Significant
On Track â Moderate O No
Progress n
Progress Progress
Overall Progress Status â
Overall, the Ottawa Police is progressing well with the implementation of the Business Plan. The Ottawa Police continues to advance the actions and initiatives that support the strategic priorities, goals and objectives in the 2007-2009 Business Plan. Highlights of accomplishments and results achieved in the final two quarters of 2008 include:
Ö
Use of Operation INTERSECT’s planning framework with local policing and
city services, to ensure the safety and security of the public and members
during the annual Canada Day celebrations.
The use of this framework helped to reduce the total amount of overtime
to the lowest level since 2002, with savings of $134,000 for the event;
Ö
Launch of the Ottawa Police Service Volunteer Auxiliary Police
Program. This two-year pilot program is
intended to enhance community-based policing by providing an opportunity for
Ottawa citizens to participate and volunteer with law enforcement on an
organized basis;
Ö
Conclusion of Project Scarecrow, an 18-month joint operation with the
OPP, RCMP, Canadian Border Services Agency and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police
targeted an organized crime group suspected of growing and distributing
marihuana. In late August, 27 people
were charged with a total of 230 offences, as well as seizures of over $540,000
in currency and 3,754 marihuana plants with a street value of $1.75 million;
Ö
Launch of Ottawa Crime, a new
google-based crime mapping tool based on calls for service, in October 2008;
Ö
In conjunction with the OPS Victims Crisis Unit, and support from the OPS
Break and Enter Team and Community Police Officers, Victims Assistance Services
of Ottawa-Carleton launched a project to assist victims of Break and Enters in
dealing with the impact of victimization from this crime. The project involves offering material,
sessions, support and referral to other services for victims;
Ö
Continued focus of the Street Crime Unit on street-level drugs and
prostitution. By the end of December
2008, a total of 2210 charges were laid (including trafficking, robbery, breach of
probation, possession of stolen property, prostitution) against 434 persons;
termination of 16 crack houses, trafficking sentences from 4 months to 4 years, plus
lengthy prohibition orders; 16 charged persons have been accepted by the Drug
Treatment program since November 2007; drugs seized include powder and crack
cocaine, marihuana, hashish, ecstasy pills, mushrooms and heroin.
Ö
On 16 October, the Ottawa Police in partnership with Cité Collégiale,
Ottawa Paramedic Service and the Ottawa Fire Service conducted a validation
exercise involving a rapidly evolving, violent situation, commonly reported in
the media as an “active killer type scenario” on the campus of Cité
Collégiale. Over 100 front line
emergency responders participated in this exercise, along with many observers
from local school boards and other police services;
Ö
Launch and implementation of the new Tenure Program in October 2008 that
included the hosting of member information sessions and the development of an
implementation plan for the Program;
Ö
Operation INTERSECT hosted an advanced Crime Prevention through
Environmental Design (CPTED) training session on mitigating possible terrorist
threats to crowded places and/or critical infrastructure. A three-week course
developed by the UK Home Office was condensed into an intensive 5-day
train-the-trainer program, which included two local case studies. Twenty participants included National
Counter Terrorism Security Officers and representatives from Ottawa Police,
RCMP, OPP, CBSA, Canadian Forces, CSIS, 2010 Olympics Steering Committee, and
Vancouver and Edmonton Police Services;
Ö
Launch of the Electronic Disclosure pilot project with the Provincial
Crown Attorney’s Office, a six-month pilot project that commenced in October
2008;
Ö
On 22 and 23 September, the Ottawa Police, RCMP and Canadian Military
joined forces to address outdoor marihuana grow sites within the City of
Ottawa. Known as Project Sabot
(Eradication 2008), it was part of a nation-wide marihuana eradication
initiative. A total of 3,097 plants
were eradicated with a street value of over $3.0 million;
Ö
Promotion of Crime Prevention Week (2 to 8 November) in partnership with
Crime Prevention Ottawa. Based on the
theme of “Invest in your Future: Prevent Crime” a series of events and displays
focused on children and youth were organized to create safer and stronger
communities by promoting personal and public safety through prevention,
preparedness and social development; and,
Ö
Operation INTERSECT held a table top exercise “Capital Shield VI” on 21
November 2008 with participants from the business community, community groups
and large public facilities. This
initiative of the Public-Private Partnership working group served as a part of
the ongoing public roll-out of Operation INTERSECT initiatives in the National
Capital Region.
