Repeat violent crime has police concerned, OPP commissioner tells Gormley

A police officer is one of the few jobs that involves running towards danger rather than away from it.

Throughout the year, there have been a number of incidents involving police officers being assaulted and, in some cases, killed across Canada. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of police officers.

The Saskatchewan RCMP recently said assaults on Mounties have risen by 29 per cent over the past five years, and 319 charges for assaulting or disarming police officers were laid in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction between the start of 2023 and the end of August.

Thomas Carrique is commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police and a board member with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. On Monday, he told CKOM and CJME’s John Gormley that there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to keeping officers safe.

“Police officers deserve to have safe communities to work in. If our police officers are not safe, then nobody is safe,” said Carrique.

He said that over the last 12 months he’s seen upward trends of violent crimes involving mental illness and repeat offenders.

“We certainly see a connection between mental illness in some cases and violence. In a number of police officer homicides that have taken place over the last 12 months, there is a correlation between mental illness with some of the offenders but also repeat violent behaviour, and when the mental illness is leading to a pattern of violent behaviour, that puts others at risk,” Carrique said.

“I do believe that that warrants strong consideration towards incarceration. That doesn’t mean that the offender doesn’t get treatment and doesn’t get help, but we need to make sure that – first and foremost – that victims are protected.”

Bill C-48 is an act that aims to amend the Criminal Code. It was introduced in the House of Commons by David Lametti, Canada’s minister of justice and attorney general.

The bill aims to make changes to Canada’s Criminal Code in order to address the issues surrounding bail and the recent uptick seen across the country involving repeat violent offenders.

The bill was introduced in response to crimes being committed by repeat violent offenders, in particular those who use firearms. The bill’s reverse-onus amendments would apply to accused people who were previously convicted of a violent crime and are subsequently charged with violent offences involving firearms, knives, bear spray or other weapons.

Carrique said he believes the bill would do some good, and he hopes to see it fully enacted.

“I do believe that will be a major step forward in creating a safer environment for our police to work in and safer communities right across this country,” Carrique said.

But while the bill may do some good in the future, Carrique said there isn’t enough being done right now.

“I don’t think there has been appropriate weight given to protecting victims from repeat violent offenders, protecting communities from repeat violent offenders, and our police officers. There has not been enough weight put on the risk to public safety that offenders pose, and too much weight put on other circumstances,” said Carrique.

The full interview with Carrique can be heard below.