June 2014
Local VIP: Superintendent Selwyn Fernandes, Toronto Police
Local VIP is a feature of Yonge-Sheppard Condominium News. Local VIP informs you about individuals who have had an impact on the Yonge North Corridor community.
Superintendent Selwyn Fernandes is the senior police officer in the Yonge North Corridor, Police Division 32, situated at 30 Ellerslie Avenue.
Born in Tanzania and with roots in Goa, India, Selwyn understands life in Toronto for those born here and recent immigrants trying to assimilate in the communities that make up the City of Toronto. He immigrated to Canada in 1971, joined the Toronto Police Service and has served the Toronto Police for 42 years.
The Toronto Police 32 Division serves a population of nearly 500,000 of which about 20% reside in the Yonge North Corridor.
Superintendent Fernandes and his officers work with community leaders, Business Improvement Agencies (BIAs), schools, consulates, religious groups and other organizations to maintain long term safety and security in the area.
Dealing with crime is when police are most obvious and the necessity of community engagement is often overlooked. Yet this may be the most important part of their job.
Community Policing
Police can support, lead and assist but the community has to mobilize itself; step up, be active and take responsibility. Community Policing, as practiced by Toronto Police, is a working relationship between police and community. The Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) is a partnership which recognizes that community issues cannot be dealt with solely by the police. Community residents have a better understanding of issues in each area and need to be involved if there is to be progress. The Community Police Liaison Committee is a regular meeting of influential residents from North York communities. Issues brought up by this group are brought back to the local police station to be handled with input from stakeholders. Information from police is communicated to the community through committee members.
The Yonge North Corridor does not have a community organization whose members may be suitable for participation in the Community Police Liaison Committee. Condo buildings tend to see themselves as independent communities. They generally operate as independent entities rather than working as a group. This may explain why the Yonge North Corridor condo community has not yet cultivated community leaders interested in participating in this committee.
The Community Response Unit (CRU) in 32 Division are officers tasked with developing and offering programs for the elderly, young and at-risk groups. This includes academic and sporting programs that engage youth and address sensitive issues such as bullying, the gang culture, drug use and developing self-esteem in life pursuits. It includes soliciting role models such as local sports celebrities to participate in these programs. Police officers of the Community Response Unit are available to speak with condo groups at information meetings.
The Korean Consulate is one group that works closely with Toronto Police. The Yonge North Corridor has a large Korean community which includes students attending university. The police offer seminars and presentations to help this community understand Community Policing and reporting of crime so as to avoid victimization that goes unnoticed. The concept of working with police, generally understood among those born in Canada, is not the norm in authoritarian regimes where police are more likely feared.
“The condo community tends to have a false sense of security”
The condo community tends to have a false sense of security. Far too many condo dwellers operate under the assumption that someone else is looking out for them. The presumption is that someone else will handle their personal security or report incidents.
There is also a desire to avoid unpleasant interactions such as confronting unknown individuals in a building. Criminals know this and capitalize on it. Criminals know that most incidents in a condo building will go unreported which results in a reduced likelihood of getting caught.
“One of the biggest problems in the condo community is that people think others are reporting crimes”
One of the biggest problems in the condo community is that people think others are reporting crimes. There is a presumption that reporting of a crime has been done by a neighbour or property manager. Other times a crime goes unreported because of a perception that nothing will be done or that, in the event of a theft, insurance premiums may increase. This is contrary to expectations of the police that residents serve as their eyes and ears. The result is that a majority of condo crimes are unreported. Unreported crimes prevent police from being aware of and addressing crime in condos. Criminals are allowed to repeat offenses because condo dwellers do not report their crimes to the police.
“Failure to report a break-in and theft from your car in an underground parking area increases the likelihood that similar incidents will occur”
The biggest security threats in condo buildings are car thefts in underground garages followed by breaking and entering. Most are never reported to the police. This prevents the police from identifying trends, identifying and capturing those committing these thefts, and preventing future incidents. Failure to report a break-in and theft from your car in an underground parking area increases the likelihood that similar incidents will occur.
Another problem is security cameras, particularly in older buildings. Security cameras are both cost effective and essential to condo security. They deter some from trespassing, causing damage or theft because of their presence. After an offense has occurred, security cameras capture these incidents and can result in convictions. This can only happen if older security cameras are updated so that viewed images are clear.
The reality is that people will break into a property regardless of the security measures that are implemented. When security cameras are present the probability of getting caught is dramatically increased and serves as the best deterrent to crime. While security cameras may not prevent crime, police investigators consider them to be important investigative tools.
Crime Prevention Through Planning
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an approach to deterring criminal behavior that is particularly pertinent to condo buildings and supported by Toronto Police. It involves strategies to make areas unfriendly to certain actions. It has been found to be an effective way to deter undesirable decisions that often precede criminal acts. CPTED involves altering the physical design of areas where people reside and/or congregate to deter criminal activity. CPTED makes certain areas unfriendly to undesirable acts such as loitering, vandalism and theft. It can be a more efficient and appealing approach than spending sums on more security equipment. CPTED may involve increasing site lines so that areas are not obscured from existing security cameras. It may include improved lighting and trimming hedges. Where skateboarding is a concern, a CPTED approach may be to utilize interlocking stone so the area is less appealing for this purpose.
Security Tips from Toronto Police
Statistically, condos are less vulnerable to break-ins than others forms of housing. However, 90% of all break & enters are preventable. Active participation is always necessary to maintain security.
- Do not allow trespassers to follow you through doorways without reporting them to the concierge.
- Do not circumvent security by preventing doors from locking. Avoid placing door stops, stones or twigs in the door’s pathway to defeat an auto locking mechanism.
- Take pictures or video of valuables so they can be used as proof in the event of theft.
- Periodically change the location of stored valuables.
- Do not leave valuables visible to view in a vehicle.
- Use a chain to secure motorcycles and bicycles.
- Report ALL crimes to police.
- Take down licence plate numbers of vehicles where the occupants are suspicious to you. You can forward the information if an occurrence is reported to police.
