Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders seeks 'more co-operation' after pregnant woman killed

Chief Mark Saunders says the Toronto Police Servicehas work to do to rebuild public confidence in Canada's largest city, and he wants more people to come forward with informationin the wake of a shooting that took the life of a pregnant woman over the weekend.

"The killing of CandiceBobb has shocked the city,"Saunders told reporters Tuesday. "We know there are members of the community that know other members that have guns," he added.

"Right now, we're looking for more co-operation."

Bobb, 35,ofMississauga, Ont.was fatally shot in the chest Sundaywhile riding in the back seat of a car in the city's Rexdale neighbourhood. She was five months pregnant, and the baby was delivered by emergency C-section. Police have said the child is in stable condition.

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Multiple shots were fired at the car carrying Bobb and three others while they were in theJohn Garland Boulevard and Jamestown Crescent area of suburban Rexdale. Bobbwas pronounced dead atEtobicoke General Hospital. The three other occupants of the car were not injured.

The shooting, which police have said may be gangrelated, has sparked a discussion about rising gun violence in Toronto. Police have said Bobb was likely not the intended target.

"I don't know who the intended target was," the chief said, adding he only knew "that car was targeted."

Saunders says there is "noticeably more gun play" in certain parts of the city, such as the Rexdale neighbourhood where Bobbwas killed.

"There's no doubt that someone has the information," the chief said. "I'm here to say it does have value and we want that information."

Police seeking evidence

According to Saunders, "time and legitimacy" will help the force build trust with the public, especially with members who may be too intimidated by gang members to provide police with information.

"Those who have that information need to come forward," he said. "What solves cases is evidence."

On Tuesday morning, the Toronto Police Association (TPA), theunion representing8,000 officers and civilian members, issued an open letter that says"thesafest city in North America has a gun violence problem."

The letter complains about talk around city hall of paring back police spending, andwarns of a "the growing disconnect between the police and the community."

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Carding issue comes back

The TPA letter also addresses the issue of "carding," the police practice of randomly stopping people and collecting information duringinterviews in non-criminal matters. The province has moved to regulate carding, in part to address criticismthat itdisproportionatelytargets people of colour.

Saunders has said carding which police refer to as a street check is a useful investigative tool when done lawfully. Saunders has said he does not support conducting interviews by randomly stopping people on the street.

He hassaid that as long as cardingis evidence-led, it helps to increase community safety.

"I'm not going to give my opinion on the law. The law is the law," the chief said.

TPA president Mike McCormack said although the union accepts the era of carding "is over," it enabled officers to meet with people in neighbourhoods plagued by gun violence.

"What we're hearing from our front-line officers is that pro-active policing is not happening," he said."There is a definite link in the reduction of pro-active policing and violent crime."

But Saunderssays an increase in homicides is happening in many other cities and he insists resources are being put in the right place.

"I still think this is the safest city in North America," he said. "We're going to do what we need to do to keep the city safe."