Centre For Local Research into Public Space (CELOS)
Show search options
You are on the [cover page] of folder [Police Correspondence]Police Correspondence
June 1, 2008
Mr. William Blair, Chief of Police, City of Toronto.
Dear Chief Blair,
I am writing to alert you to some problematic actions by officers of Fourteen Division, at a park in downtown Toronto. This letter is prompted by an event at Dufferin Grove Park about three weeks ago, but there is a history that is a good deal longer.
October 29, 2007
Supt.Ruth White, Fourteen Division, Toronto Police Service,
150 Harrison Street, Toronto M5T 1L4
Dear Superintendent White,
We’ve been meaning to come and see you for some time. Now something has moved that intention higher on our agenda.
August 16, 2006
Supt.Ruth White, Fourteen Division, Toronto Police Service,
150 Harrison Street, Toronto M6G 2A4
Dear Superintendent White,
Yesterday in mid-morning an officer from Fourteen Division sat in his vehicle in Dufferin Grove Park with his engine idling for about half an hour, on the grass near the basketball court. A number of people asked him if there was a problem. He indicated that he was just doing preventive policing because the park has lots of drug dealing.
October 2nd, 2005
Dear Staff Sgt. Besenthal,
Another incident with a Fourteen Division officer occurred at Dufferin Grove Park on Saturday Oct.1. Officer #5649 was at the park doing special duty for part of the Native Child and Family Services seventh annual Pow Wow. At one point in the afternoon, as the officer questioned a youth, she cautioned a park staff person and several park users who were standing nearby watching, warning them to go away.
August 22, 2005
Superintendent James Dicks, Fourteen Division, Toronto Police Service,
150 Harrison St., Toronto, ON , M6J 2A4
Dear Superintendent Dicks,
I have been meaning to send you a copy of the July 2005 Dufferin Grove Park newsletter, which contains an article “The Police need our help.” Some of us in the neighbourhood are concerned that some of your newer officers are operating in a bubble – that they know less about the neighbourhood than they ought, and that this will interfere with their work. It can also have a negative affect on the neighbourhood, in this case, on the park.
January 26, 2004
Mr.Alan Heisey, Police Services Board,City of Toronto
Dear Mr.Heisey,
We have recently read in the paper that you have an interest in community policing that you bring to your position on the Police Services Board. Our concern about the disappearance of community policing leads us to write to you, and to send you the enclosed account, from our December park newsletter.
October 19, 2000
Staff Sergeant Glen Holt, Fourteen Division Community Response, Toronto Police Service.'''
Dear Staff Sergeant Holt,
This is a follow-up letter to your phone call to me at Dufferin Grove Park on October 18, about the September 3 group beating of a young man at the park. I trust you will have received the documents you asked for, by fax.
September 20, 2000.
Superintendent Paul Gottschalk, Officer-in-Chief, Fourteen Division, Toronto Police Service.
150 Harrison Street, Toronto M6J 2A4.
Dear Supt.Gottschalk,
March 8, 2000
Chief Julian Fantino, Toronto Police Force.
Dear Chief Fantino,
We are writing to you because in your speech on Monday you said you wanted to reach out to many different parts of the community and that you wanted to ensure there are no barriers between communities and the police. This makes us wonder whether you might want to visit our neighbourhood park in downtown Toronto and let us tell you about what's happening here.