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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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18 January 2011 |
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TO/DEST:
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Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM/EXP:
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Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT/OBJET: |
BUSINESS PLAN - 2010 – 2012: SEMI-ANNUAL STATUS REPORT (JULY TO DECEMBER 2010)
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RECOMMENDATION
The 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa is the Ottawa Police Services Board’s fifth business plan that ensures the delivery of adequate and effective police services for the citizens of Ottawa - responding to emergencies, enforcing the law, crime prevention, investigating crime, maintaining public order and assisting victims. It is a plan of action, comprised of 17 goals and 57 objectives, that was developed in consultation with the community to address community policing priorities and assists in guiding OPS program and service delivery decisions to ensure that our city is safer tomorrow than today.
The Board is provided with regular progress reports on the business plan in January and July of each year. It includes a list of reports approved by the Board that account on progress towards achieving the actions and outcomes as outlined in the Plan for a Safer Ottawa, as well as a self-assessment on progress and accomplishments during the reporting period. This is not the only mechanism that reports on progress. The annual Activity Report, the annual Crime, Police and Traffic statistics and quarterly operational performance reporting (e.g. Call Response, Workforce Management / Career Management, Employer of Choice, etc.) are other means provided to the Board, which have reference to the Business Plan goals and objectives.
DISCUSSION
The 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa articulates how the Board and the OPS will successfully achieve its mandate and vision, and demonstrate how the OPS will effectively and efficiently respond to community concerns and deliver police services to the community.
The actions needed to achieve the desired results are grouped into four strategic priorities that provide a common focus of accountability:
· Reducing, Investigating & Preventing Crime
· Investing in our People
· Enhancing Partnerships & Interoperability
· Expanding Public Education, Community Engagement & Mobilization
With
the approval of the 2010-2012 business plan in late December 2009, many initiatives
and actions are well underway. As an example, each Directorate has completed and
updated their 2010 Operational Plan which identifies specific operational
initiatives and programs that align with, and support the strategic priorities
and goals in the Plan. Additionally, the accountability and proposed timelines
have been assigned in the Business Plan Implementation/Action Plan (I/A Plan).
These are valuable tools that assist in defining expected outcomes, and are
used in the self-assessment, and monitoring / reporting on progress.
Reducing, Preventing and Investigating Crime
ü In response to resident and business complaints the Street Crime Unit (SCU) concluded a ten month project targeting the street level trafficking in and around the Vanier area. Project ‘Renaissance’ resulted in 48 arrests, including the seizure of $40,000 worth of drugs and more than $11,000 in cash.
ü Deployment review of School Resource Officer programming completed in consultation with representatives of the 4 area school boards and private schools. The new model was deployed in September 2010, and involved allocation of officer based on a school priority matrix that was established during the consultation. A review is scheduled to be completed in 2011.
ü During June and July 2010, stakeholders participating in the Coordinated Victims Assistance Program (CVAP) participated in an online consultation to summarize the 102 recommendations developed at the April 20th 2010 event when over 90 key stakeholders representing the three levels of government, key service delivery/funding organizations, academia, and the victim community met to provide input on the current state of victim services in Ottawa, to share their vision for the future, and develop a formal framework for the coordination of victim services in Ottawa. Plans are underway to once again engage the community stakeholders to develop an action during the 2011 National Victims of Crime Week.
ü In November, the Ottawa Police Service received the Passport to Prosperity Ontario Employer designation at a special Queen’s Park event. The designation was created by the Provincial Partnership Council to recognize organizations that demonstrated significant commitments to providing school-work programs for Ontario high-school students. The OPS application was based on information on our Cooperative Education Program, Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI), Take Your Child to Work, and the Venturers’ Program.
ü Continued progress on the CIS Enhancement Project. Work is progressing well with an examination of RMS caseload assignments, review of workload and process reviews, redeployment options and opportunities to increase specialized training, in-house. The Role Overload research study, to determine the factors that precipitate feelings of overload in individuals, how high levels of overload affect individuals and the employer, and what strategies can be employed to effectively reduce overload and impact work/life balance in the workforce being conducted by Dr. Linda Duxbury, a leader in this research, is expected to be completed in early 2011.
Investing in our People
ü Succession Planning is a critical component in both the development of members and retention of knowledge at all levels of the organization. In 2010, a Succession Management Advisory Committee was formed to facilitate the development of both a framework and strategy regarding succession planning within the Ottawa Police Service. Two facilitated focus group sessions involving civilian and sworn personnel were held during the summer to gain further input / insight with a report documenting the two sessions provided to the Advisory Committee. Additional focused research on best practices with respect to both succession planning and talent management is planned for 2011.
ü The Civilian Career Initiative was officially launched on October 4th. Included in the implementation were an improved civilian competition process that ensures consistency, flexibility and transparency, introduction of behavioural interviews, and definite timelines for filling civilian vacancies; a Civilian Expression of Interest database to assist with career development and succession planning for civilian employees; and, enhancements to the OPS website that provides focus on civilian opportunities within the Police Service. The launch was supported by information sessions and training opportunities for civilian members.
