Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown under police protection after receiving threat

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Peel Regional Police are assigning protection to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown after he and his family were threatened with death.

Brown was attending a Peel Regional Police news conference at headquarters about a bust involving an organized crime group linked to home invasions when the announcement was made.

“I feel safer today than I probably did a week or two ago,” Brown, who received the threat in late June, told media in the front foyer of the police headquarters.

“This is not the first time I have received a death threat. I did so a number of years ago and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

“And I want my family to be safe. And I believe they are.

“The threat was identified and the police felt that protection was required.  It is certainly alarming for my family.”

Brown is a strong proponent of safety and policing in his community and has backed the efforts of police to tamp down on organized crime, tow-truck wars and a massive cocaine importation ring that was dismantled.

“I won’t change my approach to being outspoken about public safety and (will) do my job accordingly,” said Brown.

He did not offer specifics about the threat and left the matter in the hands of Peel police.

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Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said they assessed the threat was made in Canada and have taken the appropriate precautions to assist the mayor and his family.

“The threat to the mayor is something that we have taken entirely under police jurisdiction. And we continue to investigate it,” said Milinovich.

“And until we have arrested and identified the person responsible, there are certain precautions that need to be taken.”

Milinovich said threats to politicians and public figures are a “sign of the times.

“We are seeing it more frequently,” he said. “People are being freer with their words and it’s not an easy time right now in public and community safety.

“It is not unusual that we would have to provide additional or heightened security for a community member — which the mayor is a member of — in order to mitigate any potential risk or even a worse crime from happening.”