While the union president is asking if Toronto is seeing a sequel to the "year of the gun," police chief Mark Saunders insists it is still the safest urban city in North America.
Two more people have been killed by a gun since last night, after a fatal shooting over the weekend, and after two men were killed at a BBQ last week.
There have also been multiple injuries in the separate incidents.
"We tend to have spikes in this city," chief Saunders told reporters. "But that's not necessarily a pattern or trend. The only trend that we have is that Toronto is the safest urban city in North America."
He says police are being strategic about where they are deploying their officers, adding that most of the violence is related to street gangs.
"Not over-policing... but making sure that we're doing the right thing for the right reasons," Saunders says.
WATCH: After recent gun violence, what do the police chief and union president have to say? @JustineLewkowic reports pic.twitter.com/uxgjDxIdUx
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) August 1, 2017
Union president Mike McCormack, meanwhile, sent out a tweet asking if this is the "Year of the Gun: The Sequel." He is referring to 2005, when 52 people were killed by guns in the city.
McCormack points out that 23 people have been killed so far this year, almost as many as the 25 dead by the end of July in 2005. Last year, there were 26 homicides involving a gun by July 30th.
"To bury your head in the sand and say, well, this is a safe city and don't worry about it, I'm sure the people who are the victims of these shootings are very happy that we live in a safe city," McCormack says.
The union is continuing its campaign calling for more officers in the service.
Year of the Gun: The Sequel? 25 shooting deaths Jan-Jul 2005, 23 shooting deaths YTD in 2017 including 3 dead and 5 injured in 3 days
— Mike McCormack (@TPAca) August 1, 2017
Last night in TO – 2 am & officers tied up at St Mike's with homicides & stabbings while calls pileup & no officers available to respond pic.twitter.com/rbhFh68Y6H
— Mike McCormack (@TPAca) August 1, 2017
Saunders adds that while police do what they can to curb violence, he is asking the public to help by sharing any information that can lead them to those responsible.