The Toronto Police Association (TPA) has released a scathing statement slamming Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow for her continued silence on recent incidents of violence against police officers.
The TPA statement posted on Twitter criticizes Mayor Chow for failing to show support for a police officer who was recently hit with a stolen car and offering condolences for a police K-9 that was shot and killed in the line of duty.
“In the last 5 days, we have had a police officer struck and injured by a stolen car, officers shot at, and a police dog killed in the line of duty,” reads the statement.
“Will Mayor Chow offer any words of condolence or support for our members?”
TPA president Jon Reid chimed in, telling Chow that Toronto’s police officers deserve her support.
“Mayor Chow the men and women of the @TorontoPolice Service put their lives on the line everyday to keep you and the citizens of Toronto safe,” said Reid.
“They deserve your public support.”
Last week, a police officer on a bicycle was struck by a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year old girl driving a stolen car, sending the officer to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
On Tuesday, police were searching for an armed suspect in the Kipling Ave and Dixon Rd area when the suspect shot and killed the police’s 2-year-old German Shepherd named Bingo.
Chow’s office said in a statement to the Toronto Sun that the Mayor is grateful for the work of the police.
“The mayor is in frequent communication with the chief of police. She sincerely hopes that the recently injured officers recover quickly, and she is grateful for their service,” the statement said.
“The mayor recognizes and appreciates the danger police put themselves in each day on behalf of communities across the city. She also expresses her condolences to Sgt. Brandon Smith and to anyone else who knew and loved Bingo.”
Toronto’s citizens continue to face struggle with the growing threat of violent crime.
On Sunday, a man was shot and killed in Toronto’s Greektown area at Danforth Ave and Carlaw Ave, hours after members of the community gathered for a memorial to commemorate the victims of a Danforth Ave shooting five years ago.
On Tuesday, a man was shot and killed in his car in the Sherbourne and Shutter area in what police believe to be a targeted murder. Police are still looking for the suspect.
Despite waging a months-long campaign for the mayoralty, Chow had not released a platform to combat crime and had recently stated that she has not come up with a plan to address Toronto’s crime problems.
The closest thing Chow’s platform had as a plan to address violent crime was Chow’s plan to reduce 911 wait times and expand Toronto’s Community Crisis Service – teams of social workers meant to respond to “mental-health emergencies” at the 211 or 911 phone numbers.
