By Gabriel Meissner
Gabriel is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

The June Quarterly Police meeting in Regent Park, led by Constable Farzad Ghotbi, Constable Mircea Biga, and Sergeant Jeremy Boyko, primarily focused on community safety concerns related to fireworks and e-scooters. The police detailed the alarming trend of teenagers and young adults using fireworks as weapons, leading to numerous injuries and disturbing the neighbourhood’s peace. Constable Ghotbi emphasized that using fireworks in such a manner is legally equivalent to using a firearm and will be prosecuted accordingly.

The misuse of e-scooters by teenagers and children was also a significant topic. The police highlighted the dangers of e-scooters speeding through public spaces and running red lights. They proposed introducing fines similar to driving penalties to curb this behaviour, a suggestion that drew concerns from Regent Park residents worried about the potential strain on the youth-law enforcement relationship. However, the police reiterated the necessity of fines until a better solution is found.

In the latter part of the meeting, Marc Madramootoo, Program Coordinator for Crime Stoppers Toronto, presented an overview of the organization. Established in 1984, Crime Stoppers is a collaboration between the police, media, and community that allows anonymous reporting of criminal activities. Madramootoo highlighted the organization's transition from offering cash rewards to reinvesting in community safety initiatives. This shift aims to encourage community engagement and crime prevention.

Madramootoo also discussed the pivotal role of media in publicizing unsolved crimes and wanted persons and the importance of community donations in sustaining Crime Stoppers’ initiatives. He shared impressive statistics, noting the program’s success since inception, with over 11,250 arrests and substantial recoveries of property and narcotics, underscoring its critical role in Toronto’s crime prevention efforts.