Gang-Related Investigations

Question 1

Criminal street gang (gang) related crime relies heavily on acts or threats of violence to intimidate victims. Weapons possession and the use of weapons during the commission of an offence are often aggravating factors when gang–related offences occur. To reduce the level of fear and intimidation within a community, police must work in partnership with the community to:

Answer 1

identify gang activity
 eliminate its causes
 help those who are at increased risk of victimization

Question 2

All instructions and references to gangs in this Procedure shall also apply to:

Answer 2

criminal organizations

Question 3

To establish a person’s membership or association to a gang for the purposes of Toronto Police Service (Service) investigations, there must be documented proof of:

Answer 3

the gang exists and the person actively participates in or is associated to the gang. The information may include Restricted Regulated Interactions Reports and Historical Contact Data (comply with Procedure 04–14), Master Name Index (MNI) entries, eReports, Intelligence reports, etc.

Question 4

To determine association to, or membership in a gang, officers may consider but not limit themselves to the following examples:

Answer 4

I. involvement directly or indirectly in a gang–related crime or incident

ii. acknowledges gang membership or gang association
iii. identified as a gang member or gang associate by means of physical evidence
iv. identified as a gang member or gang associate by reliable source information
v. police information provided or received as a result of directly observed association with other known gang members or gang associates
vi. common or symbolic gang identifiers or paraphernalia
vii. previous court findings including, but not limited to, sworn testimonials that the person is a gang member or gang associate

Question 5

A gang–related crime/incident shall be determined when one or more of the following criteria are met:

Answer 5

I. an incident occurs where the participants, suspects or victims are identified as gang members or gang associates
ii. police or other reliable source information is received that identifies the incident as gang–related
iii. the incident is consistent with gang activity, with indicators such as
 - motive or lack thereof
 - modus operandi
 - description of the victim or suspects
iv. existence of physical evidence or a series of events that gives an investigator reasonable grounds to believe that it was a gang–related incident

Question 6

Supervisory Officer

When notified of a Gang–Related incident shall:

Answer 6

attend the scene whenever possible to provide assistance and guidance in the investigation

ensure compliance with items 1 through 7, as applicable

ensure sufficient uniform and detective resources are assigned to the investigation

ensure the assistance of specialty units has been requested, as required

advise the officer in charge of all relevant facts and circumstances

Question 7

Divisional Gang Co–Coordinator/Designate

When designated as the Divisional Gang Coordinator shall

Answer 7

receive, review and forward all photographs, occurrences, information and documents relating to gang–related incidents and gang members to the IGGTF forthwith

forward all information identifying gang members and gang associates to the IGGTF

Question 8

Who at the division is responsible for debriefing a person arrested who is a gang member or suspected gang member

Answer 8

Divisional Gang Co–Coordinator/Designate

Question 9

Divisional Gang Co–Coordinator/Designate

When a gang member or associate has been arrested for an offence involving a firearm shall:

Answer 9

request the attendance of the IGGTF.

Question 10

The IGGTF can be contacted directly between ____ and ____ hours and through the Toronto Police Operations Centre during other times.

Answer 10

0700 and 0300

Question 11

Divisional Detective/Investigator

When investigating a gang–related incident shall

Answer 11

conduct a thorough preliminary investigation

advise and update the divisional detective sergeant on significant aspects of the investigation

Question 12

Officer in Charge

When notified of a gang–related incident shall ensure:

Answer 12

a thorough investigation is conducted

divisional detective office personnel attend the scene, as required

the IGGTF is notified, as required

the eReport number of occurrences identifying a gang–related incident or a person’s membership or association to a gang offence is forwarded to the Divisional Gang Coordinator

the particulars are recorded in the Unit Commanders Morning Report (UCMR), as required

Question 13

Who is responsible for ensuring that the particulars are recorded in the Unit Commanders Morning Report (UCMR), as required

Answer 13

Officer in Charge

Question 14

Who will the Officer in Charge ensure the eReport number of occurrences identifying a gang–related incident or a person’s membership or association to a gang offence is forwarded to?

Answer 14

Divisional Gang Coordinator

Question 15

Detective Sergeant

When notified of a gang–related incident shall

Answer 15

ensure compliance with Procedure 04–38

ensure occurrences involving a gang–related incident are assigned for investigation by the appropriate divisional personnel

ensure information and training is provided to divisional personnel concerning gang–related incidents

maintain unit specific files or databases pertaining to gangs

Question 16

Who is responsible for maintaining unit specific files or databases pertaining to gangs?

Answer 16

Detective Sergeant

Question 17

Unit Commander

When in charge of a division shall

Answer 17

appoint a Divisional Gang Coordinator to effectively investigate, plan, conduct training and liaise with the IGGTF and other appropriate units, as required

ensure the IGGTF is notified when a gang member or suspected gang member has been arrested for a firearms offence, regardless of whether the firearm was recovered

ensure appropriate files pertaining to gang membership or gang association are maintained

ensure the Divisional Gang Coordinator forwards all eReports numbers and information on gang membership and association, and other information pertaining to gang-related crime/incidents to the IGGTF

Question 18

Unit Commander

Upon being advised of a gang–related incident shall ensure

Answer 18

a thorough investigation is completed
 
a partnership is maintained with and assistance is obtained from
- the IGGTF
- Intelligence Services (INT)
- Gang Coordinators
- Victim Services Toronto, where applicable
- external agencies, as required

all gang–related information is promptly forwarded to the IGGTF

members under their command have access to information on gang–related activities obtained from the IGGTF, INT or other sources