Rating: NNNNN
policing observers have always known that chief Julian Fantino, he of the brass balls and big stick, is soft on community policing.
But now it’s all there for the world to see in the force’s recently released service priorities pamphlet for 2001.
Community foot patrols rank number 7 out of 13 priorities itemized in the document.
The chief’s number-one priority? Youth violence and victimization of youth, followed by organized crime, traffic safety, drug enforcement, infrastructure improvements and crime prevention.
Police spokesperson Rob Knapper says he doesn’t know if there are, as the pamphlet states, plans to “increase the visibility of officers in neighbourhoods.” And he’s the one who sent out the press release touting the new priorities. He referred calls to staff inspector Bruce Smollet, who did not return a request for comment. (Police just can’t seem to get over that pic of Fantino’s house in NOW.)
Last time we checked, more cops were being moved into emergency response than foot patrols. What happened to the Beyond 2000 report that set out community policing as the number one policing priority way back when?
ENZO Di MATTEO