Strategic Priority:
Managing and Reducing Crime Status â
Goals:
1.
Coordinate a Crime Management
/ Reduction Strategy that leverages knowledge and technology to respond to
crime and community concerns.
2.
Deliver efficient and
effective service to the community by reviewing best practices and continuous
review of specific components of the Service Delivery Model.
3.
Implement the first phases
of the Strategic Growth Initiative (SGI 2013) and its component parts.
Results Achieved
Ö
In July, August and October, a number of prostitution sweeps were
conducted targeting Hintonburg, Vanier, Byward Market, Carlington and
Centretown areas, with a total of 114 criminal charges laid.
Ö
Launch of a
Pedestrian Safety Campaign. A component
of the OPS Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), aimed at creating
awareness and education on pedestrian safety as a result of complaints of
cyclists riding on sidewalks in the areas of Westboro, Merivale/Clyde and
Carling/Woodroffe.
Ö
Use of Operation INTERSECT’s planning framework with local policing and
city services, to ensure the safety and security of the public and members
during the annual Canada Day celebrations.
The use of this framework reduced the total amount of overtime to the
lowest level since 2002, with savings of $134,000 for the event.
Ö
Continued focus of the Street Crime Unit on street-level drugs and
prostitution. By the end of December
2008, a total of 2210 charges were laid (including trafficking, robbery, breach of
probation, possession of stolen property, prostitution) against 434 persons;
termination of 16 crack houses, trafficking sentences from 4 months to 4 years, plus
lengthy prohibition orders; 16 charged persons have been accepted by the Drug
Treatment program since November 2007; drugs seized include powder and crack
cocaine, marihuana, hashish, ecstasy pills, mushrooms and heroin.
Ö
Conclusion of Project Scarecrow, an 18-month joint operation with the
OPP, RCMP, Canadian Border Services Agency and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police
targeted an organized crime group suspected of growing and distributing
marihuana. In late August, 27 people
were charged with a total of 230 offences, as well as seizures of over $540,000
in currency and 3,754 marihuana plants with a street value of $1.75 million.
Ö
Launch of the Ottawa Police Service Volunteer Auxiliary Police
Program. This two-year pilot program is
intended to enhance community-based policing by providing an opportunity for
Ottawa citizens to participate and volunteer with law enforcement on an
organized basis. A total of fifteen
Auxiliary Police members were recruited.
Ö
24 officers involved in the implementation of Project E.R.A.S.E
(Eliminate Racing Activity on Streets Everywhere) during May, June and
July. A proactive public safety
initiative that resulted in the issuance of 367 total traffic offences for
speeding, disobey traffic signal/sign, insurance charges and racing, stunt
driving & 50 km/hr over.
Ö
On 22 and 23 September, the Ottawa Police, RCMP and Canadian Military
joined forces to address outdoor marihuana grow sites within the City of
Ottawa. Known as Project Sabot
(Eradication 2008), it was part of a nation-wide marihuana eradication
initiative. A total of 3,097 plants
were eradicated with a street value of over $3.0 million.
Ö
As part of the OPS September STEP, a total of 203 charges were laid for
failing to stop for school buses when their flashing lights were activated, and
for not obeying stop signs.
Ö
Launch of Ottawa Crime, a new
google-based crime mapping tool based on calls for service, in October 2008.
Ö
Release of the 2007 Ward Profiles report that identifies ward-by-ward
crime and calls for service data.
Ö
Operational plans developed for agricultural fairs in West Division. Community concerns and crime associated with
these events appear to have significantly diminished and positive community
comments received about visible police presence have increased.
Ö
Following a
review of the Community Safety Letter program in October 2008, the program has
been successful in meeting its objective of raising awareness of street
prostitution. Sixty-nine letters have
been sent, with no repeat offenders.
Ö
Implemented
the Canal Safety Patrol program in response to the number of reported incidents
of crime and disorder issues in relation to boats moored on the Canal.
Ö
Central
Division officers focused on conducting “street checks” on individuals that OPS
officers encountered who were involved in transient type activity such as panhandling,
sleeping on the streets and loitering in parks.
