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Ottawa Police Services Board
Minutes 15
Monday, 28 November 2011, 5:00 p.m.
Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa
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Present: Councillor E. El-Chantiry (Chair), J. Durrell (Vice-Chair), A. Doyle, H. Jensen, C. Nicholson, J. Watson
Regrets: J. Harder
CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES / ANNOUNCEMENTS
a) Welcome to Mr. Paul Thompson, Police Services Advisor
Chair El-Chantiry welcomed Mr. P. Thompson, Police Services Advisor, Zone 2, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, to the meeting. As an advisor for this area of Ontario, Mr. Thompson performs a variety of duties and functions including adequacy reviews and in-depth inspections and audits of police services.
b) Ottawa Police Gala Cheque Presentation to Ottawa Mission
Chief White presented a cheque in the amount of $90,000 to Mr. Jack Murta, President and Ms. Diane Morrison, Executive Director of the Ottawa Mission. The funds were raised during the Second Annual Ottawa Police Gala on October 29th.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
That the Ottawa Police Services Board confirm the Minutes of the 24 and 26 October 2011 meetings.
CONFIRMED
PUBLIC DELEGATIONS
a) Presentation by Ms. Diane George, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women
Ms. George presented on behalf of the Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW). OCTEVAW is an unincorporated, non-profit, non-partisan organization composed of a network of member organizations and individuals located within the City of Ottawa and surrounding regions. Their members include women abuse and rape crisis agencies, victim services, child protection services, hospital and police representatives, the Crown, probation and parole, health and counselling services, academic researchers and other concerned community members. OCTEVAW is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to ending violence against women and, through leadership, education, advocacy and political action, to promoting a coordinated response to women and their children who have experienced abuse. November is Women Abuse Prevention Month.
Within the City of Ottawa violence does not have a gender component and women are at dramatically more risk of sexual and partner violence. Ottawa has not become any safer for women, as assaults in the city are on the rise (3% higher than the national average). Ms. George informed Board members that she was assaulted two years ago and is now living with a head injury. She has started the HURT Agency (“it shouldn’t hurt to be a woman”) to provide emergency assistance to women and children fleeing domestic violence in emergency situations. She added that when she was assaulted police came on scene and from that time to present they have been amazing with their various support initiatives. She believes the Police are not recognized enough in the community for what they do. She thanked them again for what they did for her.
On behalf of the Board, Chair El-Chantiry thanked Ms. George for her kind words about the Ottawa Police Service and appreciated her acknowledgement of their professionalism.
b) Presentation by Mr. David Burton, Board Member, Civil Liberties Association
Mr. Burton invited all members of the Board to the December 4th Civil Liberties Association panel discussion. He referred to an article in the December issue of Ottawa Life magazine that attacked the OPS and Chief White. Mr. Burton indicated that there was a poster for the event and accompanying comments; the comments were misleading and they were not made by him, nor did he send the event poster to the Ottawa Life editor. He appreciated that the optics were not good, but as the moderator of the event Mr. Burton assured the OPS that the panel was not a setup or an attack against the police. All questions and concerns have been predetermined and will be forwarded to all participants prior to the event. The purpose of the event is to make people more aware of the Civil Liberties Association and the issues, morals and ethics involved.
Chief White thanked Mr. Burton for arranging the event and said he is looking forward to participating in the discussion.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Chief White reported on the following items:
(A copy of the Chief’s verbal report will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director and is available online at ottawapoliceboard.ca.)
· Crime Prevention Ottawa Community Safety Awards – Cst. M. Elmi, Cst. A. Haggerty
· 9-run-run
· Manotick Community Police Centre – Update
· Crime Prevention Week – Cst. Elmi
· Let’s Chat Youth Café
· Bullying Awareness Week
· All Valuables Removed Program – 80,000 Warning Cards for Drivers
· Sexual Assault Child Abuse
· Plea in 2009 Double Homicide
· R. v. Wehbe, Wehbe, Wehbe & Dournhou
· Child Luring
· “Skull Mask Robberies”
· Fraud
· Occupy Ottawa
· Supt. M. Flanagan to Afghanistan
· The Pilot Project “The Real You OPS Wellness Program”.
Occupy Ottawa
Member Watson congratulated the Service and the National Capital Commission (NCC) for the joint effort in dealing with the Occupy Ottawa movement; it was handled extremely well and very professionally. He asked that the Chief pass along the Board’s thanks.
Manotick Community Police Centre
Chair El-Chantiry confirmed that the Board was giving direction to the Chief that staff discontinue current lease negotiations and that the lease arrangement proceed on a month to month basis while staff continue to look for alternate space in the area that is available at little or no cost. The Chief indicated that discussions are currently underway with the City about a specific location.
Supt. M. Flanagan to Afghanistan
Chair El-Chantiry wished Supt. Flanagan a safe journey and asked that he pass along the Board’s appreciation to all officers serving abroad.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
2. 2012 DRAFT OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS
2012 Draft Operating & Capital Budgets book previously distributed
Director General Frazer presented highlights of the 2012 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets. (A copy of the presentation will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director.)
