TTC Special Constable Services
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| TTC Special Constable Services |
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| Jurisdiction | Transit |
| Sworn | 118 |
| Chief | Terry Andrews |
| Website | http://www.ttc.ca/ |
The TTC Special Constable Services is the safety and security division of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Toronto, Ontario. They are responsible for safety and security. Authorized as "Special Contables" by several GTA Police Services Boards, pursuant to Section 53 of the
Police Services Act of Ontario. These peace officers have similar powers as Police Officers and are sworn in by the TTC and these police forces:
A contingent of over 118 Special Constables patrol TTC properties and they enforce.
- Criminal Code of Canada
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Trespass to Property Act of Ontario
- Liquor Licence Act
- Child and Family Services Act of Ontario
- Section 17 of the Mental Health Act of Ontario.
In addition, they can also issue fines to persons in violation of TTC By-Law 1.
Constables have three designations:
- Subway Patrol
- Mobile Patrol
- Criminal Investigations.
Subway and Mobile Patrol Division members are a visible presence on TTC vehicles and the subway system. They wear uniforms distinct from the standard TTC or Toronto Police uniforms. This consists of a black jacket and powder blue shirt with a special constables crest on both shoulders and black cargo pants. They are armed with batons and oleoresin capsicum spray, which is also known as pepper spray, wear body armour and carry portable radios.
Most officers will patrol the system on foot, while others will ride in marked and/or unmarked vehicles like the Ford Crown Victoria (blue stripes with crest), similar to the ones used by the Toronto Police Service.
Recruits must undergo 11 weeks of in class training and are partnered with a Coach Officer for six months after their graduation. Coach Officers are graduates of the Ontario Police College - Coach Officer Program or the TTC's in-house Coaching Course.
The Constables patrol within Toronto and areas beyond Toronto served by the TTC.
Ranks
- Constable
- Sergeant
- Staff Sergeant
- Superintendent
- Deputy Chief
- Chief
Before the creation of the TTC Special Constables, security on the Toronto Transit Commission was limited to random patrols by Toronto Police officers, but the Commission added security officers to provide in-house policing.
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[edit] Policing issues
[edit] Counterfeiting operations, 2006
The TTC Special Constables, working with the Peel Regional Police, broke up a Metropass counterfeiting shop in December 2006. Peel Police and TTC Special Constables executed a search warrant on December 20, 2006, in Peel Region. The investigation into the scope of the alleged crimes is ongoing.
In May 2006, high-quality forged Adult and Senior/Student Metropasses began circulating throughout the city. The forgeries could not be successfully swiped at turnstiles but they were almost indistinguishable from authentic Metropasses on visual verification. More than 120 people were charged with selling and using the forged Metropasses. The public was warned to only buy Metropasses from authorized sources but still the forged passes continued to circulate.
After the warning, TTC Special Constables continued to investigate, concentrating their efforts on dismantling the distribution network and tracking down the production facility. On December 20, 2006, the TTC obtained a search warrant for a residence in Mississauga. Peel Regional Police assisted with the execution of the search warrant, uncovering a significant credit card forgery lab that was also producing TTC Metropasses, Ontario Driver's Licences and Social Insurance Cards. One male was arrested at that time and has been charged with eight criminal offences so far.
[edit] 2007 crimes
On April 2, 2007, a man attempted to hijack a subway train between Wilson and Downsview Stations. The TTC Special Constable Services and the Toronto Police Service received reports around 10:00 a.m. that a man had made threats to hijack a subway train. The TTC Constables and police confirmed no one was hurt. Driver cabs are closed and locked for safety and security purposes and have a one-way mirror. All TTC subway operators require a key to either operate the doors or to enter the driver cab.
On April 13, 2007, Nick Brown, 21, was found stabbed to death inside a subway car after being attacked just after 1:30 a.m. Toronto Police and the TTC Special Constables temporarily shut down Kennedy and Victoria Park Stations while they investigated the murder. Toronto Police arrested a 26-year-old Toronto man in connection with the slaying of Brown and charged him with second degree murder.
Another stabbing took place on April 18, 2007, at Kennedy Station – the second within a week. Witnesses reported that a 16-year-old was stabbed on the bus platform at Kennedy Station at around 11:30 p.m. He suffered a stab wound to the back during a fight with several people. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. Police are looking for three suspects who fled the scene.
On April 29, 2007, at around 1:55 a.m., the TTC Special Constables had to lock down Bloor-Yonge station forcing all passengers to stay in the station due to a fatal shooting at the Xerox Centre at 33 Bloor St E.
[edit] Security equipment
For safety and security purposes, the TTC has also already installed surveillance cameras at subway entrances and exits including the one at Victoria Park Station in early 2007, while other stations are waiting for theirs to be installed, and they will be active in Spring 2008. The new trains that will be introduced in 2009 will be outfitted with a new video surveillance system similar to the ones used on some TTC buses and at subway stations.
There has been speculation that the TTC special constables will be equipped with firearms in the near future to deal with possible terrorist threats and attacks. The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service is the only transit police in Canada who have firearms and have full police powers on and off SCBCTA property. That speculation has been laid to rest in recent years as the TTC and Toronto Police and Toronto City Council do not want to support arming the officers. The Toronto Police Service are the police of jurisdiction in Toronto and hold overall law enforcement authority in the TTC. Toronto Police would have to agree with the request to arm the TTC Security/Special Constables. The Province of Ontario would also have to support the idea and it appears as they are not in favour at this time. The Ontario Government has stated in the past that if a non-police employed special constable need to be armed, the preference would be for a public police officer to perform the duties.
[edit] Fleet
- Ford Police Interceptor - marked and unmarked versions
- Various unmarked vehicles for undercover and surveillance operations
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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