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Tibollo stopped short of apologizing Thursday, but he explained that he is new to politics and was making an effort to understand real people’s concerns, including those of victims living in that community.

He accused the NDP of being more interested in public opinion than public safety.

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“If I had to do it over again, obviously, I’ve learned that the way you say things should be perhaps more careful, because I honestly didn’t think that I was being offensive in what I was saying,” he said.

The minister added he chose the police division because of its rate of homicides but intends to go to many other communities in Toronto and across Ontario.

A Toronto Police spokesman said officers do a safety evaluation when bringing a civilian along, and usually err on the side of caution when determining whether a bulletproof vest should be offered.

Tibollo said the police made it a condition of his ride along.

“I put it on because I wouldn’t be able to go if I didn’t have it on. I put it on, I signed the waiver, and we went out,” Tibollo said. “Now, if it had been earlier in the evening, perhaps it would have been a different situation, but I was out until past 1 a.m., and I specifically asked to go into crack houses.”

Meanwhile, Toronto Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti said he will be riding with police Friday ito various hotspots, including in the Jane and Finch area.

“I will be wearing a bulletproof vest, and I dare the usual social activists and the politicians that support them to call me a racist,” Mammoliti said in a statement.

aartuso@postmedia.com