Toronto Community Housing

VRP Bike Patrol Officers

The Community Safety Unit (CSU) is the corporate security and law enforcement agency of Toronto Community Housing Corporation. TCHC first established a protective service as contracted security guards in the mid 1980s until 1990. Soon after, the security firm was taken in-house and adopted a corporate security model under the then ‘MTHA’ (Metro Toronto Housing Authority). In 1995, MTHA secured Provincial Offences Officer (PO) designation for its in-house security personnel. It was then a hybrid of internal staff and contracted third party security services. However, only in-house security personnel could hold PO designation. Provincial Offences Officers status allowed the staff to issue provincial tickets, and (provincial) court summonses to cooperative trespassers. This is to avoid arresting them, and awaiting Toronto Police Service to release a person from custody.

In the year 2000, MTHA evolved into TCHC (today's corporation). With this, the City of Toronto and Toronto Police Service launched a pilot project to create Special Constables in TCHC on March 8, 2000. These Special Constables were sponsored and sworn in by the Toronto Police Service. The pilot project was deemed a success and most in-house security guards became sworn peace officers (Special Constables).[4] In 2015 the CSU launched a new deployment model creating faster response times and greater community engagement. This was the first step taken towards a more policing model in the community to combat the increasing violent crime and drug trafficking taking place within and in relation to TCHC properties. In 2017 the Toronto Police Services board approved the expansion of the Community Safety Unit (CSU) [5]

Currently the CSU consists of approximately 192 (and approved for a complement of 300) special constables making it the largest (independent) special constable agency in Canada.[6] The CSU is larger than some police services in Canada and statistically deals with more investigative and criminal code enforcement than many rural police services in the province of Ontario.[7] The CSU went under a rapid progression to a law enforcement model under their new Chief Special Constable William (Bill) Anderson (a former Peel Regional Police and Hamilton Police Service Staff Sergeant) in 2018. Many initiatives were brought in such as the Violence Reduction Program (VRP).[8] The VRP was introduced as a tool to counteract the extreme increase in violent crime in the city of Toronto. This project was backed and applauded by both Toronto City Council and the Toronto Police Service[9][10][11]

Chief Bill Anderson retired in September 2021 and was replaced by Deputy Chief Al Britton in the interim.[12]

TCHC special constables have police powers bestowed to them under the Police Services Act by Toronto Police Service on or in relation to Toronto Community Housing property [13] and have the ability to enforce legislation from the: Criminal Code of Canada, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Mental Health Act, Liquor Licence Act, Trespass to Property Act, and Provincial Offences Act.[14]

The Community Safety Unit operates in the following capacities:

• Provincial Offences Officers (Parking Enforcement)
• Special Constables (Patrol Units and Violence Reduction Program Neighbourhood Officers)
• Community Safety Advisors (Address community safety meetings and issues with tenants)
• Field Intelligence Officers (Intelligence gathering working with Toronto Police Service)
• Access Control (FOB access and access monitoring in all TCHC buildings)
• ITS (Information technology including operating and downloading CCTV footage)

[15]

A marked CSU Ford Police Utility Interceptor (Explorer) with emergency lights engaged

CSU Marked Ford Taurus Police Interceptor

• Ford Taurus Police Interceptor Sedans (Marked & Unmarked)
• Dodge Charger (LD) Police Pursuit Hemi V8/AWD
• Ford Explorer Police Utility Interceptors (Marked & Unmarked)
• Ram 1500 ST Pick Up Command Truck

[16]

All Special Constable scout cars (or alternatively known as cruisers) are equipped with amber, red, and white emergency lighting. Several Taurus', Dodge Chargers, and the Ram 15000 command truck are equipped with a Havis, Inc. LED light bar. While others in the fleet (slick tops) have internal 'hidden' lighting that appear only when in operation. The vehicle's equipped with the light-bar also feature high bright take down and alley lights.

Command Officers and Field Intelligence Officers use unmarked Grey "stealth" scout cars (two Ford FPIU and one Ford FPI). The stealth vehicle's feature 'hidden' Havis LED lighting systems as well as sirens and air horns. They are also all equipped with prisoner transport divider and back seats.

All special constable vehicles are also equipped with sirens and air horns. The interiors are equipped with prisoner transport dividers and seating for 2 in custody. CSU Special Constables are authorized to execute warrants, and place persons under arrest under their authorities. They also transport the prisoners to a Toronto Police Service Division for processing and holding. They also transport individuals apprehended for Mental Health purposes to local hospitals.