Ö
In conjunction with the OPS Victims Crisis Unit, and support from the OPS
Break and Enter Team and Community Police Officers, Victims Assistance Services
of Ottawa-Carleton launched a project to assist victims of Break and Enters in
dealing with the impact of victimization from this crime. The project involves offering material,
sessions, support and referral to other services for victims.
Ö
Crime Stoppers Section introduced email tips and cell-phone messaging as
new methods for the community to report crime.
Work in
Progress
® Continued review of options to ensure seamless integration of the latent
fingerprint application, known as Livescan.
® Continued
progress on the coordination of a Crime Management/Reduction Strategy that
responds to crime and community priorities.
® Development of a
program to follow-up with High Risk Offender Release Victims, as part of
the provincially funded High Risk Offenders Victims Project.
® Continued work on
intelligence-led initiatives aimed at intelligence sharing internally and with
external law enforcement partners.
® Continued
phase-in of digital photo services.
Strategic
Priority: Partnerships & Interoperability Status â
Goals:
1. Expand and
enhance community partnerships to support the Business Plan strategic
priorities, goals and objectives.
2. Expand the
interoperability framework with the City and other law enforcement and
emergency service providers to ensure coordinated approaches for voice
communications, IT operations and other service delivery methods and
approaches.
3. Establish and
document specific partnership frameworks and protocols with partner groups,
emergency service providers and agencies to support all aspects of
interoperability.
4. Establish and
begin to implement the Ottawa Police Business Continuity Plan to ensure
provision of essential services during a planned or unplanned service
disruption, major emergency or disaster.
Results Achieved
Ö
The Street Ambassador Program operating in the ByWard Market was once
again a success. With OPS support, and
through the multi-agency partnerships with local businesses and social service
agencies, there was a noticeable drop in aggressive panhandling and a 40%
increase in enforcement by the OPS.
Ö
Renewal of contract to provide policing services with the Ottawa
Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority.
Ö
On 20 November, the National Capital Region Operation INTERSECT Steering
Committee hosted a workshop focusing on various threat assessment
strategies. Over 100 emergency services
participants from all levels of government attended the workshops that
highlighted public-private partnerships and included several speakers,
including the Head of the National Counter Terrorism Office in London, England.
Ö
In partnership with United Way/Centraide Ottawa and community partners,
the Ottawa Police hosted the “Raising the Roof for Ottawa and our Youth” event
on 4 September, to raise funds for a Residential Youth Treatment Centre in
Ottawa, which was announced in
June by the Provincial government.
Ö
The Restorative Justice Network invited the Ottawa Police Service to
facilitate a session to assist in defining their strategic priorities and
agenda.
Ö
Promotion of Crime Prevention Week (2 to 8 November) in partnership with
Crime Prevention Ottawa. Based on the
theme of “Invest in your Future: Prevent Crime” a series of events and displays
focused on children and youth were organized to create safer and stronger
communities by promoting personal and public safety through prevention,
preparedness and social development.
Ö
In collaboration with Crime Prevention Ottawa, through the Ottawa Youth
Gang Prevention Initiative, hosted the “Youth Gangs: From Prevention to
Intervention” symposium on 23 October, to learn about some of the most
promising practices in youth gang prevention and intervention from across
Canada.
Ö
Actively working with Ontario Block
Parent, to support its decision in October 2008, to close the Block Parent
Program in Ottawa. The OPS are
assisting with the recall of all Block Parent window signs by the deadline date
of 31 January 2009.
Ö
Continued
collaboration and involvement with the Aboriginal Working Group, in the
development of a comprehensive workplan and strategy for the City.
Ö
Review of Bill C-2 (Impaired by Drugs) legislation that came into force
on 2 July 2008, with our partners, including the RCMP and the Crown Attorney’s
Office to implement an action plan to utilize the new tools identified in the
legislation.
Ö
Communication Centre participated in a national research interoperability
project.
Ö
In conjunction with the OPS Victims Crisis Unit, and support from the OPS
Break and Enter Team and Community Police Officers, Victims Assistance Services
of Ottawa-Carleton launched a project to assist victims of Break and Enters in
dealing with the impact of victimization from this crime. The project involves offering material,
sessions, support and referral to other services for victims.
