New police station coming to Mississauga

Mississauga | Ontario | Crime | Latest News |

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Published November 14, 2019 at 2:14 am

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If there’s one thing strong advocacy at the municipal level has just taught us, it’s “ask and you shall receive.”

Especially when you’re asking for a new police station in an area rocked by high-profile shootings and gang-related violence. 

On Nov. 13, Ward 5 City Councillor Carolyn Parrish took to Twitter to announce that newly-appointed Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan (Nish) Duraiappah promised to re-open the now-defunct Malton police station.

The station will reopen in the Westwood Square plaza with a “bigger footprint.” 

“Hallelujah! Chief Nish announced at Mississauga General Committee this morning that the Police Station at Westwood Square in Malton will be reopened ‘with a bigger footprint,’” Parrish wrote. 

“Decided, after 3 hours in the community, it had to be done. He listens, looks and delivers! Thank you!” 

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Parrish began calling for the reopening of the Malton police station following a mass shooting involving semi-automatic weapons in the city’s northern neighbourhood. 

The September shooting, which took place near an ice cream truck where multiple people were gathered, claimed the life of 17-year-old Jonathan Davis. 

The incident took place on Darcel Avenue, which is located in the Goreway and Morning Star Drive area. 

Police said Davis was an innocent bystander.

Five other victims, including a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, two 17-year-old boys, and a 50-year-old woman, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

“I’m incredibly sad for the victims and their families in last night’s Malton shooting. The isolation of the village requires our police station be reopened, expanded and staffed immediately and the $9 million Youth Hub under construction be completed ASAP,” Parrish wrote on Twitter the day after the brazen Saturday evening shooting. 

“As Malton’s councillor, I fought along with the community, in 2018, to stop the closure of a police station 150 meters from last night’s shooting ‘for budget reasons’. How much is a life worth? We won’t be stopped this time,” she continued. 

In early 2018, the Malton Community Station, which was found to be an inefficient use of resources, closed its doors for good.

In 2017, a review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the community stations that support the operational divisions throughout the region. It was determined that the Malton Community Station was no longer being used to its potential, so plans were made to shutter the facility.

While the station was closed to the public, it continued to be used as a sub-station by officers.

The closure prompted some residents to express worry that crime would increase in the area as a result.

On Nov. 13, Crombie also thanked Duraiappah for taking action.

[Chief Nish] announced today that the community police station in Malton will be re-opened and expanded! This is a step in the right direction. I’d like to thank Chief Nish for his swift action and Councillor Carolyn Parrish for being a strong advocate for Malton,” Crombie tweeted. 

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