-workers and upon his community," Blair said. "A terribly sad story, but we've all rallied together, and I think officers will certainly remember Ryan's sacrifice and the incredible strength of his family, his wife, his son, his parents, his in-laws and all of his friends down at 52 Division and across the police service. It had an impact on all of us."
A man was charged with first-degree murder in Russell's death.
More than 10,000 people turned out to Russell's funeral at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Jan. 18.
"The profound respect and support that the people of Toronto gave to the police service on that day, it was a good reminder of the relationship between ourselves and the people we're sworn to serve and protect," Blair said.
Police budget challenges
To trim the budget, Blair undertook a hiring freeze this year. It will continue into 2012. Nineteen senior management positions, nearly 10 per cent of the senior management team, were also eliminated.
"It means asking those who remain to do more and to be responsible for more," Blair said.
Cuts have also been made to overtime costs, premium pay and non-salary discretionary accounts.
"Everywhere we can save money, we've found ways to save money," Blair said.
"Now we have to start looking not just at reducing expenditures but finding new and better ways to do business so that the costs can be reduced even further."
But Blair stressed "the last place I will take police resources is from the front line."
A full review of the Toronto Police Service is currently under way in an effort to find efficiencies in delivering services.
"It's a very significant initiative," Blair said. "We're looking at it top to bottom, and we're engaging everybody in our service."