Chief’s Verbal – November 23, 2009

 

 

Launching of newly designed OPS Website:

During the first week of November, for Crime Prevention Week, the Ottawa Police launched its newly designed website.

 

The site was re-designed to be more user-friendly and interactive.  Now you can:

·        receive up-to-the-minute news and share information with friends through Facebook and Twitter or other social media networks,

·        browse our new Calendar of Events to find out what the Ottawa Police is up to each week,

·        view images of suspects and missing persons online or on your cell phone, and

·        we’re ‘Asking Ottawa’ what they think with our bi-monthly polls about our community

 

I invite everyone to check out the new site at ottawapolice.ca.

 

Pandemic Plan Update:

As a follow up to last month’s verbal report, I am pleased to report significant progress on the role out of our Pandemic Plan.  We continue to support the City’s overall response and coordinate our involvement through the Emergency Operation Centre’s Control Group.  Our members and their families have been or are in the process of being vaccinated and the fit testing of our members under the Respiratory Protection Program is currently taking place.  We have implemented appropriate monitoring tools which are assisting in the early identification of potential spikes that can be used to support decisions on alternate deployment strategies.

 

All our plans are supported by a robust internal and external communications strategy.  We will continue to work closely with the City of Ottawa’s Public Health Department and our other partners.  In particular, I want to publicly thank our Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Isra Levy, for his support and the Ottawa Paramedic Service for dedicating a number of its resources to the vaccination process of our members and their families.

 

Prostitution Sweep in Carlington area

 

Responding to community concerns, last week Ottawa Police Service Officers conducted a two-day prostitution sweep in the Carlington area.  During this operation there were 11 adults charged with prostitution related offences.  West Division neighbourhood officers have been working with the Carlington community to address this issue.  There were numerous efforts to utilize restorative justice approaches including five adults being sent to pre-charge diversion or John School.  Officers are also working with many social service agencies to provide support to those working the street.  The officers will continue to monitor this area.

 


Public Consultation on Business Plan

 

The Ottawa Police Service would like to thank police and community members for attending the four Let's Chat Coffee Shops in various neighbourhoods this month.  While we are still compiling the results and discussions of the sessions, most participants found the sessions to be very informative and validated much of the information already in the draft Business Plan.

 

Community and police members can still check out the videos and the draft 2010-2012 Business Plan on the Ottawa Police website and provide comments and implementation ideas until the end of November.

 

Mr. Chair, I would like to personally thank yourself and the other board members who attended the public sessions.

 

Director of Facilities Resigning

 

Ms. C. Roper, Director of Facilities, has submitted her resignation effective November 27, 2009.  She will be pursuing new career opportunities in Montreal.

 

As a valued member of the OPS, Ms. Roper made many contributions from a Facilities perspective, including working on significant projects such as the construction of the 10th Line patrol station, the state of the Art Evidence Control Facility and the new West Division patrol facility on Huntmar Drive.  On behalf of the OPS, I would like to thank Carol for her contributions and wish her success in the future.