Toronto – Mayor Olivia Chow hosted a media conference in TPS 42 Division to share updates on progress in community safety and outline the city’s significant investments in crime prevention.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe. When people face an emergency – you need to know help will be there when you need it most. And fast,” said Mayor Chow. “As our city grows our emergency services need to grow too.”
Since October 2023, the Toronto Police Service has reduced Priority 1 response times by 50%.
“Thank you to our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, crisis workers and all first responders, for always stepping up to protect the health and safety of Torontonians,” added Mayor Chow.
The Mayor also outlined that the Budget 2025 will focus on implementing Toronto Police Service Multi-Year Hiring Plan, which will ensure a steady increase in new officers over the next few years. By the end of 2025, the city plans to recruit 276 new emergency service positions, including 109 new police officers.
Also in Budget 2025, the city will invest $5 million in youth violence prevention programs, providing mentorship, skill-building, training, outreach, and educational opportunities to help young people stay away from crime.
Superintendent LeeAnn Papizewski and Inspector Richard Harris from 42 Division also provided an update on the latest safety statistics in the jurisdiction. So far this year, the Priority 1 average response time in this area has been reduced to 14.4 minutes, a significant decrease of 41.7% compared to 24.7 minutes in the same period last year. Additionally, the number of car thefts, which had been a major concern among residents, has also decreased substantially from 259 incidents last year to 138 currently, a drop of 46.7%.
“Improving response times is a top priority for the Toronto Police Service, and I’m proud to share that here in 42 Division, we’ve seen a 41.7% improvement so far in 2025 compared to this time last year—getting officers where they’re needed faster,” said 42 Division Superintendent LeeAnn Papizewski. “While we’ve made significant progress in reducing key crime indicators, including multiple break-and-enter arrests in the past week, we remain vigilant in tackling emerging challenges. That’s why the approved 2025 budget is so critical—it will allow us to hire more officers and ensure we have the resources to keep our communities safe.”
Mayor Chow concluded, “As your Mayor, I want to build a safer, more caring, and more affordable city for everyone. I look forward to working closely with you all to create a supportive, stable, and healthy community.”
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKevie and Councillor Nick Mantas attended the press conference.
