Councillor Shelley Carroll

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Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Community Bulletin - TPS 33 Division

UNIT COMMANDER
Staff Inspector Ruth White


When Chief of Police William Blair took over the reigns of the Toronto Police Service he told the citizens of Toronto that he would put more uniformed officers on the street.

Chief Blair recognized the need to have a high visibility of officers in our communities.

To support this initiative, effective January 2006, the 33 Division Street Crime Unit will operate in a uniform capacity. Historically, officers in this unit held a non uniform position. The Street Crime Unit will work within the Community Response Unit and operate under the leadership of Staff Sergeant Robert Morris.

The 33 Division Community Response Unit will consist of 18 uniformed officers serving the needs of the public.

ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

The Festive R.I.D.E. commenced on Thursday November 24th, 2005 and will conclude Sunday January 1st, 2006. Numerous spot checks will be held each night throughout the city and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area.

As a reminder, R.I.D.E. spot checks are held every week throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.

During the month of November there were a total of 1,173 vehicles stopped in 33 Division R.I.D.E. spot checks.


CRIME PREVENTION TIPS OF THE MONTH

The Holiday season is upon us…

Shopping:
 Don’t carry large sums of cash and never display the cash you are carrying.
 Keep an eye on your credit card at all times.
 Use your Interac card wisely and conceal your PIN from others.
 Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid parking in dark, secluded areas. Park in a well-lighted area as close to the mall entrance as possible.
 Put all packages in the trunk. Do not place packages on the seat or on the floor of your vehicle.
 Keep your purse closed and carry it securely under your arm. Never place your purse on a counter, in a shopping cart or let your children carry it.
 When buying children’s presents, avoid toys made from highly flammable materials.

Travelling:
 Be sure all your property is marked under “Operation Identification” i.e. Video equipment, cameras, etc. are marked for identification, if stolen or lost.
 Ask a friend or neighbour to watch your home while you are away, picking up your mail, newspapers and packaged deliveries.
 Make sure you leave an emergency contact number with a friend or neighbour.
 Set automatic timers to activate your lights and other appliances to give your home the illusion that it is occupied.
 Be sure your home is locked and that the shades, blinds and draperies are in their normal position.

Holiday Fire Prevention Tips: Always select a fresh Christmas tree.
 Put the tree in water immediately to help prevent it from drying out too quickly.
 Be sure to keep the stand filled with water because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly, potentially causing a fire.
 Use the proper tree lights. Some lights are designed for outdoor use only.
 When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant”.
 Keep space heaters away from your tree, furniture, bedding, walls, clothing and other items that can burn.
 Always use the proper fuel for liquid-fuelled heaters. Be sure they are vented properly and refill them only in a well ventilated area when they are cool.
 Never use extension cords with electric space heaters and use power bars to avoid numerous cords.

Fireplaces & Candles:
 Be very careful when emptying a fireplace’s ashes. Place them in a non-flammable container, away from your residence.
 Do not burn the wrappings from your holiday packages in your fireplace.
 Have your chimney inspected by a professional at least once a year and have it cleaned accordingly.
 Always use a fire screen, especially with young children or pets.
 Never use candles or any type of open flame near Christmas trees, wreaths, or combustible decoration displays.
 NEVER leave candles burning or your fireplace unattended.

And remember - smoke detectors, carbon dioxide detectors and fire extinguishers make excellent holiday gifts.

Winter Play & Sport Safety:
 All winter activities require warm, dry clothing to prevent frostbite; a close-fitting hat, mittens, socks, boots and loose layers.
 Children should play indoors if the temperature falls below -25C.
Downhill Skiing:
 Beginners should take lessons from a certified instructor.
 A ski helmet is recommended for children to prevent head injuries.
 Follow the buddy system – never ski alone.
 Check your equipment to make sure it’s in good condition and fits properly.
 Do warm up exercises and stretches.
 Stay on marked trails and follow the rules of the slopes.
Ice Hockey:
 Players should wear a CSA-approved hockey helmet with full face mask.
 Recommended protective equipment includes gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin pads, mouth guards and athletic support. Ensure all protective equipment is in good condition and fits properly.
 Stretching and warm-ups prior to each practice and game, as well as a cool-down routine will help to prevent injuries.
 Teach children to skate heads-up when approaching the boards to prevent neck injuries.

