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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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17 February 2012 |
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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: |
2010 - 2012 BUSINESS PLAN - SEMI-ANNUAL STATUS REPORT (JULY TO DECEMBER 2011)
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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 developed in consultation with the community to address community policing priorities and assists in guiding Ottawa Police program and service delivery decisions to ensure that our city is safer tomorrow than today.
The Board receives 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 goals 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 strategic priorities of the Business Plan.
The 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa articulates how the Board and the Ottawa Police will successfully achieve its mandate and vision and demonstrates how the OPS will effectively and efficiently respond to community concerns. 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
A self-assessment is completed every six months and the results reported to the Police Services Board, Police Executive, the community, and members of the Ottawa Police. We are currently two-thirds through the three-year business cycle. The self-assessment indicates that there continues to be demonstrated progress in achieving the desired outcomes and goals expressed in the 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa. Outstanding deliverables and performance indicators are in progress and based on the self-assessment are expected to be completed by year’s end.
On 30 September, Police Services Board members and the Ottawa Police Executive Team held a joint mid-term review session. The results of the discussions were reported at the 24 October 2011 Board meeting. Following approval of the 2012 Budget in November, a review of the current strategic priorities in the 2010-2012 Business Plan was undertaken by the Business Plan Advisory Group, the OPS oversight body created to monitor and track progress. The Group reviewed the status of all outstanding deliverables and performance indicators in the Business Plan to identify what actions were expected to be accomplished based on current 2012 operational realities (budget, existing resource allocation and significant organizational initiatives). Based on the results of the review, continued progress is being made towards the outstanding actions with the expectation that these will be completed by year’s end. Also identified were potential deliverables that may roll forward into 2013. For example, work on the Business Continuity Plan and compliance with the requirements of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) will continue into 2013 and will be considered as part of the 2013 to 2015 business planning cycle. The Business Plan Advisory Group will meet again over the course of the year to monitor and review progress, with the results reported in the upcoming status reports in July and December of this year.
During the reporting period the Board received a total of 36 reports that account on progress towards achieving the strategic priorities, goals and objectives as outlined in the 2010-2012 Business Plan (Annex A). A more detailed listing of accomplishments is included in Annex B, while highlights of key results and accomplishments attained during the last two quarters of 2011 are summarized below.
Reducing, Investigating and Preventing Crime
ü A number of joint operations were concluded in the last six months including:
- A total of 226 charges were laid against 22 persons in an 18-month joint forces drug investigation “Project Sleepwalker” involving OPS, RCMP, OPP and Toronto Police. Drugs (cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, ecstasy pills, hashish and marijuana) with a street value of $2.8 million were seized.
- 12 people were arrested for a total of 107 charges in “Project Finale” a joint operation involving officers with the OPS, OPP and RCMP targeting the activities of an organized crime group and the group’s drug trafficking activities. The drugs seized are estimated in excess of $172,000.
- In July, “Project Yardwork” successfully concluded. Investigating allegations of organized criminal activities, alleged to include insurance fraud schemes, Ontario Disability Support fraud and illegal drug activities, a series of search warrants were executed resulting in 10 arrests and 47 criminal charges.
- In December 2011, the Guns and Gangs / Direct Action Response Team initiated a 60 day enforcement/suppression campaign called “Project Bullseye” a high visibility enforcement operation in targeted areas and street gang members.
ü In July, the OPS in partnership with the OPP and the Ministry of the Environment conducted Project ERASE (Eliminate Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere). A total of 21 speeding charges were laid, 46 equipment charges and over 47 other Highway Traffic Act charges.
ü The Ottawa Community Youth Diversion Program, a collaboration between the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, the Provincial Government, the Crowns Office and the OPS was recognized by Crime Prevention Ottawa and winner of the Community Safety Program Award. This Program identifies youth and matches support programs to their needs in an attempt to divert youth from continuing to be at conflict with the law.
ü The Ottawa Police Service participated in the Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI), a summer employment opportunity for youth who reside in at-risk communities and helps to promote a positive relationship between police and the community. During the seven-week program, 39 students received training, mentoring and practical job skills for the future.
ü Following the Chief’s public safety announcement in December which asked all women, and particularly those involved in the sex trade, to “Be alert, be vigilant and be safe”, the OPS launched an multi-pronged community safety plan, which involved direct contact with sex trade workers to provide them with safety advice and working with community partners, both directly and indirectly with marginalized women and sex trade workers. Additional measures to support the Safety Plan are in progress, such as additional training for Patrol and District officers to assist them in the work they do with sex trade workers, and working with our partners to increase the levels of safety experienced by sex trade workers.
