Toronto’s police chief says “public outrage will not be enough” to combat a recent spike in gun violence across the city in the wake of the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman, and is calling for more cooperation from the public.
“The killing of Candice Bobb on Sunday evening has shocked the city, the tragedy of a pregnant woman shot to death, while medical staff are fighting to save the life of her unborn child, has reminded us of the threats we face,” Police Chief Mark Saunders said Tuesday.
“We have seen this year in Toronto, very significant increases in homicide and other gun-related crimes. We are not alone.”
READ MORE: Baby in stable condition after pregnant woman shot dead in Toronto
Saunders pointed to a recent Washington Post article that showed the first months of 2016 have shown increases in homicides in more than two dozen cities across the U.S. but said that is not something the city can take comfort in.
“I’m regularly asked for what I believe the cause of this is. Many commentators have claimed they know why they have seen such an increase in Toronto and across North America,” he said.
“What I know with absolutely certainty is that there’s no simple solution to complicated problems.”
Gun violence on the rise in Toronto
The lack of a “simple solution” seems to be at the heart of the issue, as Toronto has seen the number of homicides skyrocket to 29 so far this year, compared to 15 in 2015, 20 in 2014 and 22 in 2013.
“We still have to work together so that we can resolve these homicides as best as possible,” Saunders said.
“Especially the ones that are out in public spaces. Those are the ones that aren’t committed in vacuums and we know that people can assist us with those and so a lot of times people think that they have information that doesn’t have value, and yet it has tremendous value.”
WATCH: Shooting death of pregnant woman shines spotlight on increase in gun violence
Saunders added that police use all of the resources at their disposal to quell the recent rise in gun-related violence, including tracking and analyzing crime around the clock, deploying resources where they are needed most and using all the investigative techniques available to put violent criminals behind bars.
“Many people over the last few days have stated that something must be done. That is not enough,” Saunders said, adding that Toronto is still the “safest urban city in North America.”
“We must translate that genuine anger and concern into tangible action that increases the ability of our city of Toronto to beat those who commit to cause violence.”
READ MORE: Deadly shootings in Toronto triple this year amid spike in gunfire
He added that there was still work to do to rebuild “public confidence” in the police and ensure that the contacts officers make with the public “are marked with respect and professionalism.”
“In every community in this city there are people who know who’s committed to a life of violence. That information is the most precious resource we have. The most potent weapon in this fight,” he said.
“But we must make much better use of it. Those who have that information need to come forward, anonymously or otherwise to help everyone. Public outrage will not be enough.”
Growing disconnect between Toronto police and the public
Saunders brushed off questions related to an open letter written by Toronto Police Association President Mike McCormack and published in the Toronto Sun and National Post Tuesday, which alluded to a “growing disconnect between the police and the community.”
“While politicians and some community groups are focused on reducing the cost of policing, there has been a significant increase in violent crime. The safest city in North America has a gun violence problem,” McCormack wrote, adding that typically gun violence gets worse in the summer months.
“It is time to move forward and find a meaningful way to engage proactively with the communities we serve and protect. There has never been a more critical time for the police, the province, our civic leaders and the residents of Toronto to collectively take a firm stand against violent crime.”
WATCH: Gun violence spikes in Toronto
McCormack added that in the face of much discussion over the value of carding, the police force has accepted that carding “is over.”
Saunders said another major factor at play is that more people are carrying firearms; evident by the fact that officers have seized close to 250 firearms this year — 100 of which are handguns.
“It’s not just a matter of policing your way through these situations. We can arrest until the cows come home, that’s not going to make communities better, that’s only one factor of all the other pieces that need to be put in place.”
Saunders said the Toronto Police Service isn’t looking for more funding for things such as witness protection, but instead is looking for more cooperation from the public.
“What we’re looking for is evidence at the end of the day when people see things either to call us or to contact Crime Stoppers so that we have an opportunity to bring whoever uses handguns or uses firearms to resolve an issue before the judicial system,” he said.
“We make a lot of arrests and men and women are working very hard out there. Are they doing an excellent job? Yeah they are, which is why I still say this is the safest city. But is there more to be done? Absolutely.”
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