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REPORT RAPPORT |
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REPORT RAPPORT |
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DATE:
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28 June 2012 |
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TO:
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Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board |
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FROM:
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Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service |
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SUBJECT: |
THOMAS G. FLANAGAN, S.C. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD - 2012 |
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
The Ottawa Police Services Board established the Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C. Scholarship as a means to assist racialized women and Aboriginal women who have expressed an interest in a policing career with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). Scholarship funds are derived from an endowment arranged upon the 1993 retirement of the late Ottawa Police Chief, Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C., in recognition of his distinguished and community-oriented policing career.
The scholarship provides an annual award that is drawn from the fund’s annual accumulated interest. The Community Foundation of Ottawa maintains the fund. The annual award is based on interest accrued from the previous year and fluctuates from one year to the next. In an effort to maintain the amount at least equivalent to the previous year, fundraising efforts and opportunities are capitalized upon. The award is subsequently forwarded to an accredited educational institution in the name of the successful candidate who has met the compulsory criteria and has been recommended by the selection committee in the given year. The Scholarship is administered by the Diversity and Race Relations (DRR) Section and supported by a permanent member of the OPS who acts as a “business owner” for the ongoing work.
DISCUSSION
This report will provide an overview of the scholarship background, promotional strategies, application criteria and selection process. The current report announces the successful 2012 winner and includes information on the 2012 selection process, current financial status of the scholarship fund and details future promotional initiatives.
Promotional initiatives are extended to educational facilities, resource centres and diverse communities in Ottawa, through various means, including, but not limited to working groups, committees, and work fairs. Initiatives encourage application from women who meet the established criteria.
Applicants must provide an essay expressing their interest in a policing career with the OPS. The application package must include confirmation of registration at an accredited educational institution, official transcripts and a resume. The completed applicant package must demonstrate the candidates understanding of the OPS’s commitment to being reflective of the community it serves.
The essay component requires it be 750-1000 words, answering the 2012 essay question: “Why are you interested in a policing career with the Ottawa Police Service?” Essays are reviewed for spelling, grammar, structure, content and creativity. They are additionally evaluated for the value applicants place on community and the notion of making a difference.
The selection process is facilitated by the DRR Section of the OPS and is based on criteria initially established by the Police Services Board. The DRR Section coordinates the selection committee, which is composed of representatives from the Police Services Board, the community, the OPS Scholarship Business Owner(s) and the Officer in Charge of the DRR Section or their designate(s).
The resume component is assessed on the following criteria: education, employment, volunteer experiences, languages and overall resume composition. Candidate transcripts are assessed for above average grades and related course selections. Academic achievement is seriously considered to encourage a well-educated police service.
Following the annual deadline for application submission, the selection committee convenes to carefully review application packages and to recommend a successful candidate. The committee reserves the option to request an interview with candidates if deemed helpful in the final selection.
Historically, the scholarship has been awarded on 21st of March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, or during Police Week in May.
Recipients of the Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C., Scholarship 1994 – 2011:
Selection Process
The 2012 scholarship process was promoted through extensive mailings to resource centres, community groups as well as secondary and post-secondary institutions in Ottawa. The application form and related information were also available online at www.ottawapolice.ca between September 2011 and the submission deadline of 29 February 2012.
Five application packages were received for the 2012 selection process.
The 2012 Selection Committee was comprised of:
· Mr. Carl Nicholson, Ottawa Police Services Board
· Ms. Gillian Roseway, Community Representative
· Cst. Andrea Lensen, OPS Business owner
The selection committee met on 2 April 2012 to carefully review the submissions of eligible applicants and to select one candidate to whom the 2012 Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C. Scholarship would be awarded.
In selecting a recipient for the Thomas G.Flanagan, S.C. Scholarship, the committee worked towards ensuring the intent of the scholarship held true to its mandate of ensuring and encouraging diverse representation at Ottawa Police Service.
Upon careful review, consideration and discussion and based on all the documents submitted, the 2012 successful candidate was selected without the requirement of a formal interview. This year’s candidate is Batul Masri, a student at Algonquin College in the Police Foundations Program. Ms. Batul was formally recognized on 5 June, 2012 during the Community Police Awards Ceremony. This year’s award of $1,500 will be forwarded to the recipient’s educational facility, Algonquin College.
