York Regional Police expands footprint in Vaughan
YRP’s new substation at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre helps officers serve high-rise buildings and dense urban areas
In October 2024, York Regional Police opened the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) Substation, a facility which tackles the challenge of keeping densely-populated communities safe and secure.
The 4,800-square-foot VMC Substation is located near Highways 7 and 400 at the base of a complex of high-rise buildings in Vaughan’s new downtown core. The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area is expected to grow to 90,000 residents and add 820,000 square feet of real estate in the coming years.
Much of this growth will be vertical, and as more high-rise apartment, office and multi-use towers go up in the area, our officers will need to adopt new approaches to policing these tall buildings.
“High-rise buildings present unique challenges for policing that differ from traditional neighbourhoods,” said Sergeant Amir Hussain of the VMC Substation. “Residents interact across multiple floors, requiring officers to understand the physical layout of each building, community dynamics and specific social concerns.”
While officers adapt to these new realities, the VMC Substation will allow them to respond to calls in these buildings and surrounding areas quickly to deliver exemplary service.
According to Sergeant Hussain, in the short time the substation has been open, officers have built strong partnerships with property management, security personnel and businesses in the area. These collaborations provide access to buildings, help identify local concerns and support the development of effective crime prevention strategies.
The VMC Substation is already making an impact on local residents and businesses. One local pharmacy owner commented: “VMC Substation officers are engaged with my staff and customers on a daily basis and provide us with a sense of security and peace of mind. We have lots of foot traffic in this area, so having officers patrol the area is wonderful.”
The substation is a bright, welcoming space where members of the community can connect with officers face-to-face, file police reports, receive crime prevention information and safety tips, and ask questions about YRP’s policing services or policing in general.
“This facility is well-positioned to address the unique challenges posed by rapid urbanization and population growth in York Region, providing our officers with opportunities to make a positive impact on these communities,” said #4 District Superintendent Jennifer McCue.
There are now four substations in York Region, including existing facilities in Whitchurch-Stouffville and King Township and another Vaughan substation in the Village of Kleinburg (opened in March 2025).
