80 more police officers to patrol Toronto transit to boost safety

Toronto’s police chief says the force is boosting its daily presence with 80 more officers on city transit following recent violence in the system.

Chief Myron Demkiw says that will be done mainly by off-duty officers working overtime shifts to ensure frontline officers can still respond to priority calls.

Demkiw says the goal of the plan is to reduce victimization, prevent crimes of opportunity and promote public safety.

READ MORE: Toronto police to discuss transit safety at 1:30 p.m. after violence

While Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) officials do not know the cause of the recent violence, CEO Rick Leary says the underlying issues are complex and will need a coordinated response.

Shortly before the announcement, police arrested one person after a group of teens allegedly shot a subway passenger with a BB gun.

In recent days, a 16-year-old victim and a woman were stabbed on a TTC vehicle, two uniformed TTC workers were assaulted on their way to work and a TTC driver was shot with a BB gun.

READ MORE: One arrested after TTC subway rider shot with BB gun: police