Northern police agencies join OPP-led initiative to crack down on guns and gangs
A number of northern Ontario law enforcement agencies are uniting with the Ontario Provincial Police to enhance their capacity to crack down on guns and gang violence.
A Guns and Gangs Joint-Forces Operation, led by the OPP, is expected to increase intelligence sharing and provide additional enforcement tools through $75 million in funding announced by the provincial government last fall.
Among the forces joining are police in North Bay, Timmins, Sudbury and Anishinabek police.
North Bay police Chief Scott Tod said until about five years ago, gang activity in northeastern Ontario wasn't prevalent.
"Now we are seeing an influx from Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston and other communities that involves gang activity in our community," said Tod.
The enforcement strategy includes developing a joint analytical working group consisting of personnel from participating law enforcement agencies and the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, who will prioritize the gathering, analyzing and sharing of intelligence relating to gun and gang criminality and violence.
"The presence of gang activity has really caught us in a position that we had to partner with another organization," said Tod.
North Bay police officers seized 14 firearms related to criminal incidents in 2021 and 13 so far in 2022.
"This is one more step for the North Bay Police Service to be successful in our community when it comes to guns and gangs in our community," Tod said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.