TORONTO: Cops Start Sweeps of City Parks
Graeme Bacque (gbacque@idirect.com)
Sun, 26 Jul 1998 09:34:09 -0700
The Toronto Sun July 26, 1998
COPS TO SQUEEGEE KIDS IN
PARK: GET LOST
By ROB GRANATSTEIN -- Toronto Sun
Police pressure on squeegee kids continued yesterday morning
with a clear message: Park it somewhere else.
A sweep by Toronto Police at four downtown parks resulted in
no arrests but let squeegee kids know that sleeping in the great
outdoors will not be tolerated.
While the sweep was not specifically directed at the squeegee
kids, the parks targeted by police are frequented by the youths.
"It's aimed at anybody misusing the parks," Sgt. Lisa Hodgins
said. "The parks aren't for sleeping or for going to the washroom,
they're for regular citizens who like the nature of downtown
parks."
The sweeps are an initiative of 52 Division's crime management
strategy and the parks being monitored are on the list because of
frequent complaints from the public.
Parks that are specifically being watched include Grange Park in
the Queen and Beverley Sts. area; Cloud Gardens on
Temperance St. between Yonge and Bay Sts.; College Park
behind the apartments at Yonge and College Sts., and St. James
Park at King and Church Sts.
"It's not all squeegee kids, but that's a part of it," Sgt. Hugh
Ferguson said.
He said the people in the parks were asked to get up and leave
when police arrived about 9 a.m. yesterday.
"We let them sleep in -- it is the weekend," Ferguson said.
The homeless were given names of shelters where they could
stay.
As squeegee kids come under increasing pressure, those under
attack are banding together to fight back.
A free meal and rally is set for Metro Hall, July 29 at 7 p.m. to
tell politicians that squeegeers and panhandlers will do whatever
is necessary to defend their means of survival.