For the next two months, expect to see more police officers than usual on Toronto streets between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. each evening.
Forced overtime for Toronto Police began Friday evening as a way to help the city stop and ultimately prevent gun violence.
A total of 200 additional officers are joining the 240 who are already working during the evening and overnight hours. The cost? An extra $3-million in overtime pay.
On CP24 Friday morning, Police Chief Mark Saunders said he's hoping the boost will permanently change the number of officers on patrol at that time of day.
“The fact I have only 240 people working at critical times of the evening when the gunplay is happening is a problem,” he said.
In some areas, the additional officers will be out on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And they won't necessarily be in their cars.
”For the most part you can expect to see officers out in the communities where gun violence has been taking place," said 23 Division Supt. Ron Taverner. "They will largely be on foot.”
- With files from CP24