Durham and Toronto police join forces for firearm bail tracking app

Cops across Durham and Toronto have a new tool to track those out on bail for firearm-related charges through a new database app.

The two services have launched the Firearm Bail Dashboard to track people out on bail and share data about their compliance with bail conditions. The app allows the services to share this data on their in-cruiser displays.

The Toronto Police Service called this an “innovative” information-sharing approach and said the app “will help breakdown geographic barriers and ultimately lead to increased officer and community safety.

They started this program in 2021 when they opened up their database to Durham police. Since the police have identified 40 people living in Durham out on bail after firearms convictions.

All told more than 1,100 people have been displayed on the app, 400 of whom live outside of Toronto.

Not only does the program aid in checking bail compliance, Toronto police said, it has also helped identify violent offenders. Such cases include a man wanted in a York Region kidnapping, a man wanted for murder in Toronto and a suspect wanted in a carjacking.

The Toronto and Durham police services are talking to other police services in an attempt to broaden the program across Ontario.