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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE: |
14 October 2009 |
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TO: |
Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM: |
Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT: |
COMMEMORATIONS
POLICY DIRECTION |
RECOMMENDATION
That the Ottawa Police Services Board direct the Chief of Police to develop a
commemorations policy for approval at the 23 November 2009 Police Services
Board meeting.
As the Police Service prepares to officially open the West Division building at 211 Huntmar in January 2010, the question about naming the building has arisen. This question raised the larger issue of whether there is a process, policy or procedure for such an initiative. The answer is no and therefore a request was made to address this issue. There has never been a defined commemorative naming policy by the Ottawa Police Services Board or its predecessor boards or organizations.
This report will propose a staged process to determine how commemorations could be addressed by both the Ottawa Police Service and the Ottawa Police Services Board. The first stage is to open the discussion and set general criteria followed by the proposal of a draft policy for Board consideration.
DISCUSSION
Policing is steeped in tradition and celebrates and recognizes its history through a number of ceremonies, events, dedications and initiatives.
To date, City Council has chosen to name the Ottawa Police Headquarters after a retiring Chief and the Ottawa Police Service has chosen to recognize and commemorate such history further through the naming of two community boardrooms in honour of officers who have died while still on the job.
These are the three specific commemoration examples that exist in Ottawa Police Service buildings. One is the naming of Ottawa Police Headquarters (474 Elgin Street) and the other two are the naming of community boardrooms at 3343 St-Joseph Boulevard and 474 Elgin Street.
The OPS also recognizes officers who have fallen in the line of duty through “Walls of Honour” that are in the lobby of Headquarters and also in or nearby the parade rooms at all Divisional buildings. A separate plaque in the lobby of 474 Elgin Street also contains the names of those who have been killed in the line of duty. Finally, the various buildings occupied by the Ottawa Police Service contain plaques associated with the construction of those facilities.
On 3 March 1993 Ottawa City Council adopted a motion in Committee of the Whole, In-Camera, to name the Ottawa Police Headquarters building at 474 Elgin Street in honour of retiring Police Chief Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C. This motion was a unique measure to recognize the 42 years of service to the City of Ottawa by Chief Flanagan.
On 23 June 2005 Chief Vince Bevan and members of the Ottawa Police Services Board participated in the naming of the “Bud Campbell Community Boardroom” at the 10th Line East Division Building. This honour was bestowed on Constable Bud Campbell who died in April 2004 while still a member of the Ottawa Police Service.
On 3 August 2006 Chief Vince Bevan along with members of the Police Services Board dedicated the second floor community boardroom as the “Pat Hayes Community Boardroom” at 474 Elgin Street in honour of Superintendent Pat Hayes who passed away in September 2005 while still a member of the Ottawa Police Service.
The last two naming honours were in recognition of the contributions both men had made to the community and the police service.
There is no policy framework in place to name or recognize Ottawa Police buildings or rooms. Instead, the three decisions to date have been based on City Council or Chief prerogative.
There has been a general practice for a commemorative plaque to be installed in newly constructed buildings at their opening. These plaques traditionally contain the names of the governing board or council membership that provided stewardship for the construction, the name of the head of the agency, the architect and general contractor. This process will continue when the new Ottawa Police building at 211 Huntmar is dedicated in January 2010.
The City of Ottawa has a clearly defined framework and process for commemorations. Ottawa City Council adopted a “City of Ottawa Commemorative Naming Policy for Municipal Parks, Streets and Facilities” on 24 July 2002. The detailed policy contains a detailed framework and process with accompanying forms for the naming of municipally owned and managed sites and infrastructure.
The Police Services Board is being asked to provide comment and general direction to the Police Service in relation to future requests or questions about the naming of buildings, facilities or rooms within police buildings. In the absence of a policy or stated direction, the current practice will be left open to the discretion of the police service, Board or Council as has occurred in the past.
Questions will need to be clarified specifically about the ability of the Board or Police Service to name a city-owned facility or whether these buildings fall under the policy framework adopted by City Council in July 2002.
With this in mind, the Board has three general directions it can choose in the area of a commemorations policy. They are:
The Board may also provide comment on a hybrid policy that incorporates elements of each of the three options. For example, there may be a “no-naming policy” for buildings with a specific policy for rooms or spaces in police facilities.
Any additional consultation for the development of a commemorations policy could occur during the discussion of this report at the October and November 2009 meetings of the Police Services Board.
There is no financial impact of this report however there is a potential financial impact in the future with the adoption of a commemorations policy that requires the naming of buildings or rooms at the Ottawa Police Service. Costs for such items as plaques, signage, translation, design and ongoing maintenance would need to be factored into capital and operating budgets as required.
Past practice of naming buildings and police boardrooms has created a need for future clarification. The Police Service and the Police Services Board have an opportunity to address this gap through a process of identifying a number of preferred options for future decisions in this regard. By having a consistent, clear and fair process, there will be a continued opportunity to recognize policing traditions and history in an appropriate manner.
(original signed by)
V. White
Chief of Police
