Chief’s Verbal – December 19,  2011

 

 

Project Sleepwalker

 

On December 5th through the 7th, an 18 month Joint Forces drug investigation named PROJECT SLEEPWALKER was concluded.  The Joint Forces Unit was composed of the OPS, RCMP, OPP and Toronto Police.  A total of 19 search warrants were executed in the City of Ottawa and Ottawa region. One warrant was also done in Toronto.  A total of 226 charges were laid against 22 persons including conspiracy to traffic controlled substances and possession of controlled substances to firearms offences.

 

Concerned citizens from Vanier called the police about drug dealing – the Street Crime Unit investigated the matter and then turned it over to the Ottawa Police Drug Unit.

 

A total of 12 kilo of cocaine was seized, with a street value of 1.2 million dollars; 3 kilos of heroin (value of 1.1 million), and crack cocaine, ecstasy pills, hashish and marijuana….for a total street value of $2,888 million dollars.  In addition, a total of 13 vehicles were seized and 14 firearms (AK 47, Mack 10 and 4 pistols).  A Proceeds of Crime investigation remains ongoing.

 

This is probably one of the most important drug investigations in Ottawa over the past 20 years and we a grateful to the community for stepping forward with the initial information.

 

Public Safety

 

Following Chief White’s public safety announcement on December 9th, 2011, which asked all women, but particularly those involved in the sex trade to, “be alert, be vigilant and be safe”, the police service launched a multi-pronged community safety plan.

 

To date, members of the Ottawa Police Service have made over 30 direct contacts with sex trade workers to provide them with safety advice and assure them that their safety is our number one priority.  We are also reinforcing this message by working with our community partners who work directly and indirectly with marginalized women and sex trade workers.

 

In the coming weeks we will support our efforts through the production of new and innovative of safety materials.  We will also be working collaboratively with our partners to increase the levels of safety experienced by sex trade workers in our city.  We will be introducing a monthly “Safe Reporting” opportunity for sex trade workers, so that they can identify individuals and situations that are causing them concern.  We understand that we need to build a mutual relationship of trust for sex trade workers to feel comfortable in reporting crimes.  We are also planning a partner’s forum for February 2012 to look at ways we might improve the community response to prostitution and in particular our approach to enforcement.  And finally we are considering additional training for Patrol and District officers to assist them in the work they do with sex trade workers.

CopShop

 

On December 14, 60 OPS Officers volunteers their time and took on the role of a personal shopper to local children.  Armed with Christmas wish lists, the officers paired up with 60 children chosen by the School Boards as part of CopShop Program. 

 

20 Vic Management, property managers for Billings Bridge and the Carlingwood Shopping Malls, and the OPS joined forces again for the 4th Annual CopShop Program during which each child received $200 gift cards donated by 20 Vic.   He thanked everyone who participated in this program.

 

Supt Flanagan – Afghanistan

 

As Board members are aware, Supt Mike Flanagan visited Afghanistan with senior RCMP Officers during the first week of December.  The aim of the visit was to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the duties undertaken by civilian police. 

 

It is very challenging job and there is limited freedom of movement due to the threat of insurgents and the country is very much a military environment. 

 

The role of Canadian police officers is to build the capacity of the Afghan National Police as they strive towards a professional police service.

 

Supt Flanagan did say that while speaking with  American Generals, Canadian Colonels and Senior Afghan officials, the common theme he heard was that Canadian Police Officers were highly respected and the most sought after police officer in the mission.  

 

I want to thank Supt Flanagan for representing the OPS during this visit.

 

Annual Police Resources In Canada Report – Weighted Clearance Rates

 

Mr. Chair, two reports released last week provides further evidence that Ottawa continues to be one of the safest cities in Canada. 

 

First, our Weighted Clearance Rate improved in 2010 when we cleared 41% of Criminal Code incidents, up 1.5 percentage points from 2009, which places us sixth among our Big 12 Ontario counterparts.

 

Second, Ottawa is 74th of Canada’s 100 largest cities in Maclean’s magazine’s fourth annual National Crime Rankings (100 being the least dangerous).  Ottawa is 26 percentage points below the national average and we are ranked sixth among the 10 most populous cities in Canada (alongside Peel Region, but slightly higher than York and Durham Regions)

 

This is a testament not only to the members of the Ottawa Police Service, but to the countless number of community agencies, groups, volunteers, residents and businesses who work tirelessly toward the common goal of making Ottawa safer tomorrow than today.

 

Guns and Gangs/D.A.R.T. Unit

 

The OPS Guns and Gangs / DART (Direct Action Response Team, a uniform section of Guns and Gangs) Unit has undertaken a 60 day enforcement / suppression campaign called Project “Bullseye”. The Project will provide substantial and sustainable firearm crime-solving benefits to the OPS and the public in that it will:

·         Effectively conduct a high visibility high enforcement in targeted areas towards street gang members;

·         Identify armed suspects;

·         Provide NHO officers with the knowledge base on street gang members within their assigned districts. At the completion of the 60 day period, this will provide the DART Unit an additional resource within the neighbourhood office to assist them in operations and intelligence gathering.

 

Congolese Demonstrations

 

The Ottawa Police Service is seen as a leader in its approach to Major Events policing in our country.  Our role is to uphold the democratic rights of all individuals to freedom of opinion, expression, association and assembly as guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; to strengthen community partnerships through communication, consultation, collaboration and transparency in planning and operations; and to ensure the safety and security of our community and our members.

 

Over the past couple of weeks, Ottawa has been the site of demonstrations by the Congolese community.  On December 6, the demonstration turned violent as individuals chose to hurl stones and other debris at RCMP and OPS officers who were protecting the Congolese Embassy.  Two officers received minor injuries.  On December 9, a second demonstration took place where 6 protesters were arrested after they blocked a downtown intersection.  Last Friday, on December 16, a large protest started on Parliament Hill which eventually made its way to the Congolese Embassy.  Once again, individuals chose to use violence and police were forced to respond with tactics to control the crowd.  There were 3 arrests and some charges were laid.

 

I want to thank all members, civilian and sworn, who were involved in the recent demonstrations involving the Congolese community as they exercised their democratic rights to protest.  I can say with confidence that members of the Ottawa Police Service demonstrated a tremendous amount of restraint and professionalism in the face of adversity and responded appropriately when faced with unlawful behaviour.