Annex B

Overall Progress and Accomplishments

2010-2012 Business Plan (July to December 2012)

 

The Ottawa Police Service regularly monitors and tracks progress in meeting the goals, objectives and outcomes as expressed in the Business Plan.  Every six months, a self-assessment is completed and the results reported to the Police Services Board, the Ottawa Police Executive, the community and members of the Ottawa Police Service.  The assessment summarizes the overall progress using the following rating system. 

 

         Significant Progress                             On Track                                    Moderate Progress                 Limited Progress

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The Business Plan Implementation/Action Plan (I/A Plan) and Directorate Operational Plans and/or Work plans identify and align operational tasks and actions to support the 17 goals and 57 objectives in the Business Plan, and are valuable resources for monitoring and reporting. 

Overall Progress  hand-thumbs-up

The current Business Plan expired at year-end 2012.  The most recent self-assessment indicates that there has been significant progress with the completion of any outstanding actions and outcomes identified in the previous status report tabled with the Ottawa Police Services Board, in September 2012.  To assist with the self-assessment, the Business Plan Advisory Group have monitored the status of outstanding deliverables and performance outcomes that were expected to be accomplished by year’s end, based on current operational realities. Due to the ongoing nature of the work and/or operational realities there are deliverables identified in the Plan that will continue to be implemented in 2013. The self-assessment identifies accomplishments that have been achieved during the last two quarters of 2012 and are grouped below within each of the four strategic priorities.

 

 

 

Reducing, Investigating and Preventing Crime  hand-thumbs-up

 



Goals

 

1.    Enhance organizational capacity and partnerships that support a consistent and effective response to early intervention and diversion, to prevent and reduce youth crime.

2.    Improve assistance to victims through better support, information, referrals and education.

3.    Improve assistance to victims through better support, information, referrals and education.

4.    Enhance our ability to gather, analyze and share information to facilitate an intelligence led approach.

5.    Employ an intelligence-led enforcement approach to support the deployment of resources to target priority areas and offenders in order to reduce and prevent crime.

 

Accomplishments

 

ü  During the first week in September, teams of officers, by-law inspectors, representatives from Action Sandy Hill and the University of Ottawa, and Councillor Mathieu Fleury's Office, visited areas with high student populations to bring them information about City by-laws and property standards.  OPS followed-up with an enforcement operation focused on ensuring concerns about noise and open alcohol violations were addressed. In the west end of our city, West NHO officers worked in collaboration with Algonquin College, Minto Security, By-Law Services, and OC Transpo, during “frosh” week to ensure a safe environment for students returning to class and to minimize the frequency and severity of disturbances on and around the Woodroffe campus.

ü  Between July and November 2012, the OPS have investigated over 60 distraction thefts throughout Ottawa involving jewellery and debit and credit cards. In response to this emerging trend, our District Investigative Sections recently hosted an information sharing session regarding these types of thefts. The session featured speakers from the Greater Toronto Area, experienced in investigating distraction thefts.  It was attended by over 30 members of OPS, and law enforcement partners from eastern Ontario and Quebec, including the RCMP, OPP, Montreal and Laval.

ü  In December, as part of “Project Prancer” in the By-Ward market, Lowertown and Sandy Hill, a joint operation involving police, City By-law Services, OC Transpo and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario resulted in 4 criminal charges and 640 violations of provincial statues and city by-laws

ü  Ottawa Police members who work with victims of crime were invited to participate in a survey commissioned by Justice Canada as part of its ongoing evaluation activities related to the Federal Victims Strategy.

ü  In October, the Ottawa Police Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) was launched with the participation of 20 youth, aged 13-24 to be a voice for youth in the community, as well as a resource to the OPS in helping to gain a broader understanding of youth issues by working together on events, programs and other initiatives.

 

ü  The Coordinated Victims Assistance Network of Ottawa continued its work with all regional victims of crime service providers, funders and advocates with the first CVAN networking meeting held on September 21, 2012 that engaged stakeholders in developing action plans on the three key themes identified during the past two community consultations, focused on:  Training and Public Education;  Referrals and Shared Clients; and, Recruitment and Expansion.  

