The Toronto Police Services Board has voted to take over patrols of the city's transit system. The decision comes after a number of violent incidents such as a shooting on a subway platform in January 2009. The Toronto Police Services Board has voted to take over patrols of the city's transit system. The decision comes after a number of violent incidents such as a shooting on a subway platform in January 2009. (Mike Crawley/CBC)

Toronto police are set to take over safety patrols on the city's transit system — duties now the responsibility of the Toronto Transit Commission's officers.

Toronto's Police Services Board voted unanimously on Thursday that the TTC's 118 special constables should come under the command of the regular police.

The board said there should be only one police force for the city — and that includes the special constables that patrol the TTC.

Chief Bill Blair said after the meeting that some of the current special constables may remain on the job.

The board said there should be only one police force for the city — and that includes the special constables that patrol the TTC.The board said there should be only one police force for the city — and that includes the special constables that patrol the TTC. (Mike Crawley/CBC)

"Some of the people that are currently special constables [could] meet the qualifications of a police officer here in Toronto," said Blair. "We could get them training and make them police officers … equip them, give them full authority of police. They would be armed, and they could continue to work in the transit system, but now wearing the uniform and having the full authority of a police officer."

In May, following a number of violent episodes on the TTC, 38 regular Toronto police officers were assigned to patrol the city's transit system.

The plan to have regular police patrols on public transit will be in place by the fall.

The TTC would still continue to be responsible for fraud detection and fare enforcement.