Description: OPS_BLK_ENG

REPORT 

RAPPORT


 

DATE:

 

22 April 2013

TO/DEST:

 

Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM/EXP:

 

Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT/OBJET:

 

PERFORMANCE REPORT: FIRST QUARTER 2013

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

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

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) monitors and evaluates information on a variety of performance metrics.  The Service also contributes data to a number of local and provincial initiatives, including the Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative (OMBI) and the Municipal Performance Measurement Project (MPMP).  As part of a cooperative effort in sharing performance data, performance indicators are first presented to the Board, then forwarded to the City of Ottawa for inclusion in its Quarterly Performance Reports.

 

DISCUSSION

 

As part of our commitment to measuring performance, the OPS continues to work with the City by providing selected metrics to be included in the quarterly performance reporting framework, including:

 

§  Total calls for police service;

§  Emergency response calls for service (Priority 1);

§  Response performance on Priority 1 calls (on-scene in 15 min, 90 percent of the time);

§  Service time (citizen-initiated, mobile response calls); and,

§  Number of Criminal Code Offences per sworn officer.

 

This information has been regularly provided to the City’s Performance Measurement Branch.  The measures are also included in the annual OMBI report and as part of the OPS performance measurement framework launched in 2008

 

A new process for classifying calls for service came into effect 18 June 2012.  The Call Response Protocol was updated to improve service to the community, while allowing for a clearer definition of call priorities, more efficient use of resources, and better coordination between the Communication Centre and Patrol Operations.

 

First quarter metrics are now presented to the Board prior to being compiled with other city data for Council.

 

Total Calls for Service – All Priorities

 

The Ottawa Police receives an average of 376,000 calls for service annually.  The number of calls in 2012 declined to 374,409 from 390,558 in 2011. This decline in 2012 was driven by a change in the alternative response calls handled by the organization.

 

Calls in the first quarter of 2013 declined for the fourth consecutive quarter and decreased by 12 percent compared to Q1 2012, and is below the five year average of 86,375.  While the decrease is the result of fewer non-emergency calls, both mobile and alternate responses fell proportionately.  The enhancements to the Call Response Protocol implemented in June 2012 will be evaluated in Q3 2013 after a full year of operations.

 

Emergency Calls for Service (Priority 1)

 

The Ottawa Police Call Response Protocol reflects the need to respond to citizens’ calls for assistance in a manner that reflects the seriousness of the incident, while weighing the interests of the safety of police officers and the general public.  The circumstances surrounding the incident determine the priority level assigned, not the type of call.  

 

A new process for classifying calls came into effect 18 June 2012.  The Call Response Protocol was updated to improve service to the community, while allowing for a clearer definition of call priorities, more efficient use of resources, and better coordination between the Communication Centre and Patrol Operations.

 

In the first quarter, the Service received 1,010 calls involving a known imminent danger to life and classified as Priority 1.  These calls include the known use of weapons or apparent life-threatening injuries, and all police officers assistance call.  

 

With the change in the Call Response Protocol, no appropriate comparison can be undertaken at this point in time.  The enhancements to the Call Management Protocol implemented in June 2012 will be evaluated in Q3 2013 after a full year of operations.

 

Priority 1 Response Performance

 

The OPS aims to respond to Priority 1 calls for service within 15 minutes, 90 percent of the time.  Since the change to the Call Response Protocol, response performance in the second half of 2012 was 95 percent.  In the first quarter the organization continued to respond to Priority 1 calls within 15 minutes 95 percent of the time.  As with Priority 1 call volumes, the change in the Call Response Protocol means that no appropriate comparison can be undertaken at this point in time.  The enhancements to the Call Response Protocol implemented in June 2012 will be evaluated in Q3 2013 after a full year of operations.

 

Service Time (Citizen-Initiated, Mobile Response Calls)

 

Service Time refers to the cumulative amount of time (hours) officers spend responding to and dealing with calls for service from the public. The service time metric is used for operational planning and deployment of personnel.  Reactive workload generally fluctuates seasonally throughout the year, with variations in climate influencing call volume and criminal behaviour.  

 

Service time declined by eight percent to 63,236 hours in Q1 2013, mirroring the decline in total call volume.  The cumulative amount of hours officers spend on calls has fallen below the five year average of 65,652 for first quarter.

 


Number of Criminal Code Offences Handled per Police Officer

 

The number of reported Criminal Code of Canada incidents prorated over the number of sworn personnel is one indication of workload.  This, of course, does not capture the entire scope of police operations, including proactive initiatives, assistance to victims of crime, traffic enforcement/Highway Traffic Act violations, street checks, and other community and public safety activities.

In Q1 2013, the number of Criminal Code offences per officer declined by ten percent to 5.3 offences per officer.  The decline was driven by 869 fewer offences during this time period with the authorized sworn complement remaining constant.

 

CONSULTATION 

 

The performance metrics presented this report and subsequently forwarded to Council are part of the Performance Measurement Framework developed with the assistance of a citizens’ advisory panel.  The metrics are also reported to the public by way of the Ontario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative (OMBI).

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

 

There is no financial impact from this report.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The Board will continue to receive quarterly performance updates as part of the Performance Measurement Framework.  Further development of the Monitoring Framework will take place under the Value priority (Goal 2.0) in the 2013-2015 Business Plan.  The enhancements to the Call Management Protocol implemented in June 2012 will be evaluated in Q3 2013 after a full year of operations.  As well, elements of the Balanced Scorecard reporting tool will be incorporated as it is deployed by the City.  The OPS representatives will continue to serve on the OMBI Police Expert Panel, the national Police Information and Statistics (POLIS) Committee, and other venues that contribute to the ongoing discussion, improvement, and transparency of police performance measures.

 

 

 

(Original signed by)

 

Charles Bordeleau

Chief of Police

 

 

Responsible for report:  Superintendent Terrance Cheslock