Ice Skating:
 Skates should give firm ankle support and fit snugly.
 All skaters should wear CSA-approved helmets
 Ensure skate blades are not dull or rusted
 Ice surfaces should be in good shape without bumps, melting or slushy. Check for hazards such as pebbles, rocks and branches.
 Frozen ponds, rivers, lakes or canals should be at least 15 cm (6 inches) thick. Beware of quick thaws which can weaken the ice surface
Sledding/Tobogganing:
 Ensure hill is free of hazards – trees, rocks, bumps, fences and bare spots. Do not sled on ice-covered areas.
 Ensure hill is situated away from roads, rivers, railroads and that there is plenty of room to stop at the bottom of the hill
 Inspect the toboggan to ensure it is in good condition
 Many injuries are cold-related, such as frostbite and hypothermia. Dress in warm layers
 After tobogganing, get out of wet clothes and boots quickly to prevent frostbite
 Children should be supervised by an adult and never toboggan alone or at night
Snowboarding:
 Beginners should take lessons from a certified snowboard instructor and follow all the safety tips for downhill skiers
 Children younger than 7 years should not try snowboarding
 Snowboarders should use boards with full-length steel edges and stiff secure bindings
 Beware that high speeds and aerial movements carry a high risk for injury
 Snowboarders should keep inside designated areas and follow other rules of the slopes

GOOD POLICE WORK OF THE MONTH

On October 19, 2005, the 33 Division School Liaison officer attended A.Y. Jackson High School to meet with the Vice-Principal, a hall monitor and the suspect, who is a Grade 12 student and enjoys a reputation of being a bully to discuss drug activities occurring at the school.

Later in the day, the Grade 12 accused male began to act aggressively towards the hall monitor and began following the Vice Principal around the school.

The accused male also told the Vice Principal that “If that cop does not stop talking to me and coming here talking to me, then I’m going to do something to him or something is going to happen to him”. The accused male was arrested and charged with Intimidation, Criminal Harassment, Mischief Under and Threaten Bodily Harm.

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On Saturday November 19, 2005, Police received a call to attend Godstone Road for a vehicle that had been entered during the previous night.

While investigating, officers located numerous autos that had been entered. A short time later, the officers located the accused male in the underground parking garage.

The accused male was currently on Probation with a condition not to be in an underground parking garage. The accused male was arrested and searched. Officers located two multi-tools on the accused, which breached another condition of his Probation. The accused male admitted to breaking into all the entered vehicles at that location.


TRAFFIC TIP OF THE MONTH

Winter Driving
Reminders


• Accelerate and decelerate slowly in winter driving conditions.
• Give yourself extra time to slow down for a stop light - it takes longer to stop on ice/snow-covered roads.
• Ensure you have an emergency kit, have extra warm clothing and blankets in the vehicle.
• Carry a cellular phone for emergencies and keep it fully charged.
• Vehicle maintenance is very important. Ensure that your windshield wipers are working properly and keep extra windshield wiper fluid in the trunk.


COMMUNITY OUTREACH


Once again we are holding the Joint Auxiliary and Volunteer Robbery Reduction Program. During the month of December, Volunteers and Auxiliary members will be at your local malls and shopping plazas distributing pamphlets with information regarding Purse Snatches, Winter Safety Tips and Auto Theft Reduction Tips.

Many thanks to all our Volunteers and Auxiliary members who diligently work all year long to ensure the safety of the residents in 33 Division.


CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE


33 Division is holding our Annual Christmas Toy Drive. We will be working with members of the Community to collect new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable foods to be delivered to needy children and families living in 33 Division.

You can drop off a toy or non-perishable food item in the boxes located in the front lobby of 33 Division from December 1st – December 21st, 2005.

Many thanks for your support and generosity!