Several Ontario police forces have tweeted this morning giving public reassurance they won't be conducting random stops:
"Peterborough Police will continue to be complaints-driven in our response to the increased provincial measures, that means we will not be randomly stopping people."
Toronto police tweeted "new emergency orders announced yesterday to help limit the spread of Covid-19 are now in effect. The Toronto Police Service will continue to engage, educate and enforce, but we will not be doing random stops of people or cars."
Windsor Police Officers will not be randomly stopping people or vehicles. We all need to do our part for the health and safety of our community. Everyone has a role and a responsibility to keep our City safe. Stay home and do not gather with people outside your household.
Peel Police makes it official in a statement from the chief: "I would like to reassure our citizens that our officers will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops."
"Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops."
Although there is no official statement on Twitter from Durham Regional Police yet, Radio News has posted that Durham is among the police announcing they won't use the new COVID powers to conduct random stops
Police Association of Ontario Statement:
April 17, 2021 – While the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) acknowledges that the worsening COVID-19 public health crisis must be addressed, the greater enforcement authorities that were originally announced yesterday as part of the Ontario government’s enhanced emergency orders would have created a very challenging environment for both front-line police personnel and communities across the province.
Following Friday’s announcement, the PAO immediately reached out to the Ministry of the Solicitor General to provide extensive feedback on their decision to expand the emergency orders to include the ability for police to randomly stop individuals who may be in breach of them. “It is unrealistic and unnecessary for officers to stop people who are taking a walk, going for groceries or travelling to/from their essential service role. This was not a role our officers asked for or were interested in taking on within their communities,” said PAO President Bruce Chapman. “We have advocated strongly to the Ontario government for expanded clarity regarding their intentions for these new enforcement orders to ensure the policing profession and all Ontarians are accurately informed,” he continued.
"Peterborough Police will continue to be complaints-driven in our response to the increased provincial measures, that means we will not be randomly stopping people."
Toronto police tweeted "new emergency orders announced yesterday to help limit the spread of Covid-19 are now in effect. The Toronto Police Service will continue to engage, educate and enforce, but we will not be doing random stops of people or cars."
Windsor Police Officers will not be randomly stopping people or vehicles. We all need to do our part for the health and safety of our community. Everyone has a role and a responsibility to keep our City safe. Stay home and do not gather with people outside your household.
Peel Police makes it official in a statement from the chief: "I would like to reassure our citizens that our officers will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops."
"Members of the Thunder Bay Police Service will not be conducting random vehicle or individual stops."
Although there is no official statement on Twitter from Durham Regional Police yet, Radio News has posted that Durham is among the police announcing they won't use the new COVID powers to conduct random stops
Police Association of Ontario Statement:
April 17, 2021 – While the Police Association of Ontario (PAO) acknowledges that the worsening COVID-19 public health crisis must be addressed, the greater enforcement authorities that were originally announced yesterday as part of the Ontario government’s enhanced emergency orders would have created a very challenging environment for both front-line police personnel and communities across the province.
Following Friday’s announcement, the PAO immediately reached out to the Ministry of the Solicitor General to provide extensive feedback on their decision to expand the emergency orders to include the ability for police to randomly stop individuals who may be in breach of them. “It is unrealistic and unnecessary for officers to stop people who are taking a walk, going for groceries or travelling to/from their essential service role. This was not a role our officers asked for or were interested in taking on within their communities,” said PAO President Bruce Chapman. “We have advocated strongly to the Ontario government for expanded clarity regarding their intentions for these new enforcement orders to ensure the policing profession and all Ontarians are accurately informed,” he continued.