The Ford FPIU door panels offer ballistic protection.[17] The Ford FPIU (Explorers), Dodge Chargers and several Ford FPI (Taurus) also are equipped with push-bars.

The vehicle's are maintained by the City of Toronto Fleet Services.[18] And the new (2020) Ford FPIU (Explorer) scout cars are Hybrid vehicle's.[19]

The CSU previously used Chevrolet Impala's, Toyota Camry, and Ford Escape before being phased out in late 2019. CSU Parking Enforcement is slated to receive new Hybrid Ford Escape's in Q2 2022.

Staff Sergeant, Sergeant and Special Constables

• Special constable (Patrol)
• Corporal (Training, Intelligence and Logistics)
• Sergeant (Patrol / Administrative / Training and Logistics)
• Staff sergeant (Patrol / System Security / Administrative / Training and Logistical Support)
• Inspector (Currently Unused)
• Deputy Chief Special Constable (Operations and Administrative)
• Chief Special Constable

• YRT/Viva Special Constable Services
• Transit Enforcement Unit

Toronto Auditor General Jeffery Griffiths conducted audits of TCHC procurements and employee expenses from January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, reporting his findings in two separate reports on December 7, 2010. His report on employee expenses revealed a list of inappropriate expenses incurred by TCHC as a result of staff abusing the organization's funds for personal interest. Examples include a $1,850 boat cruise for "staff development", $1,925 for manicures and pedicures, $6,000 for a planning session in Muskoka, $53,500 for a 2008 staff party, $40,000 for a staff Christmas party in 2009, and $800 to provide massages at a staff picnic.[20][21] Frequently deemed the most offensive of all the expenses by media figures, social advocates, and TCHC residents alike was the purchase of chocolates from luxury department store Holt Renfrew at a cost of $1,000.[22]

The procurement audit found that procurement policy and procedures adopted by the TCHC board of directors were sometimes ignored. For instance, an open tendering process was sometimes not used when it should have been, the tendering process was not always transparent, and purchase orders were sometimes split to circumvent procurement procedures. Several cases of single tendering were deemed inappropriate, including one case of a potential conflict of interest not declared in writing and one case of nearly $25 million in work awarded to an unsolicited proposal without competition from other vendors. The report also criticized TCHC for bypassing the formal requirement that bidders make deposits—a requirement that protects the TCHC should a bidder fail to meet its contractual obligations—and for its documentation inadequately supporting some cases of single tendering.[21][23]

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford demanded the resignation of the board of TCHC and although they were initially defiant, by March 3, 2011, all board members had resigned. The board was then replaced on a temporary basis by former city councillor Case Ootes.[24] Ford demanded the resignation of TCHC CEO Keiko Nakamura who initially refused to step down.[24] Toronto land development agency Build Toronto removed its CEO Derek Ballantyne who had been previously the CEO of TCHC.[24] Ford called for the privatization of Toronto Community Housing Corporation. The feasibility of the privatization of TCHC was greeted with widespread scrutiny and skepticism; many housing and business experts felt that Ford underestimated the complexity of such a transition.[25] TCHC CEO Nakamura resigned after a fire in a complex on Wellesley Street, and was replaced by Len Koroneos, selected by Ford.[26]

On June 18, 2012, Eugene Jones Jr. took over as president and CEO of TCHC. Jones has over 30 years of experience working in the U.S. public housing sector, most recently as the executive director of the Detroit Housing Commission.[27]

Since TCHC was formed in 2002, it has compiled a list of needed repairs to its buildings. By 2013, TCHC estimated it had a $751 million backlog of repairs to its buildings.[28] In 2011, TCHC initiated a program of selling off units and other assets with the proceeds to be put towards needed repairs. 65 units were approved for sale by Ontario, and Toronto City Council approved the sale of a further 55 units in October 2012.[28]

In 2013, the City of Toronto Ombudsman released a report about TCHC eviction policy and evictions in 2011 and 2012. The report was sparked after the death of a senior evicted from TCHC in 2011, who died one month after being evicted. Len Koroneos, CEO during the period studied, focussed on rent collection, stating that “Good eviction prevention programs cannot be implemented at the expense of rent collection.”[26] The TCHC Board adopted the recommendations of the Ombudsman.

Five employees were fired after an investigation into fraudulent billing found evidence of wrongdoing. The investigation involved a former subsidiary Housing Services Inc., and its work on the TCHC project at 200 Wellesley Street East, after it had been damaged by fire. The file was turned over to Toronto Police for further investigation.[29]