Ö
Continued support for the Youth on the Move Program.
Ö
Operation INTERSECT held a table top exercise “Capital Shield VI” on 21
November 2008 with participants from the business community, community groups
and large public facilities. This
initiative of the Public-Private Partnership working group served as a part of
the ongoing public roll-out of Operation INTERSECT initiatives in the National
Capital Region.
Ö
OPS hosted 25 members of the Ontario Media Relations Officers’ Network
(OMRON) from across Ontario at a meeting and workshop held at A-Channel studios
in December 2008. The networking and
educational event allowed OPS Media Relations to continue to share best
practices with provincial and municipal counterparts.
Ö
There
were Flag, Banner and recognition events in celebration of the Turkish, Muslim
and Italian communities.
Ö Ottawa Police Liaison Committee for the GLBT
Communities held it’s annual Pride Parade, pancake breakfast and flag
unveiling, as well various other GLBT Pride events such as the Rainbow Forum
Information Exchange in November.
Ö
Ottawa
Police participated in the Aboriginal Flotilla for Friendship in September.
Ö
Launch
of the 2009 Flanagan Scholarship Fund process.
Work
in Progress
®
Continued work on developing a framework for
the OPS Business Continuity Plan.
®
Continued work on MEPAT (Major Events Public
Affairs Team) project to link operational planning around planned and
unforeseen major events.
®
Continued development of the OPS Child and
Youth Strategy in tandem with the City of Ottawa’s child and youth agenda.
®
Continued participation in
zero tolerance initiatives on public disorder issues that focus on community
education, in partnership with City’s Bylaw Services, Fire Services, Alcohol
Gaming Commission of Ontario, Provincial Ministry of Transportation and
Ministry of Natural Resources, National Capital Commission, and Federal
Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
®
Continued
participation in the Ottawa Youth Gang Prevention Initiative (OYGPI),
which aims to support youth and families to prevent youth from becoming
involved in gang activity, and to reduce and prevent the harmful effects of
youth gangs in Ottawa through a collaborative, holistic, evidence-based
strategy of community cohesion, prevention, intervention and suppression.
®
Continued
support to the No Community Left Behind Project by attending community meetings
and putting problem solving into action in the Banff-Ledbury, Confederation Court, Heatherington and Russell Heights communities.
®
Increase OPS readiness and continue to
participate in Steering Committee, initiatives and actions identified in the City’s
Emergency Preparedness workplan.
® Following a study
led by the University of Ottawa of the City’s socio-economic and health
indicators, the OPS is working with social service providers, city officials
and citizens in targeted communities to improve overall community quality of
life, by utilizing the successful ‘No Community Left Behind’ model.
Strategic Priority:
Policing Employer of Choice for All Status â
Goals:
1.
Manage Ottawa Police Service Talent.
2.
Become a recruiting organization through the implementation of various
initiatives and strategies of the Outreach Recruitment Program.
3.
Support a healthy, safe and respectful workplace.
4.
Re-engineer the internal communications environment.
5.
Implement a strategic training and development agenda.
Results
Achieved
Ö
In September, three officers deployed for two months as part of the
United Nations Mission to Haiti to assist with the training and support of
local police in remote communities.
Ö
In July, four officers were deployed to Kandahar on a one-year mission to
assist in training the Afghan National Police
Ö
On 20 October, the OPS added 20 experienced “direct entry” officers to
the Ottawa Police Service.
Ö
Approval of a Modified Job Share Program. Focused on patrol services, the program is based on the principles
of balancing the personal needs of members, with organizational needs.
Ö
Continued progress on the Respectful
Workplace program with
the hiring of the Respectful Workplace Manager; and, policies and procedures
focused on voluntary conflict resolution, education, prevention and deterrence.
Ö
Launch and implementation of the new Tenure Program in October 2008 that
included the hosting of member information sessions and the development of an
implementation plan for the Program.
Ö
Continued training and implementation of automated workflow process for
the Performance Management System, which will reduce administrative paperwork,
facilitate information flow and enhance access to Performance Management tools.
Ö
Planning for the 2009 Workforce Census
initiated.
Ö
Integrated community mobilization and
engagement strategies with the Ottawa Police Services Board as part of the next
business planning cycle.
