Toronto police 55 Division says 86 per cent of the suspects whose profiles were released to the public last year as part of the “Wanted Wednesday” program were apprehended.
As part of an initiative started in 2012, police released the names and images of 44 suspects wanted on outstanding warrants on Wednesdays throughout 2015. The information for each suspect is sent to media organizations and shared with the public on social media.
Of those suspects, 38 are now in custody, police said.
Suspects described in the releases last year were accused of a wide variety of offences ranging from mischief and criminal harassment to attempted murder.
"I want to extend my appreciation and gratitude to the residents of 55 Division and the media who are responsible for so much of the success of 'Wanted Wednesday’," Det. Sgt. Warren Wilson said in a news release. “This shows what our community, working together, can achieve”
Other police forces in Ontario, including Halton and Waterloo Regional Police, as well as numerous law enforcement agencies in the United States have launched similar “Wanted Wednesday” programs in recent years.
