Union Urges Reversal of Staffing Changes Following East-End Station Stabbing

The union representing Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) special constables is demanding a reconsideration of recent staffing adjustments that they believe may have impeded the response to a stabbing incident involving a 17-year-old girl at an east-end station over the weekend.

The incident occurred last Sunday around 4 p.m. at Warden Station’s bus bay, where the victim suffered a stab wound to the torso. She was promptly taken to a local trauma center, and fortunately, her injuries were not life-threatening.

The perpetrator, identified as a 16-year-old girl, managed to escape from the scene, eluding authorities until the following day when she was finally apprehended.

In light of this incident, the union representing TTC’s special constables and transit enforcement officers has raised concerns about recent reductions in the constable’s presence at the security dispatch desk, which is responsible for reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. Until recently, special constables maintained a 24/7 presence at the desk. However, as of July 16, their deployment has been limited to the busiest periods, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, with transit control employees covering outside of peak hours and on weekends.

One key point of contention is the TTC’s dispatch desk policies, which allow only special constables and management to request the review of security footage. Transit control staff can only observe the feed live unless instructed by management. Additionally, civilian personnel are not authorized to review any footage deemed “sensitive” or “disturbing,” as specified in the policy.

The union argues that the reduced constable presence during critical times may have contributed to delays in responding to incidents like the recent stabbing, potentially hampering law enforcement efforts in identifying and apprehending the culprit promptly.

As the situation garners attention and concern, the TTC is facing calls from the union to revert to the previous staffing arrangement at the security dispatch desk. The union firmly believes that maintaining a continuous special constable presence will enhance public safety and improve the efficiency of incident response within the TTC system.

As investigations into the stabbing continue, discussions surrounding security protocols and staffing adjustments are likely to remain at the forefront of efforts to safeguard passengers and transit employees across Toronto’s public transportation network.