Results tagged “torontopoliceservices”

During labour disputes, anger is the emotion you tend to hear about most. Amid stories of picketers delaying citizens who are dropping off their garbage and protests over dump-site locations, romance seems an unlikely sidebar for those on the frontline of the current city workers’ strike.

When the Information and Privacy Commissioner for Ontario published its guidelines for the use of video surveillance cameras in public places back in October 2001 [.PDF], it summarized that institutions considering their use "must balance the benefits of video surveillance to the public against an individual’s right to be free of unwarranted intrusion into his or her life. Pervasive, routine and random surveillance of ordinary, lawful public activities interferes with an individual’s privacy."

There are things that go on in this city at night that are far weirder than the leather-clad teenagers on Queen West. Did you know that vampires stalk High Park? Or that Toronto Police Services crossed into another dimension to investigate a suspicious death? No? Then you should check out Karen Bennett’s Fantastic Toronto project.

Whether public surveillance cams make you feel all safe n’ cosy, or whether you find them an egregious infringement on your right to litter, tag, and engage in other anti-social behaviour, the Toronto Police Services Board wants to talk to you about it.

We're experimenting with a new daily photo posting. Each weekday morning, we'll pick a recent image from the Torontoist Flickr Pool and feature it here on the site. It's our way to give the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention they deserve!

It appears that most members of the Liberal caucus will support Stephen Harper’s resolution that Quebec be considered a “nation” within Canada.

If you're even a casual viewer of Cops, you'll know how spectacular a TASER takedown can be. Looking straight out of a Star Wars flick, this bug-zapper-for-people sends a whole whack of electricity into the body, disrupting muscular and nervous function and rendering the target helpless. The charge is meant to be non-lethal, and the various incarnations of the weapon have been widely adopted by police forces who enthusiastically hail their effectiveness.

Not only did the Toronto Police Services Board unanimously approve a decision to hire 150 new officers, but they also accepted a decision to force all officers, including big chief Blair, to wear name tags. Somehow, the nametags will cost $142,000. Perhaps they are made of gold, to give the officers a bit of style. If they're going to cost this much though, then TOist suggests they opt for those hoop earrings for the ladies, the ones that reveal their name in gold script in the hoop. Then, approaching civilians could know their names even from profile.

TOist had the opportunity to visit the Lost Articles Office at the TTC a few weeks ago. It's a vast repository for things lost and unloved, where the finds range from the mundane (hundreds of pairs of gloves) to the magnificent (a super vintage apple laptop, similar to the ones presently starring in Bruce Mau's massive change). But while the TTC formerly offloaded the unclaimed items with bi-annual sales, they're now, like much of the western world, going Ebay. Apparently, Toronto Police Services has been doing this since last year, and it's always a good idea to follow the lead of the TPS. As of press time, bidding for the 'Assortment of Beauty and Healthcare Products' stood at $13.00. Check out that quality Clingwrap.

The budget also included extra funding for community groups, and an extra 10 million for Toronto Police Services.