Toronto Police Service, 13 Division, located on Eglinton Avenue West near Allen Expressway, will be consulting the community this fall on its future at this location, as part of a facilities review. Local councillor Joe Mihevc said he is adamantly against options that are being considered — other than keeping the station in the community — of either relocating the station or redrawing the neighbouring station boundaries to absorb 13 Division.
“I am very strongly opposed to it being closed down and integrated into any nearby stations to create what would be superstations,” Mihevc said. “From a policing perspective, having an address in the community is important — they [officers] get to know the community better, rather than driving in it or through it.”
He is cautiously optimistic that the community’s desire to have the police station stay put will sway the decision in that direction.
Insp. Glenn Holt from 13 Division explained that the review is being done proactively as it comes up on the Toronto Police Service capital budget. They will be assessing changing needs and looking for efficiencies without sacrificing service. As part of the review, statistics on everything from violent crime to how evenly work is spread between officers in different divisions will be taken into account.
“I live in the city, so I know what kind of policing I want, so I’m looking at the service that they receive, and I wouldn’t want that impacted,” Insp. Holt said. But, he added, “I tell them [residents], ‘Remember you are taxpayers, and you also want best bang for buck, and by reconfiguring, maybe we can save money.’ ”
It’s a review that might potentially have implications for 53 Division, which polices midtown, as the portion of Forest Hill now part of 13 Division might naturally be absorbed by it if the boundaries are redrawn. This November, 13 Division is expected to make recommendations to the Toronto Police Service chief and deputies. From there, a report will be sent to the Toronto Police Services Board.