The Toronto Police Services Board has approved a new batch of measures, Thursday, to try and chip away at the problem of guns and gangs plaguing the city the last few months.
Police Chief Mark Saunders wants to add more surveillance cameras outside the entertainment district and bring a technology called ShotSpotter, used in cities like Chicago, New York and San Francisco to Toronto
The measures could cost as much four million dollars and the city will be looking to Ottawa for Queens Park for help to pay.
Saunders said the board has approved adding dozens of CCTV cameras in public area beyond the entertainment district, where there are already a number of cameras set up.
But he's also calling for an audio technology called ShotSpotter, which has been used in about 100 American cities including Chicago, New York City and San Francisco.
The tech can pick up the sounds of gunfire in neighbourhoods with a lot of shootings.
"I don't want to run to the finish line and say 'we have these two products; therefore, the city is going to be safer'," Saunders said, "[but] if we have an opportunity to have another piece of technology to assist the gun reduction initiative that we're moving towards, then I think it's a great tool to use."
The announcement was met by concern from the public, with one woman saying she's "not into a whole pile of technology" and wants people to look after the problem instead.
Another woman referenced anti-black racism and the targeting of black communities with this type of technology.
Saunders says he's consulted with mothers in communities where gunplay is occuring and he's informed them about the tools.
"If the vast majority of those mothers say they don't want that in their neighbourhood, then I will listen very, very attentively to them, but I can tell you by and large - there's so many communities that are saying 'we need all the help that we can get.' I'm listening to those people first."
Saunders is scheduled to make a full presentation to the board in September.