ü  Work continues with an examination of efficiencies and ways to improve the delivery of our policing services to the community through Service Initiative

ü  In collaboration with Justice Canada, Children’s Aid Society, Family Service Centre and Crime Prevention Ottawa, Ottawa Police members were invited to a presentation on Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriages on September 13.

 

 

 

Investing in Our People hand-thumbs-up

 



Goals

1.    Develop Performance Management Strategies to enable supervisors to better develop their staff.

2.    Establish training and development standards and expectations for organizational programs and individual education.

3.    Establish a leadership development strategy.

4.    Support recruitment, retention and development.

 

Accomplishments

ü  For the sixth consecutive summer, the OPS participated in the provincially funded Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI), offering summer employment for youths 14-17 years of age, attending a secondary school program.  This past summer, 39 youth and 6 youth coordinators participated.  The goal of YIPI is to give young people an opportunity to develop job skills while enhancing police and community relations

ü  Between November 5 and 19, the OPS launched the 2012 Workforce Census as a tool to further understand the changes in the OPS workforce since 2005, when the OPS was the first police service to undertake this type of census.  The census results will be used to develop initiatives, identify gaps in skill sets and member language skills, training, education and member work/life balance

ü  The Civilian Career Initiative has moved from project to program status with work continuing to ensure the ongoing effectiveness and efficiency of the program, with a series of focus group sessions with members who have participated as candidates and hiring managers as a follow-up to the CCI Member Survey.

ü  With the pilot program full with 100 participants, the “Real You Ottawa Police Service Wellness Pilot Program” was approved for expansion with another 100 members participating in the program with the goal to improve the overall health and positive lifestyle changes under the guidance of a multi-disciplinary team of a licensed medical doctor, psychologist, physiotherapists and, naturopathic physician.

ü  Hosted by the RCMP, and held on December 12, OPS members were invited to participate in a one day symposium focused on organization and operational post traumatic stress and its impacts on police officers. 


 

Enhancing Partnerships and Interoperability  hand-thumbs-up

 



Goals

1.    Enhance information and intelligence sharing to ensure timely information that supports decision-making and integrated response to changing threat and risk levels to public safety in the National Capital Region.

2.    Develop an internal and external communications network to improve information sharing and intelligence gathering with the community, the City of Ottawa, emergency service and policing agencies.

3.    Expand and enhance sustainable community partnerships that promote positive interaction and continual dialogue to meet community and operational needs.  

4.    Leverage partnerships to create an accessible police service that meets the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

 

Accomplishments

ü  On October 17 and 18, the OPS in partnership with Crime Prevention Ottawa, the Youth Services Bureau, and Ottawa Community Housing, hosted a Public Forum and Leadership Symposium “Taking Action Together: Addressing Gangs in Our City”, This two-day event included a public forum and a leadership symposium.  The sessions allowed community members and stakeholders the chance to come together and propose Ottawa-made strategies to address gangs. The final report highlights priorities to address gangs in Ottawa, outlines guiding principles, and identifies immediate next steps to be taken by the OPS and partners. Using the recommendations in the report, the OPS, in conjunction with the co-hosts of the symposium will look to develop a sustainable, long term approach to improving the way we take action to address gangs in Ottawa.

ü  In December, officers volunteered in the 5th annual Cop Shop at Carlingwood and Billings Bridge Malls. This initiative allows children who might not otherwise experience holiday presents, a chance to have gifts at Christmas by providing them with some money (courtesy of the mall) and a uniformed officer as a personal shopper. It is a great opportunity for officers to build relationships with the children

ü  As part of the ongoing collaboration efforts with the City of Ottawa, the OPS are partnering on the Service Ottawa initiative, along with its emergency services integration projects.  Senior members of the OPS are assigned to each of the nine key project teams including: the facilities master plan, radio procurement, and tiered response.  Each of these areas represents opportunities for greater integration amongst the City’s community safety partners. 

ü  Since its inception and through its partnerships, the OPS Mental Health Unit (MHU) has become a leader in dealing with mental health calls.  A new pilot project began in July which will see resident psychiatrists working with an MHU officer in the downtown core.   This team will take all calls related to mental health which will provide quick assessment

 

and appropriate follow-up services on scene.  This innovative approach in dealing with mental health calls is the first of its kind in Canada.

