| #ffffff;" /> | | | | from volleyball programs for teenagers from at-risk |
| As always, Gene Domagala is the perfect person to | | | | communities to school safety and anti-bullying |
| make connections. With the date for my photo | | | | education programs, officers from 55 Division are |
| exhibition rapidly approaching and the need to finalize | | | | involved in a wide variety of community endeavours |
| my articles and get the photos ready, I had not planned | | | | about which I would shortly learn more. The |
| to do any further interviews, but Gene suggested that | | | | Superintendent added that his station has a very good |
| one organization could not be missing from my article | | | | working relationship with the community and the |
| series about the Beach: Toronto Police Service 55 | | | | politicians in the area. 55 Division strives to provide a |
| Division, an organization with whom all the special | | | | strong visible presence and to be recognized as an |
| events organizers work regularly. In his words 55 | | | | integral part of the community. |
| Division is extremely supportive of the Beach and a | | | | As he had to go, Superintendent Peden handed me |
| very positive force in the community. | | | | over to Sergeant John Spanton who was going to |
| Gene made a phone call to the station, and within | | | | explain things to me I more detail. He explained that |
| minutes of the phone call I hopped in my car to drive | | | | there are several different units within 55 Division: a |
| to Dundas and Coxwell Avenues to meet the officers | | | | Primary Response Unit (PRU) that involves first line |
| at 55 Division. Gene introduced me to Superintendent | | | | policing, emergency call response and apprehension of |
| Wayne Peden, the head of the station and after | | | | criminals. In addition community problems and outreach |
| introducing the Celebrate Toronto project | | | | is handled by the Community Response Unit (CRU). |
| Superintendend Peden started to give me a general | | | | Sergeant Spanton added that the division has one |
| overview of 55 Division. He explained that the policing | | | | officer who is in charge of educational outreach in |
| area of 55 Division extends from the Don River in the | | | | elementary schools; in addition two full-time officers |
| west and to Victoria Park Avenue in the east, and | | | | handle the liaison with local high schools. |
| from Danforth Avenue in the north to Lake Ontario in | | | | One of the important mandates of the Toronto Police |
| the south. | | | | Service is to encourage greater community integration. |
| Superintendent Peden added that the police play a | | | | In addition a concerted effort has been made to |
| critical role in all the public events in the Beach, including | | | | attract more visible minorities and women into the |
| the Beaches Jazz Festival, the Easter Parade and the | | | | police force. Sergeant Spanton explained that today |
| Ashbridges Bay Fireworks. He used to work in this | | | | many of the officers that are being hired are quite a bit |
| area in the 1980s and was just transferred back to this | | | | older than what used to be the case in the past. The |
| station last year. According to Superintendent Peden | | | | recruiting process takes life experience into |
| the Beach is a very safe area, with the main concerns | | | | consideration, and Toronto’s demographic |
| being traffic and parking. He described the Beach as | | | | diversity is increasingly being reflected in the faces of |
| an excellent place to live and work. Many police offers | | | | the Toronto Police Service. A wide variety of different |
| want to work at this station, and Superintendent Peden | | | | ethnic and cultural groups are represented within |
| enjoys his new location. | | | | Sergeant Spanton’s own team of officers. |
| 55 Division has about 235 employees including front | | | | More officers with different language skills are being |
| line officers, detectives and investigative offers as well | | | | hired as well to be able to communicate with the |
| as community response officers who work with the | | | | various immigrant groups that call Toronto their home. |
| community to resolve issues. Examples could include | | | | Another officer joined us: Regina La Borde is a 15-year |
| barking dogs, or driveway disputes, or teenagers that | | | | veteran with the Toronto Police Force and now a |
| might be up to mischief. The idea is to resolve issues | | | | full-time Elementary School Liason Officer. After many |
| before they become problems. | | | | years of front-line policing she has become a full-time |
| During big events 55 Division officers work with the | | | | educator and crime prevention officer for 55 Division. |
| organizing committees of the respective events to | | | | Her curriculum includes topics such as traffic safety |
| ensure that the festival or the parade are going to run | | | | rules and not talking to strangers which are taught to |
| smoothly with minimal inconvenience to the locals. | | | | children in junior and senior kindergarden. In Grade 2 |
| During major events for example, all the main streets | | | | safety and street proofing continues. Topics such as |
| north and south of Queen Street East have to be | | | | what to do when you get lost and telling your parents |
| blocked off, and this is 55 Division’s | | | | at all times where you are and what you are doing get |
| responsibility. Once the roads are closed, the | | | | covered. The curriculum for Grade 4 includes Internet |
| organizers take over and handle things from there. | | | | safety and cyber-bullying. The concept of never talking |
| Superintendent Peden started to fill me in on some of | | | | to any strangers, even online, is emphasized as well. |
| the community issues that are going on in 55 Division: | | | | |