OPS_Crest_Logo_1_RGB_300dpi_EN

 

 

REPORT

RAPPORT


 

DATE:

 

28 October 2013

TO/DEST:

 

Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM/EXP:

 

Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT/OBJET:

REPORT ON SIU INVESTIGATIONS

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

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

 

BACKGROUND

 

The attached Annex A outlines calls for service that resulted in Special Investigations Unit (SIU) being contacted and invoking their mandate. The background of the incident, SIU findings, and recommendations are provided.  For each incident, the Professional Standards Section (PSS) completed an investigation into policy, services and conduct of the involved members of OPS.   

 

 

 

 

(Original signed by)

 

Charles Bordeleau

Chief of Police

 

 

Responsible for report:  Superintendent Terry Cheslock


ANNEX A

 

 

SIU INVESTIGATIVE FILE # 13-OCD-191 - ONTARIO CUSTODY DEATH

 

BACKGROUND

 

In August 2013, Ottawa police officers and paramedics attended a residential apartment complex in the City of Ottawa to check on the condition of a possibly suicidal resident.  With the assistance of Ottawa Housing security, officers entered the residence and observed an individual standing on the balcony holding a large knife in his hand.  Before officers could interact with this individual, he climbed over the railing of the balcony and fell to the ground. The individual was transported to hospital with critical life threatening injuries and later succumbed to his injuries.

 

The Special Investigations Unit was contacted and invoked its mandate.

 

INVESTIGATION

 

Special Investigation Unit Investigation

 

The Director of the Special Investigations Unit advised the following:

 

“The investigation by this unit has been completed, the file has been closed and no further action is contemplated. In my view, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the named subject officers committed a criminal offence in relation to the death of the victim.

 

In my view, the subject officers did nothing wrong in relation to this incident.  They were responding to a possible suicide call.  As a result they had lawful authority to enter the apartment under the Criminal Code S. 529.3 because they had reasonable grounds to believe that entry was necessary to prevent imminent harm to the victim.” 

 

Professional Standards Section Investigation

 

Pursuant to section 11 of Regulation 267/10 of the Police Services Act, an investigation was conducted by the Professional Standards Section to determine if the policies of, or services provided by, the OPS were adhered to at the time of this incident, and to determine if the conduct of the police officers was appropriate or contributed to the individual’s death.

 

This investigation confirmed that there was no misconduct by any officers and that the death could be only attributed to the individual’s own actions.

 

The results are as follows:

 

Conduct: The conduct of the officers was investigated pursuant to the Police Services Act. Based on the circumstances of this incident and the information relayed to the officers prior to their arrival, the officers actions were deemed appropriate, therefore no conduct issues were identified.

 

Policies:  As per the requirements of the Ontario Police Services Act and its regulations, every Police Service shall have polices that provide direction for the delivery of police services. In this matter a number of policies were reviewed including:  Mental Health Incidents, Prisoner Care and Control, Arrest, Special Investigations Unit and Section 529.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Authority to enter dwelling without warrant).  There were no issues identified.

 

Service:   The Ottawa Police Service provides training to all of its members. A review of this incident confirmed that the officers were in lawful execution of their duties and were required to check on the welfare of the individual.  All service expectations were met and as a result, no service issues were identified during this investigation.

 

CONCLUSION

 

No further action to be taken on this matter.