Investing in our People
ü The Civilian Career Initiative has moved from project to program status. To provide oversight to the program, a CCI Joint Steering Committee has been established to ensure the ongoing effectiveness and efficiency of the process and ensure that the guiding principles of fairness, transparency, and consistency are supported. In the fall, feedback from members involved in the CCI process was solicited through an online survey and interviews. A total of 352 members (response rate of 54%) responded to the survey with an additional 41 interviews completed. A preliminary review of the information indicates that CCI is having positive impacts, but there are areas which need further review, improvement and/or clarification, and the Steering Committee is working to enhance the CCI Program based on the information provided.
ü To support the training needs of members, a new and innovative Training Management System was introduced in November. The new system was built from an extensive review and internal consultations, which began in late 2010 to facilitate the planning, organization, direction, coordination, conduct and oversight of training within, and on behalf of the OPS. The new system incorporates an Annual Planning Cycle, improved forecasting of training demands by Directorate, and improved oversight and a review process.
Enhancing Partnerships and Interoperability
ü In an effort to enhance our partnership work and resources, the OPS undertook a comprehensive inventory of existing partners/partnerships to document their role with OPS. The inventory will be valuable in moving forward with our community engagement and partnership approaches in the future.
ü In July, the OPS were called to provide support to the City of Ottawa Office of Emergency Management to assist in the evacuation of 286 residents from the Kingfisher Lake First Nations community. The community was one of the many that were threatened by forest fires that had overtaken much of Northwestern Ontario this past summer. Liaising with our City partners, the OPS provided support and ensured the safety and security of the evacuees
ü In November, the Police Services Board approved the participation of the OPS in the City of Ottawa’s Strategic Road Safety Action Plan: 2012 – Beyond and the 2012 Safer Roads Ottawa Program Work Plan. A joint initiative between the City of Ottawa Public Health, Public Works, Paramedic Service, Fire Services, and the OPS, builds on the success of the former Integrated Road Safety Program (2003-2011)8 and sets a new vision and Action Plan that is more comprehensive and responsive to road safety priorities and will help make the “City of Ottawa the safest traffic environment for all”.
ü In the last six months of 2011, the OPS, in partnership with the RCMP and other local agencies were on site to ensure the safety and security of the public and uphold the democratic rights of all individuals under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms at a number of large scale organized demonstrations and events. In particular, the Greenpeace Protest in September, Occupy Ottawa protest, and the demonstrations by the Congolese community in December.
ü To ensure compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Customer Service Standards deadline, mandatory Customer Service training was rolled out across the organization, with work continuing on additional components to be implemented in 2012 and beyond.
Expanding Public Education, Community Engagement and Mobilization
ü The Police Service partnered with Crime Prevention Ottawa to celebrate and promote Crime Prevention Week (November 6 to 13), with this year’s theme of Crime Prevention through Innovation and Technology. Community Police Centre staff and volunteers organized a number of neighbourhood crime prevention booths, presentations and programs across the City. As well, the city’s community safety leaders and programs were honoured and celebrated at the 3rd annual Crime Prevention Ottawa Community Safety Awards.
ü In July the OPS launched the “All Valuables Removed” campaign to raise awareness and combat theft from vehicles. This successful campaign helped raised awareness about this crime of opportunity with over 40,000 free warning cards issued to drivers. Interest and inquiries have been received from other police services both nationally and internationally. An evaluation of the program is scheduled for Q1 2012.
ü A big part of effective police work is being engaged, listening and working with the public. Social media connects us with more people and gives us an opportunity to engage with them in a way that does not exist today. The OPS Social Media Committee is continuing their work on the development of a social media strategy, to be supported with policies and procedures regarding the use of social media at the OPS to guide our social media presence and rollout later in 2012.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The Plan for a Safer Ottawa was the product of many months of collaborative work undertaken by the members of the Police Service, engaged citizens, and the Police Services Board. It reflects the needs of our community and members of the Police Service that were identified through the active participation of residents, community partners, and members of the Police Service who contributed valuable input to making Ottawa a safer community. In the final year 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 B, 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 continue to be priorities of this Police Service over the next 10 months. 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 implement the 2010-2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa, the planning and gathering of input for the 2013-2015 business planning process has commenced. A random sample of 8,000 residents have been asked for their perceptions on safety, crime, community priorities and police performance during this month, by completing the 2012 Public Survey on Policing Services.
While the evidence from the self-assessment indicates demonstrated progress, the Ottawa Police Service 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.
