Toronto police to deploy dedicated teams to shut down all parties and gatherings

The Toronto Metropolitan Police announced on Wednesday that all 16 of their divisions will have enforcement teams formed specifically to respond to illegal gatherings.

The teams will be assigned to their divisions, but will have their own central command, and will be allowed to cross-divisional boundaries in order to respond to clusters of illegal gatherings, large or small.

Chief of Police James Ramer stated:

"We are at a critical stage of this pandemic. COVID-19 is now a matter of public health and public safety. The Toronto Police Service will enforce the provincial orders and will work with the city’s bylaw officers and Toronto Public Health to enforce the measures that will help slow the rapid spread of COVID-19 that is putting public safety at risk."

Staff Superintendent Randy Carter commented:

"Our divisional teams will focus on large gatherings that fail to comply with the emergency orders, with a particular focus on indoor gatherings such as parties at short-term rentals or at bars and restaurants. Everyone must do their part to protect our health and safety, and for police that means continuing to enforce equitably and effectively."

Officials went on to iterate that these measures have nothing to do with the controversial new measures previously introduced by the provincial government. People will not need letters from their employers to be outside, or have to provide any other reason why they left home. Random stops will also specifically not be carried out.