Following the presentation, Chair El-Chantiry asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak to the budget. There being no one, the Board considered the following recommendations:
That the Ottawa Police Services Board:
1. Approve:
a) The Ottawa Police Service 2012 Draft Operating and Capital Budgets;
b) The reduction of capital authority for the Portable Radio Replacement (Capital Project No. 903450) from $10.5 million to $6.8 million;
c) The creation of the Ottawa Police Service Facilities Strategic Plan Reserve Fund.
2. Forward the Ottawa Police Service Operating and Capital Budgets to Council for review and approval.
CARRIED
3. SAFER ROADS OTTAWA PROGRAM
Deputy City Manager – City Operations report dated 28 November 2011
Ottawa’s Strategic Road Safety Action Plan: 2012-Beyond, issued separately
Presentation
Member Watson requested that the presentation be a high level synopsis in lieu of going through all slides, as all members had the opportunity to review the presentation prior to this evening.
Mr. J. Manconi, Manager, Public Works, thanked the Board for having the team at the meeting and he wished to acknowledge the work of the individuals from the Police, Health, Fire and Public Works Department. The program is aimed at making Ottawa’s transportation system one of the safest systems in the world. The following partners were present to respond to any questions Board members might have: Supt. J. Skinner, OPS; Mr. K. Wylie, Manager, Traffic Management & Operational Support; Mr. R. Lindia, Assistant Deputy Fire Chief and Ms. J. Bionda, Manager, Performance Management and Professional Standards, Paramedics. (A copy of the presentation will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director.)
Following the presentation, a discussion ensured and the following points of clarification were made:
- Actual statistics for the School Zone Traffic Safety Program were not available, however, Supt. Skinner stated that a number of programs have been implemented involving schools and there is a great deal of community support for the programs.
- Statistics compiled by Public Works include the OPS, the OPP and the RCMP. Higher speed roadways do have more collisions and the reason the 400 series highways is on their radar is due to the fact that hotspots for distracted driving have appeared, especially on Highway 416.
- Traffic on municipal roadways continues to be a number one priority for this community.
Member Jensen indicated that he serves on the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB) and wondered if there was any pressure that the OAPSB could apply to the Provincial Government to gain support for the items listed in the report.
Mr. Manconi stated that City Council had already directed Public Works to write to the Province to talk about photo radar, for example, and their response was it is not something they are considering at this time. All elements identified by the team are critical to the current plan.
Supt. Skinner stated that any level of enforcement that is implemented will impact the way people drive. People need to understand that driving is a right and it is not to be taken as a secondary activity. People must drive to arrive safely.
Chair El-Chantiry thanked everyone involved in the initiative and acknowledged the good working relationship that exists between the various departments within the City.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board:
1. Receive for information this report, Ottawa’s Strategic Road Safety Action Plan: 2012-Beyond, and the 2012 Safer Roads Ottawa Program Work Plan; and
RECEIVED
2. Approve the Ottawa Police Services’ participation in the initiatives described therein.
CARRIED
4. PARKWOOD HILLS COMMUNITY POLICE CENTRE – LEASE APPROVAL
Chief’s report dated 22 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve a lease for the Community Police Centre located at 1343 Meadowlands Drive, for a two-year period commencing 1 February 2012 to 31 January 2014, at no cost.
CARRIED
5. BOARD 2012 MEETING SCHEDULE
Executive Director’s report dated 21 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the 2012 meeting schedule.
CARRIED
6. RESPONSE TO OUTSTANDING INQUIRY I-11-03: PROGRESS REPORT ON ANTI-IDLING PROGRAM
Chief’s report dated 22 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
7. 2010 ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BENCHMARKING INITIATIVE (OMBI) POLICE SERVICES
Chief’s report dated 21 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
8. OTTAWA POLICE GALA 2011
Chief’s report dated 22 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
9. REPORT ON S.I.U. INVESTIGATION – INJURY DURING ARREST – JUNE 2011
Chief’s report dated 16 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
10. REPORT ON S.I.U. INVESTIGATION – INJURY DURING ARREST – SEPTEMBER 2011
Chief’s report dated 22 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
11. REPORT ON S.I.U. INVESTIGATION – MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION WITH INJURIES – SEPTEMBER 2011
Chief’s report dated 22 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
12. OUTSTANDING BOARD INQUIRIES & MOTIONS: NOVEMBER 2011
Executive Director’s report dated 21 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
13. LETTERS OF COMMENDATION
Chief’s report dated 22 November 2011
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
COMMUNICATIONS
a) THANK YOU FROM CRIME STOPPERS
Letter dated 28 October 2011 from the Co-Chairs, National Capital Area Crime Stoppers Golf Committee
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this communication for information.
RECEIVED
CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO MOVE IN CAMERA
Moved by H. Jensen
That the Ottawa Police Services Board adjourn the public portion of its meeting to move In Camera to discuss confidential items pertaining to legal and personnel matters, in accordance with Section 35(4)(b) of the Police Services Act.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
____________________________ _____________________________
W. Fedec E. El-Chantiry
Executive Director Chair