New Scholarship Business owner
On April 17th 2012 Hamid Mousa from the OPS Community Development Section was identified as the new OPS Business owner for the Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C. Scholarship. Hamid Mousa will be replacing Cst. Andrea Lensen who has stepped down after a three year commitment to the position.
The DRR Section and the Scholarship Business Owner will undertake a review that will assess the impact the scholarship has on the individuals who receive it, the police service and the community. The review will look at:
The selection committee continues to note that while the annual award is attractive to individual applicants, the true value is in the prestige of receiving this award.
The Selection Committee strongly recommends unsuccessful candidates be considered for special considerations such as OPS Outreach Recruitment initiatives and mentoring, student employment and/or volunteer positions.
The Diversity and Race Relations Section has forwarded all scholarship applications to the officer in charge of the Outreach Recruitment Section for their review and consideration of interacting with all candidates on a proactive basis.
2013 Promotional Initiatives
Promotion of the Scholarship will continue and initiatives are currently under review by the DRR Section and the Business Owner to determine best practices and how best to promote it to the desired applicants.
The Section will also work with the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa on shared promotional initiatives and opportunities between the agencies. Advertisement of the Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C. Scholarship can now be found in publicly promoted Boys & Girls Club Scholarship material and on the Boys & Girls Club website.
The promotion of the 2013 process will:
The DRR Section and Scholarship Business Owner are currently attempting to locate all previous Scholarship recipients to follow-up on their success in achieving a career in policing or related fields.
The 2013 application forms and information will be available online at www.ottawapolice.ca in September 2012, followed by a formal launch on Persons Day, 18 October 2012. The deadline for submissions is always the end of February each year. The 2013 award will be formally presented to the successful candidate during Police Week.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
The selection process includes a representative from the community. Otherwise, public consultation is not required for the annual selection process. Scholarship information is provided publicly through various promotions, mailings, media releases and www.ottawapolice.ca.
The Cultural Wine & Food Show Fundraiser
The Cultural Wine & Food Show fundraising event is held on a bi-annual basis in support of the Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C., Scholarship. The most recent event was hosted by the Ottawa Police Service on Wednesday February 9th, 2011, at the Ottawa Police Association. The Cultural Wine & Food Show fundraiser was successful in raising $5783.10. Funds raised were forwarded to the endowment held by the Community Foundation of Ottawa. A fundraiser will be organized for February, 2013
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
There is no primary expenditure of funds from the OPS in providing this scholarship. The 2012 award was derived from the endowment, which continues to be maintained under contract and in perpetuity with the Community Foundation of Ottawa. OPS staff resources and some promotion costs are used in administering the scholarship process each year; however these cost are covered by pertinent sectional budgets within the Ottawa Police Service.
The following is a summary of the current status of the fund:
Endowed Fund:
The balance at Dec. 31, 2011: $30,899.00
Increase in capital: $ 770.25
Total value of fund $31,669.25
2012 Process expenditures Absorbed by the Ottawa Police Service, limited to some printing costs
There is $1,128.60 available for granting in 2012. The $371.40 shortfall of $1500 will be taken from the proceeds of the Cultural Wine & Food Show fundraiser.
After the 2012 scholarship is awarded, the balance will be rolled into the principal to maximize growth of the fund. The fund still requires a significant base to allow for future growth and expansion of the awarded amount.
The Thomas G. Flanagan, S.C., Scholarship continues to encourage and support post-secondary education opportunities to qualified Aboriginal women and racialized women who are interested in pursuing a career in policing with the OPS. It concurrently provides the OPS an opportunity to demonstrate to the community, and in particular, to Aboriginal women and racialized women, that policing is a viable career option in which they will be valued for the assets and the contributions they bring to the OPS. The scholarship allows the organization to continue to pay homage to the late Thomas G. Flanagan S.C. and supports current OPS outreach recruitment initiatives.
(original signed by)
Charles Bordeleau
Chief of Police