ü Approval of the “Real You” Ottawa Police Service Wellness pilot program in November. A 15 month health and wellness pilot project designed to provide activities and support to improve participant health, wellness and enjoy a higher quality of life. Customized for the OPS, it will focus on 100 volunteer participants to improve their health by making positive lifestyle changes under the guidance of a multi-disciplinary team of a licensed medical doctor, psychologist, physiotherapists/chiropractors, and naturopathic physician.
Enhancing Partnerships and Interoperability
ü Ottawa’s four school boards and the OPS have adopted the “Community Violence/Threat Risk Assessment Protocol“ that establishes a standardized collaborative response, sharing of information, advice and support between school staff, the community, community partners and responding police personnel for all high risk situations. It is intended to remove or reduce any threats to the safety of students, parents, school staff, and other persons on school property. This is the first time in Canada that the protocol was signed by more than 2 independent school boards at one time.
ü The Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Charter and Work Plan were approved by Executive in September 2010. Presentations were delivered to Emergency Operations Directorate Duty Inspectors as it relates to the Pandemic Plan. The Unit started developing the Risk and Controls tools and templates that are part of the first phase of BCP. Subject to the approval of the tools from the Steering Committee, evaluations will commence in the first quarter of 2011.
ü In July, a renewed 911 Service level Agreement was signed between the Police Services Board and the City of Ottawa. It is a cornerstone for the management of the 911 system for the City, it is an important part of the ongoing partnership between the OPS and its partners and sets a service level objective to have 97% of all calls answered within six seconds, once received by the OPS phone system.
ü Through a 50/50 funding partnership with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, the “Urban Priority Schools Pilot" commenced in September 2010, to support two dedicated SRO's to a smaller pool of priority schools, with the primary objective being heightened relationship building between the SRO's and at risk school populations. Through this funding opportunity, the OPS has been able to offer increased "Violence Risk Assessment" training to Youth Services Bureau, Boys & Girls Club, and CHEO Youth Services personnel.
Expanding Public Education, Community Engagement and Mobilization
ü On November 30th, over 200 residents attended the Ottawa Police Services Board’s Public Interest Meeting to engage in an open dialogue on Racial Profiling. As part of the Board’s community outreach and engagement strategy, it was an opportunity for meaningful, interactive and informative discussion about racial profiling with community members and leading experts on the subject, the Ottawa Police Services Board, and officers in the Ottawa Police Service. Subject matter experts shared their research and knowledge and the Police Service sharing a draft policy for ongoing discussion.
ü Community presentations from the Tactical Unit were up from previous levels with a total of 25 community presentations or events attended by members of the Tactical Unit in 2010. Positive comments have been received on the promotional DVD for the Unit that was developed for use at public presentations and for the Unit’s recruitment efforts.
ü From March to November the OPS launched a pilot program - the Neighbourhood Pace Car Program within West Division to stop speeding and calm traffic on neighbourhood streets. A SafeKids Canada program, it was active in 17 schools and 6 communities, managed by the schools and community associations. Transport Canada has agreed to evaluate the program in one of the communities in early 2011.
ü As a result of work and rigorous consultation undertaken by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), a new community policing model was developed for use by police services and communities across Ontario. The model operationalizes the community policing philosophy and provides a diagnosis tool for the police and community to assess capacity and needs. Inspector Alain Bernard was a key contributor to the development of the new model. This model confirms the way the Ottawa Police has been doing business for years and demonstrates how the police work with the community.
During the reporting period the Board has received a total of 20 reports that account on progress towards achieving the strategic priorities, goals and objectives as outlined in the 2010-2012 Business Plan (Annex 2).
The Ottawa Police Service will continue to fulfill its core policing responsibilities while maintaining its focus to achieve the outcomes in the Plan for a Safer Ottawa. Over the next six months, opportunities and options to further enhance the monitoring, accountability and measuring of results are being explored to improve transparency and to adopt a standardized reporting framework that will continue to be meaningful for the community, the Police Services Board, and OPS members.
The Plan for a Safer Ottawa is a product of many months of collaborative work undertaken by the members of the Police Service, engaged citizens, and the Police Services Board. As we move forward with the implementation of the 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa we will strive to maintain an open dialogue with the community.
During the life of the Plan, regular and ongoing community, member, and stakeholder feedback is received during the development and implementation of projects and initiatives that are identified in Annex 1, along with additional input that is received at Police Services Board and community meetings and through ongoing consultations with community-based policing partners, organizations, and stakeholders.
The 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa is a three-year plan of action that responds to community concerns and will improve the way we deliver policing services in the future. The actions outlined in the Plan will continue to strengthen and foster the long tradition of excellence and community collaboration that this Police Service has established.
Initiatives to reduce and prevent crime, improve assistance to victims of crime, enhance our community relationships and partnerships, and improve supports to our members are priorities for the next three years. These and other measures in the Plan were identified through the active participation and valuable input from residents, community partners, and members of the Police Service. As we move forward with the implementation of the 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa we will strive to maintain an open dialogue with the community.
While the evidence from the self-assessment indicates demonstrated early progress, the OPS will continue to advance actions and activities to respond to community concerns and improve the Police Service’s ability to effectively and efficiently deliver policing services to residents by “Working together for a safer community”.
(original signed by)
Vern White
Chief of Police
This document contains information that reports on activities related to the Ottawa Police Service Business Plan.
