New Foot Patrol launched for Yonge St.

32 Division Announcement:

32 Division is pleased to announce the deployment of a new Community Foot Patrol on the Yonge St corridor.

After extensive consultation with area business owners, and in line with, Lily CHENG, the Toronto City Councillor for Willowdale, Ward 18, this new unit will provide policing to the central business district of North York.

Foot patrol or "beat officers" have been around as long as modern-day policing itself. Although many police services discontinued walking beats between the 1920s and 1950s in favour of motorized patrols which were deemed to be more "efficient", the last few decades have seen a resurgence in foot patrols.

Foot patrols increase police visibility in busy areas, enhance our citizens' feeling of safety, and build bridges between citizens and police. Foot Patrol officers have an intimate knowledge of their area, often knowing shopkeepers and regulars by name.

Foot Patrol officers deploy, primarily at Yonge & Sheppard, Yonge & Finch and three TTC subway stations within this area.

Foot patrol officers are expected to visit businesses along their beat and interact with citizens.

They also respond to calls for service within their area.

Officers are often able to assist other police officers in identifying suspects due to the extensive knowledge base they develop while on patrol.

Officers walking the beat have volunteered to do so and consider it to be a very rewarding task.