Toronto Police See Increase in Attacks on Parking Attendants

Toronto police say they’re seeing an increase in the number of attacks on parking enforcement officers (PEOs) in the city, which the police chief describes as a “disturbing trend.”

“In most of these cases, the member was assaulted while issuing a parking ticket. This is unacceptable behavior,” Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said at a news conference on Tuesday.

According to police, there were six attacks on PEOs in 2021, another 15 in 2022 and 46 in 2023. As of July 18 this year, police had observed 27 attacks so far.

Toronto Police Association President Jon Reid, speaking alongside Demkiw, said some officers in the 370-strong force were spat on and punched while carrying out their duties.

“They don’t deserve to be yelled at, pushed, punched, let alone have to jump out of the way of a moving vehicle. They deserve to go home to their families and feel safe and unharmed,” Reid said.

According to police, in rare cases, PEOs required medical attention for their injuries.

Carol Raymond, a PEO who patrols the city’s west side, says she’s “lost count” of the number of times she’s been attacked.

She recently said that in March, while she was patrolling the area of ​​Yonge and Bloor Street, the driver of a vehicle attempted to run her over after she gave them a ticket.

“I gave the ticket and as I was walking away I heard the engine revving. When I looked (behind me) I saw that he was going to hit me with the vehicle and I had to get out of the way,” she told CP24 after Tuesday’s press conference.

According to Raymond, the driver in that case was arrested and charged because his license plate information had already been recorded.

Chris Butterfield is a supervisor at PEO and says he too has been attacked multiple times. One time, a woman jumped on his back and tried to choke him.

“When we’re issuing parking tickets on a daily basis, people get frustrated. They definitely don’t like getting a parking ticket, but generally speaking, violence is never the answer when we’re issuing a ticket,” he said.

Police explained that PEOs are civilian members of the Toronto Police Service (TPS), meaning that assaulting one is the equivalent of assaulting an officer. In both cases, the charges can result in jail time and fines, which Demkiw said the TPS will pursue in court.

“Today’s press conference is about the attacks on these members, who do not deserve to be attacked. That is the heart of the matter: stop attacking our parking attendants. And if you do, let me be clear, there will be very, very serious consequences, and we will do everything we can to hold people accountable when they attack our members,” he said.

In addition to issuing parking tickets, PEOs also assist in recovering stolen vehicles, provide emergency support to police, and ensure the smooth flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic during special city events.