OPP to take over traffic enforcement on Toronto's Gardiner and DVP highways
The new detachment will house specialized policing vehicles, a helicopter pad, a proposed marine unit and the first OPP mounted unit to "enhance patrol operations at the park," a release from the province Friday said.
The detachment will be part of the administration and maintenance complex set to replace the existing administration building at Ontario Place.
Once the Gardiner Expressway and DVP become the province's responsibility, they will be designated as King's Highways, which means the OPP will oversee traffic patrol- and safety-related matters on those highways, as they do on all provincial highways including the 400-series highways like the 401 and 407. Toronto police will maintain oversight over non-traffic patrol-related policing matters.
"The priority of the Toronto Police Service is the safety and security of all Torontonians and the millions of people who use our roadways," said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, adding that he commends and supports the "highly skilled members of Traffic Services, who along with the divisions and specialized teams, emergency response units, crisis negotiators and forensic experts, respond effectively and efficiently to thousands of calls for service a year to keep the city's arterial expressways moving safely.
The OPP has a detachment in North York near the 401, and several across the GTA including in Thornhill by the 407 and in Mississauga near the 401.
Police union opposes new plan
The Toronto Police Association (TPA), which represents members and civilian members of TPS, called the decision to move responsibility for the roadways to the province a "gross overreach which will develop a fragmented system, hurting both the city and our members."
In an open letter, the TPA said it "does not make operational sense" to bring in another response unit like the OPP to deal with traffic operations on certain routes.
Instead, the TPA called on the Solicitor General to expand certain TPS units as a way to invest in safety, and also called on Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw "to stand up for their members."
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