Ö
A new policy, templates, tools and administrative protocols have been
developed to support and manage the new streamlined 2009 Superintendent
promotional process. Results are to be
communicated in the first quarter of 2009.
Ö
Implemented a new and comprehensive four-day Patrol Supervisors course
in collaboration with Professional Development Centre, aimed at new Sergeants, Staff
Sergeants and those eligible to act in the role of Patrol Supervisor.
Work in
Progress
® Continual review of opportunities to
improve access and distribution of information on the internal communication
environment, for example the development of an improved correspondence tracking system.
® Continued
progress on the review of best practices in establishing a “Good News Network”,
an internet-based electronic database system to capture organizational
successes and achievements.
ity:
Strategic Priority: Measuring Our Performance Status â
Goals:
1. Launch Performance Measurement Framework
(Community, Executive and Operational Dashboards).
2. Establish measurements for ethics and
accountability.
3. Develop mechanisms to measure integrity and
public confidence / trust.
4. Develop an efficiency and effectiveness
framework.
Results Achieved
Ö
Release of the 2007 Ward Profiles report that identifies ward-by-ward
crime and calls for service data.
Ö
Two officers were assigned in November to implement a Divisional Quality
Assurance pilot project in East Division, which is to be rolled out in March
2009.
Ö
Release of the 2007 OMBI (Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative)
report in late November.
Ö
Executive
approval of new or amendments to 21 policies to align with Adequacy and
Effectiveness Regulations and Policy Standards Guidelines.
Ö
Completion and approval of a program review of the John School,
recommending the continuation of the program and an increase in fees for
attendance.
Ö
Completion of the program review of the Street Crime Unit.
Ö
Launch of the Electronic Disclosure pilot project with the Provincial
Crown Attorney’s Office, a six-month pilot project that commenced in October
2008.
Ö
Developed and implemented a new shift rotation for Switchboard that
enhanced 24/7 coverage, improved distribution of resources during peak hours
and has resulted in annual cost savings estimated at $75,000.
Work in
Progress
®
Review and prioritize enhancements to the Operational and Executive
“dashboard” for ongoing monitoring of
performance in managing and reducing crime, and alignment with the Crime
Management/Reduction Strategy.
® Program review of
the Victim Crisis Unit.
® Monitoring of the
recommendations from the 2008 Ministry Inspection.
® Completion of the
year-end (2008) evaluation of the foot patrol squads established to target
areas of community concern, increase visibility, public confidence and
neighbourhood safety.
® A comprehensive
report on 2008 Quality Assurance activities is being prepared and will be
tabled at the February 2009 Board meeting.
Infrastructure Supports
Ö
On 4 September, a ground-breaking ceremony for the new West Division
Building.
Ö
Restructuring of Corporate Services.
Implementation of an interim organizational structure while staffing
actions for positions are completed.
Ö
Upgrade to the Ottawa Police Service’s existing digital voice recorder
system to meet current operational requirements.
Ö
Information Technology Services upgraded the RMS servers
that run the mission critical Records Management System (RMS) significantly
improving the business continuity posture of OPS, as the new configuration
provides enhanced reliability and redundancy for RMS.
Ö
Records Services widened the range of scanned documents (e.g. complete
collision reports, witness statements, breathalizer reports, all documents
pertaining to a police file originating outside OPS belonging to police files)
to increase the range of police documents electronically accessible to OPS
members while reducing the volume of paper documents to be managed.
Moving Forward into 2009
·
Framework for an OPS Business Continuity Plan that builds on the
knowledge, approaches and partnerships used in the development of the Pandemic
operational planning initiative;
·
Development and implementation of a Talent Map;
·
Review of the Ottawa Police Service Transfer Policy;
·
Create and implement a model for workforce planning;
·
Develop and implement an employee orientation program;
·
Renew the
Mental Health Unit’s current Memorandum of Understanding with the Ottawa
Hospital, as the current agreement is due to expire in 2009;
·
Development
of community engagement and public participation opportunities through a
Partnership in Action initiative for the OPS and Board in preparation for the
2010-2012 Business Plan development; and,
·
Explore continuous learning and development opportunities and deliver
ongoing Leadership Development training to develop existing and future leaders
within the Ottawa Police Service.