Toronto Officers Say Staffing Shortage Puts Them at Risk

Several Toronto police officers say they do not feel safe on the job, according to internal emails and exit interviews given to the city's police union by officers leaving the force. 

"I officially (for the first time in my career) do no feel safe as a police officer, and am tired with the politics of the service and upper management," the email said.

The officer wrote that he was the only car on patrol on a Tuesday afternoon earlier this month, with one road sergeant available for backup. During the shift he had five pending calls, including a sexual assault, an arrest involving three people, and a domestic assault.

The union told CBC Toronto the email isn't unusual; critical staffing levels are leaving many officers feeling unsafe.