REPORT RAPPORT

DATE:	17 January 2012
TO/DEST:	Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board
FROM/EXP:	Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service
SUBJECT/OBJET:	RESPONSE TO OUTSTANDING INQUIRY #I-11-01:  USE OF FORCE COMPARATORS

RECOMMENDATION

That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.

BACKGROUND

During the tabling of the 2010 Use of Force report at the February 2011 Police Services Board meeting, Member Henry Jensen requested that a comparative data analysis be made between the Ottawa Police Service and other Ontario police services’ use of force data.

DISCUSSION

Comparator police services were contacted and requests made for use of force reports, along with calls for service data (those resulting in a mobile response).  This means a dispatched response, rather than an alternate response (i.e. telephone).   Analysts in Corporate Planning assisted with the review of the resultant data. 

Staff discovered that the nature of the current Ontario Use of Force reporting system is such that individual police services record and analyze their data in a variety of ways. While there is a standard form which must be used to collect the data, there is no standard for the manner in which this data must be reported (See Annex A). 

Staff determined that it was not possible to draw any reliable conclusions from this data analysis.  Training methods and data collection related to the variety of use of specific force options (empty hand control, baton, OC, CEW, firearm deployment) are too different amongst police services to draw any meaningful observations or conclusions. Provincial reporting standards will need to be enacted in order for a statistically meaningful and reliable exercise to be undertaken.

CONSULTATION

Not applicable.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Not applicable.

CONCLUSION

The variation in the reporting of use of force data by police services across the province makes comparison impossible.  A meaningful and accurate comparator report cannot be prepared until the manner in which use of force data is collected and reported becomes unified across the province.

(Original signed by)

Vern White

Chief of Police

Attach:  Annex A – Form 1 – Police Services Act Use of Force Report

ANNEX A

Form 1

Police Services Act

USE OF FORCE REPORT

Check more than one box in each section, where appropriate

Police Service

Location Code (if applicable)

Part A

Date (day/month/year)

Time Incident Commenced (24 hr.)

Time Incident Terminated (24 hr.)

Individual Report

Length of Service (years completed)

Rank

Team Report

Type of Team

# of Police Officers Involved

Type of Assignment

Type of Incident

Police Presence at Time of Incident

General Patrol

Robbery

Suspicious Person

Alone

Foot Patrol

Break and Enter

Serious Injury

Police Assisted (specify #)

Traffic

Domestic Disturbance

Homicide

Attire

Investigation

Other Disturbance

Weapons Call

Uniform

Civilian Clothes

Drugs

Traffic

Alarm

Number of Subject(s) Involved in Incident

Off-duty

Other (specify)

One   Two   Three        Other specify #

Other (specify)

Type of Force Used

Was Force

Reason for

Alternative Strategies Used

(include all options used during incident

Effective?

Use of Force

(if applicable)

& rank in sequence of use)

Yes

No

Firearm – discharged

Protect Self

Verbal Interaction

Cover

Firearm – pointed at person

Protect Public

Concealment

Other (specify)

Handgun – drawn

Effect Arrest

Aerosol Weapon

Prevent Commission of Offence

Type of Firearm Used

No. Of Rounds Discharged

Impact Weapon – Hard

Prevent Escape

(if applicable)

(if applicable)

Impact Weapon – Soft

Accidental

Revolver

Empty Hand Techniques – Hard

Destroy an Animal

Semi-automatic

Empty Hand Technique – Soft

Other (specify)

Rifle

Other (specify)

Shotgun

Other (specify)

Distance

Weapons Carried by Subject(s)

Location of Subject’s Weapon

Number of Rounds Fired by Subject(s)

(Between you & subject at the time

(A t time decision was made to use force)

(if applicable)

The decision was made to use force)

1

2

3

1

2

3

Less than 2 metres

Unknown

In-hand

2 to 3 metres

None

At hand

Total Number:

3 to 5 metres

Revolver

Concealed on person

5 to 7 metres

Semi-automatic

7 to 10 metres

Rifle

Greater than 10 metres

Shotgun

Knife/Edged Weapon

Baseball Bat/Club

Other (specify)

Location of Incident

Weather conditions

Lighting Conditions

Outdoors

Indoors

Clear

Daylight

Roadway

Private Property

Public Property

Sunny

Dusk

Laneway

House

Financial Institution

Cloudy

Dark

Yard

Apartment

Commercial Site

Rain

Good Artificial Light

Park

Hallway

Public Institution

Snow/Sleet

Poor Artificial Light

Rural

Other (specify)

Fog

Other (specify)

Motor Vehicle

Other (specify)

Other (specify)

Person Injured

Medial Attention Required

Nature Of Injuries

Yes

No

Minor

Serious

Fatal

Unknown

1.

Self

2.

Other Police Officer

3.

Subject

4.

Third Party

Narrative:  (If no occurrence report) – Do not include personal names or information. If more space is required please continue on back of form

Reviewed by Supervisor

o  Yes    o  No

Reviewed by Training Analyst

o Yes   o   No

Recommended Post Traumatic Incident Counselling

o Yes   o  No

Recommended Other Training

o Yes     o No

Date(day/month/year)

Part B Part B

Officer Involved (name, rank, & badge #)

Incident Number

Date of last use of force refresher training:

Would you like to participate in an interview with a training sergeant/analyst to discuss this incident and/or use of force training?

o Yes o  No

Additional Training Recommended By:         o training analyst o supervisor

Type of training recommended:

O. Reg. 751/92, s. 2.