Chief’s Verbal – 30 May 2011
Cst. Jason Meehan
At 6:40 hours on 13 May 2011, Cst. Jason Meehan was flagged down by a motorist at Terry Fox and Edgewater, advising him of a car that had gone off the road and hit a tree along Terry Fox Drive. Cst. Meehan attended and found a male driver with no vital signs at the scene. Cst Meehan started CPR and then quickly applied the defibrillator carried aboard his patrol car.
Paramedics arrived and initiated advanced resuscitative measures and regained a pulse at the scene. The quick arrival and early defibrillation by Cst Meehan was key in re-establishing a pulse for the 56 year old driver. The driver was transported to hospital and admitted in critical condition.
Volunteer Service Award Presentation
In January two volunteers were nominated within the OPS for the 2011 Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Volunteer Service Awards – both of these nominations were accepted and both nominees have been sent a letter to advise them of that:
Mr. Peter Weston, CPC Orleans – 25 Year Award as Coordinator of East Division’s Neighbourhood Watch Program and presenter of a number of other crime prevention programs over the years including Child Print and Home Security Inspections
Mr. Jack Gauthier, Manager OPS Pipe Band – 25 Year Award – has been the manager for over 25 years – thousands of hours of volunteering both as a piper and also coordinating much of the band’s admin.
The Presentation will be held at the Tudor Hall (3750 Bowesville Road) on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are at an absolute premium – some 500 people expected. Both OPS volunteers are expected to attend.
Appointment of Toni Francis to position of Director of Employee Relations
I am pleased to report that a new position, Director of Employee Relations, has been created as part of a fine-tuning of the Corporate Services’ structure.
The Director of Employee Relations will focus on maintaining employer/employee relationships that foster overall productivity, motivation and morale through prevention and resolution of problems arising out of or affecting work situations, and will oversee Employee Relations, Labour Relations and special projects leading to new human resource programs within the OPS.
In the coming months, Ms. Francis will participate in the formation of a Diversity Advisory Council; oversee the 2011 Workforce Census; and explore/review dependent-care initiatives that reflect the needs of OPS members.
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Francis on her recent appointment and in wishing her much success in her new role.
Ian Fisher Wins Prestigious M. Patrick Gillin President’s Award
I am pleased to report that on May 12, 2011, the Building Owners’ and Managers’ Association (BOMA) presented Mr. Ian Fisher, Director, Police Facilities, with the M. Patrick Gillin President’s Award.
BOMA Ottawa presents this award to an exceptional and deserving member of the Ottawa Commercial Real Estate industry—an individual who has demonstrated a strong and lengthy commitment to BOMA Ottawa and to furthering the standards and excellence in the building and commercial real estate industry.
Mr. Fisher has been volunteering with BOMA Ottawa for approximately 17 years as an active member of numerous committees, a member of the Board of Directors and also served as President for two years. He also represented the Association at BOMA Canada as a member of the Board of Directors for three years.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ian on this tremendous achievement.
Police Week
Between May 15th and 21st, the police service celebrated Ontario Police Week and the theme of “Neighbourhood Safety: Working Together for Community”. Community Police Centres held 37 events across the city including: community bbqs, women’s self defence workshops, Neighbourhood Watch celebrations, food drives, bike safety, ball hockey with youth, seniors safety, and theft from vehicle prevention and outreach.
Police Week is an opportunity to celebrate and highlight just some of the year round work of our members, the community and our partners – the community spirit and involvement of our police members and volunteers can be seen in action throughout the year and is available on our community events calendar at www.ottawapolice.ca.
Update on OPP Outcomes re: Stacy Bonds Case
On March 15, 2011, the Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) advised our Service that it had completed its investigation into the cellblock incident involving Ms. Stacy Bonds. Upon completion of the SIU investigation, I referred this file to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) for investigation in relation to the policy, services and conduct of sworn and civilian members involved in the incident with the exclusion of the member that was referred to the SIU.
Last week, the OPP advised they had completed their investigation. With respect to the outcomes of the OPP investigation, I will not be offering any comments on those that overlap with the subject officers of the SIU investigation.
The OPP has concluded that, with respect to all other members that were the focus of their investigation, no misconduct and no criminal charges were identified.
The Ottawa Police continues to implement a number of significant changes to cellblock operations, from enhanced policies and procedures, monitoring and surveillance, to job specific training and increased supervision. Reviews of cellblock operations are continuing, and any future enhancements will only help our Service to ensure that every person processed through the cellblock is treated with dignity.
Idle Reduction Initiative
Last Wednesday, we held a press conference to showcase the new Idle Reduction technology. Through a partnership with the National Research Council (NRC), the OPS has become the first police service in Canada to develop and implement an idling reduction program to this level. Idle-Reduction technology will reduce our carbon emissions, save on our fuel costs and reduce maintenance costs to our vehicles.
The average front-line patrol vehicle idles for two-thirds of each shift. Our patrol cars run for three shifts per day, and at the current price of gas, that’s a cost of $60 a day or $22,000 per year.
At a cost of $7,000, it will pay for itself in 12 months assuming that idling drops by our goal of 40%.
We plan to install up to 30 units in 2011 and 2012, and increase this as the NRC develops and advance this technology and look at second and third generation systems.
Crime Stoppers
In May 2011, 275 tips were received from Crime Stoppers which resulted in 23 arrests, 148 criminal charges and the resolution of 9 criminal cases. This translates in the recovery of $61,775 of drugs and $1,700 in crime related property, 7 firearms plus 3 prohibited weapons and fines by the ministry and by-law against 2 stores for illegal sales of tobacco. We received information on drugs, thefts, arson, stolen vehicles, prostitution and a lot more. This month Crime Stoppers will pay $2,665 in rewards.
Drug Unit – Stats
PROJECT BYPASS for the time period of December 2010 to April 2011 resulted in;
The grand total of drugs seized is valued at $156,356.00
The grand total of charges laid included 59 people totally 266 charges
There grand total in Canadian & US Currency seized = $298,546.00
Death of Civilian Member - Brenda Landry
It is with great sadness that I inform the Board of the death of one of our civilian members. Brenda Landry passed away last Thursday after living courageously with leukemia for several months.
Brenda joined the Police Service in 1994 and worked in areas such as Records Services, Court Liaison and Evidence Control. She will be best remembered for her role as the Service’s Volunteer Coordinator, where she brought passion, enthusiasm and commitment to a role she truly cherished.
Through her work, Brenda has left the OPS with a great legacy: a robust and vital cadre of volunteers, Police Venturers and Auxiliary members that will help the OPS carry out its mission.
Our thoughts are with Brenda’s life partner, Ann, her foster son, Lanre, and her family. She will be greatly missed by the Service. The funeral celebration will be held this Wednesday.