DATE:

24 September 2012

TO/DEST:

Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM/EXP:

Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT/OBJET:

NEW APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLE – RCMP

RECOMMENDATION

That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the appointment of Stephane Ouellet as a Special Constable pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act for a period of three years, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the attached Approval of Appointment form.

BACKGROUND

On 22 May 2003, the Police Services Board reviewed a recommendation concerning an ongoing integrated policing initiative that would see certain members of the RCMP appointed as Special Constables. This appointment would enable officers to enforce certain Ontario provincial statutes in the City of Ottawa. Their appointments would continue for a period of three years.

DISCUSSION

The initiative was based on the desire to continually improve the delivery of policing services to the residents of the City of Ottawa by capitalizing on the existing co-operation between the Ottawa Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The opportunity existed to build on the interoperability of the two services and the goodwill gained during special event policing, and to apply these concepts to day-to-day policing functions. It was hoped that this arrangement would lead to enhance policing capabilities for both the OPS and the RCMP.

In pursuing this initiative, the Ottawa Police Service espoused six key objectives that would enhance the overall delivery of policing services within the boundaries of the City of Ottawa:

· Additional back-up resources for OPS members responding to calls;

· Increase in community confidence;

· Enhanced current partnerships in co-operation with the RCMP;

· Reduced confusion regarding mandates and limits of authority;

· Enhanced response without usurping mandates;

· Elimination of artificial barriers.

The RCMP also sought to attain a number of important objectives with the appointments of their officers:

· Operational experience for patrol officers;

· Experience giving and gathering evidence;

· Increased opportunity for interaction with the public in a policing capacity;

· Enhanced response capability in the federal mandate;

· Streamlined communication;

· Team building.

For the most part, the intended objectives were reached during the duration of the designations. On a strategic level, the attainment of the intended objectives alone might be enough to support a recommendation to renew the designations. However, clear examples of how the initiative has worked operationally should assist the Police Services Board in coming to the conclusion that the appointments should be renewed.

The majority of RCMP officers assigned to the National Capital Region come from contract provinces where they have enjoyed full power to act and prosecute under the authority of provincial legislation. Once they arrive in Ottawa and learn that they do not have authority to act provincially, they feel restricted in their efforts to fulfill their federal mandate and support the police service of local jurisdiction.

There are other existing examples that illustrate the need for the designations. While fulfilling their federal mandate, local RCMP members often meet operational challenges that could be solved if they had authority to enforce provincial statutes. They may encounter persons who, because of mental instability or a desire to express their political views, trespass onto protected or federal property. Without the authority to act under the Ontario Trespass to Property Act or the Mental Health Act, they must seek the assistance of OPS members who do have the authority to arrest and prosecute under the stated Acts.

Further, RCMP members who travel through our city often come across traffic offences and/or aggressive driving behaviour that they are unable to deal with because they do not have the legislative authority. They can only stop vehicles where the drivers have committed criminal offences and arrest/identification is necessary.

Finally, RCMP officers traditionally support OPS officers as they deal with events such as Canada Day, major demonstrations and visiting dignitaries. To be able to count on the assistance of RCMP officers with full policing powers facilitates the discharge of the above responsibilities.

The greatest benefit to the Ottawa Police Service and citizens of the City of Ottawa, though difficult to measure, is the increased policing presence. It is truly a waste of policing resources to have armed, uniformed officers driving marked and unmarked police cars who are not allowed to perform full policing functions when their duties and training permit them to do so.

RCMP Special Constables are important partners and play an important role in ensuring public safety. The nature of the calls they assist the OPS in responding to are indicated below:

Type of Offence

Enforcement

Breach of Trespass to Property Act

Mental Health Act Apprehensions

Liquor License Act

Provincial Statute Acts (misc)

108 Provincial Offence

Notices/Tickets Issued

Highway Traffic Act Charges

4,099 Charges Laid

CONCLUSION

The Ottawa Police Service is fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with the RCMP. This is exemplified by the cooperative work taking place on the streets of Ottawa during special events and on the front-line. This endeavour will ensure that some of the obstacles that have been in place in the past and have prevented officers from doing their jobs are lifted and allow them the opportunity to deliver the level of service that is expected of them. This will not only build on the existing relationship of trust, but also become a model and demonstrate to other services that integrated policing is more than a theory—that it can work.

(Original signed by)

Charles Bordeleau

Chief of Police

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