Chief’s Verbal – 27 September  2010

 

2010 International Festival and Event Association Award

 

On 16 September 2010 the City of Ottawa was recognized at the 55th International Festival and Event Association (IFEA) Conference in Saint Louis, Missouri.  Ottawa was selected for the 2010 IFEA Award as the top North American entry in the 500,000 to 1 million population category for its community leadership and its efforts to support the success and growth of festivals and special events. 

                                               

Canadian Blood Services

 

On 20 September 2010, Canadian Blood Services held its eleventh annual evening to honour donors, volunteers, employees, partners, peer recruiters, as well as Lifetime Achievers.  During the event Staff Sergeant Denis Cleroux was presented with a token of recognition as one of seven Peer Recruiters from across Canada.  He was nominated by the North & Eastern Ontario Region of the Canadian Blood Services.

 

2010 Fatal Accidents

 

As of 20 September 2010 fatal accidents within the City of Ottawa have claimed 25 victims, the same number who died in the whole of 2009.

 

Fatal Accident Statistics for the last five years;

 

Accidents

Deaths

2005

22

24

2006

25

26

2007

34

35

2008

20

23

2009

22

25

2010 YTD

22

25

(Based upon previous years we can probably expect in the order of 5 more fatals in 2010)

 

The Police Service is actively involved with the City of Ottawa in the Integrated Road Safety initiative and this group is continually assessing accident activity of all types.  

 

·         A full time Traffic Analyst (civilian Jonathan Charbonneau) monitors/analyzes all info related to collisions

·         Results: no recurrent themes causing these tragic fatalities

·         Only factor that stands out: 84% are male drivers (explains why insurance companies have higher premiums for males)

·         Days of the week investigators called out most often: Thursday and Sunday with afternoon and evenings the time period involved

·         Vehicles:

·         Autos: 8…Bicycles: 5…Motorcycles: 3…Off road:1…Snowmobile: 1…Passenger van: 2…Pedestrian: 5 for a total of 25…all on highways except for snowmobile (river)

·         2 of 25: impaired driver

·         Again: 22 MVC resulted in 25 Fatalities

 

Basic Tactical Officers Course

 

We are in our 4th week of an 11 week Basic Tactical Training Officers course (BTOC). At this point, our 8 Ottawa candidates and the 8 officers from outside our Service are still in the program and without injury.  Three of our Ottawa candidates who had passed the Tactical Training course previously, are re-qualifying on the weapons portion of the program as a refresher.  They are due to join the Tactical Unit this fall as part of the Tenure Transfer Program.  Incorporated in the training program is also the Sniper qualification ( a 2 week course with a six month requalification) and a K9 course.

 

Chartier Homicide

 

On Tuesday, 16 March 2010 the stabbed and severely beaten body of a 73 year old was found in his Chapel Street (Sandy Hill) apartment, the victim of a robbery and murder. 

 

Persons of interest were immediately identified by the investigative team.  Extensive follow-up investigation occurred over the following months.  In June of 2010 Mr. Michael Scales appeared on the investigative radar.  An intensive 3 month follow-up investigation culminated on the 22nd of September 2010 with the arrest and charging of 42 year old Michael Scales with the second degree murder of Lawrence Chartier.

 

Swan Homicide

 

On the Monday, 22 February 2010 Ottawa Police patrol units responded to a 911 call from in the south end of the City of Ottawa. Police arrived to find 19 year old Michael SWAN lying on the floor of the single family dwelling with a single gunshot wound.  He died as a result of the gunshot wound.

 

Using the GPS function of the cellular phones Ottawa Police were able to track the suspects, however, they were challenged in finding the local connection to the homicide.  After seven months of investigation, the investigative team was finally able to identify 19 year old Sam Tsega as being the person responsible for assisting in the planning.  On 23 September 2010 the solid investigative work resulted in the arrest and charging of 19 year old Sam Tsega with manslaughter.