ü  In October, over $100,000 was raised in support of the Youth Services Bureau, at the third annual Ottawa Police Gala.

ü  The successful collaboration with City partners, the RCMP, the NCC and community groups, resulted in ensuring the safety and security of the public at Canada Day and Bluesfest activities. OPS members had a dedicated presence at Canada celebrations in Barrhaven, Kanata, Petrie Island and the NCC-sponsored event downtown. 

ü   As part of Ottawa’s Strategic Road Safety Action Plan:  2012 – Beyond and the 2012 Safer Roads Ottawa Program Work Plan, a joint initiative between Ottawa Public Health, City of Ottawa Public Works Department, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Fire Services and the OPS continues with its monthly Selective Traffic and Enforcement Program (e.g. Impaired Driving, Speeding, Cycling Safety) to enforce and educate the community on road safety priorities and help make the “City of Ottawa the safest traffic environment for all”

ü  Running from November 25 to December 6, the OPS participated in the White Ribbon Campaign which is Canada’s largest organization of men working on the goal to end men’s violence against women.

ü  To assist members when responding to calls for service, the Cultural Interpretation Services for Our Communities (CISOC) donated the “I Speak” language identification cards containing the “I speak” in a total of 52 languages.  Members can use these cards to help identify the first language of the member of the public by asking them to point to the appropriate statement.

ü  On August 11, the OPS In partnership with local mosques marked the 4th Annual OPS Muslim Community Information and Outreach Night, intended to break barriers, dispel misconceptions and provide an opportunity for learning and sharing. 

 

 

 

 

Expanding Public Education, Community Engagement and Mobilization hand-thumbs-up

 



Goals

1.    Assess and develop priorities for public education in every division and expand education about police services and structure where beneficial.

2.    Recognize and support the value of community engagement from the front-line and specialty sections.

3.    Mobilize communities around priority policing issues including reducing youth and domestic violence, positive youth outreach, reducing drug-related crime and crime prevention through social development initiatives. 

4.    Align Ottawa Police Service education, engagement and mobilization efforts with those of the City of Ottawa and partner agencies and organizations, and link activities with operations.

 

 

Accomplishments

ü  The Traffic Stop Race Data Collection Project is the result of a settlement agreement between the Ottawa Police Services Board and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.  Implementation of this project is ongoing and includes the development of a consultation plan (for the public and for members); specialized expertise of a York University Research Team to develop the methodology to collect and analyze race-based data;  the identification of IT solutions to collect the data; and, police training.  Race-based data collection for police stops is recognized as one of the tools available to help police services address concerns of racial profiling and can be used as a tool to address community concerns and questions. 

ü  Effective police work means 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. Positive public feedback has been received with the launch of the official OPS Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest accounts.  These are new mediums to further our engagement with the community

ü  Starting on October 12 and running for 10 weeks, Phase VIII of the Ottawa Police Service Soccer Mentoring Program was launched in collaboration with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Vincent Massey Public School and FC Capital United Soccer Club, targeted at at-risk children aged 6 to 12. 

 

 

ü  Through the Flag and Banner Program, the community and police come together in partnership to create a culture of mutual respect and build strong communities and understanding.   The OPS, in partnership with the community celebrated and recognized:  37th anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag; Louis Riel Day; Trans Day of Remembrance;  Persons Day; Latin American Festival;  Islamic History Month; Greekfest; Lebanese community; Ottawa Turkish Festival;  Ramadan; Jamaica’s Independence (JamDay); St. Nicholas Day; Chanukah; and on December 20, and for the first time the OPS celebrated the seven day holiday of Kwanzaa

 

ü  On December 4, the Board and Police Service hosted a community consultation on the 2013-2015 Business Plan along with three member consultations at different OPS buildings. Great feedback from the community and our members was received through these consultations, and it will assist the OPS and Board, in refining the Service’s three year plan of action.

ü  On September 24, the Ottawa Police Services Board hosted a special presentation on the Police Complaints Process provided by Mr. Gerry McNeilly, Ontario’s Independent Police Review Director