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Ottawa Police Services Board
Minutes 42
Monday, 27 January 2014, 5:00 p.m.
Champlain Room, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa
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Present: Councillor E. El-Chantiry (Chair), J. Durrell (Vice Chair), A. Doyle, Councillor J. Harder, L.A. Smallwood, C. Nicholson
Regrets: Mayor J. Watson
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
Ms. Fedec, Board Executive Director, explained that in accordance with Section 28 of the Police Services Act and the Ottawa Police Services Board Procedural By-law, the Board must elect a Chair and a Vice Chair at its first meeting each year. Accordingly, she requested nominations for the position of Chair.
Member Durrell moved that Member El-Chantiry be nominated to the position of Chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board. Member Doyle seconded the nomination.
The Executive Director called for any additional nominations. There being none, the following motion was considered:
Moved by J. Durrell
Seconded by A. Doyle
That the Ottawa Police Services Board appoint E. El-Chantiry as Chair of the Board for 2014.
CARRIED
Chair El-Chantiry then asked for nominations for Vice Chair.
Chair El-Chantiry moved that Member Durrell be nominated to the position of Vice Chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board, and Member Doyle seconded the nomination. There being no other nominations, the following motion was considered:
Moved by E. El-Chantiry
Seconded by A. Doyle
That the Ottawa Police Services Board appoint J. Durrell as Vice Chair of the Board for 2014.
CARRIED
CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES / ANNOUNCEMENTS
a) Member Adriana Doyle
Chair El-Chantiry announced that this was Member Doyle’s final meeting as her term on the Board would be expiring shortly. He said it has been a great pleasure working with Member Doyle who has always been a voice of reason in discussions that arose during the course of business. A small presentation will be made to Ms. Doyle at the OPS Community Awards Ceremony in May. On behalf of the Board he presented Member Doyle with a commemorative plaque and thanked her for her contributions.
Member Doyle stated she is very proud of this community and of serving on this board; it has been a learning experience and a pleasure. She thanked the senior officers for the professionalism and openness they have shown in terms of teaching Board members what policing is about.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
That the Ottawa Police Services Board confirm the Minutes of the 25 November 2013 meeting.
CONFIRMED
INQUIRIES
1) Special Constables at Construction Sites
Chair El-Chantiry acknowledged that a report regarding the Service Initiative (SI) would be presented to the Board in the near future. He inquired whether stationing special constables, instead of police officers, at construction sites would be a better use of resources. Chief Bordeleau indicated that an update on the SI project would be presented to the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee in February covering the different work options being explored, including this area of deployment.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS
Chief Bordeleau reported on the following items (a copy of the Chief’s verbal report will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director and is available online at ottawapoliceboard.ca):
· Tips sought in Sexual Assault Investigations
· Cellblock Prisoner Search
· Mental Health Unit
· Thwarted Suicide Attempt
· School Zone Enforcement Campaign
· Excellent work by DART
· Retirements.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
2. TRAFFIC STOP RACE DATA COLLECTION PROJECT: UPDATE
Chief’s Report and Presentation
Chief Bordeleau began by saying how hard the team has been working on this project and how proud he is of what has been accomplished, not only by the OPS but by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the York Research Team and the community. He introduced the presenters: Inspector P. Flanagan, Project Lead; Dr. Shaheen Azmi, Ontario Human Rights Commission; Dr. Bobby Siu, York University Research Team member and Ms. L. Fenton, who has been an integral part of the team moving this initiative forward. (a copy of the presentation will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director)
On behalf of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Dr. Azmi expressed their pleasure with the efforts and results shown by the Ottawa Police Service’s data collection to date. The OHRC is satisfied with the community relations activities that have been ongoing, and will be participating in the upcoming “Let’s Chat” session in February. They see that real dialogue is taking place, which is essential to success in addressing perceptions of racial profiling. He commended the OPS for fulfilling it’s obligations under the settlement and going even further to address this matter in a full and serious fashion.
Dr. Siu thanked the Board, the Service and the OHRC for having confidence in the York team to do this research. This is a ground breaking study and the team feels privileged to be involved. The group has been working together for months talking about the processes and the methodologies as well as the results they expect to see two years from now. This project must balance many factors, not just the technical aspects of research but also community dynamics, the police infrastructure and corporate culture along with expectations from the general public. This is not only an academic exercise, it is a balance of different interests and factors required to make it a success.
Vice Chair Durrell congratulated Insp. Flanagan for his diligence and his ability to bring the numerous different parties involved in this project together. He commended the Inspector for being able to obtain the members’ acceptance, which was absolutely essential in making this project meaningful. The Vice Chair believes the end result will pay off for decades to come.
Member Doyle noted that measures have been taken to ensure that data collection does not interfere with an officer’s regular duties. She asked if measures are in place to ensure any work required to comply with this project does not interfere with the safety of the community. Insp. Flanagan concurred that safety is paramount, as is keeping business as usual as much as possible while laying the foundation of the project. Every traffic stop is different and information was sought and received from members of the OPS and the community as to what they wanted to see. After the information was compiled, Insp. Flanagan reported that incorporating the additional data required for the project adds about 20 seconds to the traffic stop.
Member Nicholson noted that during the presentation, Insp. Flanagan mentioned members were apprehensive at the beginning of the process, however, that is no longer the case. He wanted to hear about what was being done to have this project accepted internally. Insp. Flanagan explained that part of the process from the beginning was to communicate personally with OPS members, the Ottawa Police Association (OPA) and the community. During the initial stages he dialogued with the OPA president numerous times on a weekly basis, as the rank and file were concerned and there was a feeling of uneasiness as to why the Service was moving ahead with this. Speaking with the OPA President last week, the Inspector said things were quiet on the project topic. Their job now is to maintain the dialogue and ensure everyone continues on the same page, as they are only one quarter of the way through the process.
Chair El-Chantiry thanked all OPS staff involved in this project, and Dr. Sui and Dr. Azmi for participating this evening. He also wanted to thank the Board members who serve on the Policy and Governance Committee for their work with staff on this project.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
3. CONSULTATION PLAN ON FUTURE DEPLOYMENT OF CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPONS
Chief’s Report
Member Harder stated she has been waiting for this report to come forward. Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs, also known as Tasers) are not new, but the community will now have assurances that the proper rules and regulations are in place. She stated that CEWs have been proven to be effective tools that help the public and our police officers. Member Harder expressed her confidence in the Chief bringing this matter forward after performing due diligence and hearing from the public during the public consultation process. She emphasized that CEWs are tools that save lives and have been doing so for several decades.
Chair El-Chantiry explained that the province agreed to allow the further use of tasers but individual boards have been asked to work with their police services to develop a policy on the deployment of tasers. He feels obligated to put this matter in the public domain to allow members of the community to express their comments and concerns.
Member Smallwood noticed a comment in the report that spoke to the benefits of tasers, however, they were not documented. He hoped that would be part of the report when it comes forward to the Board.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve a consultation plan on the future deployment of Conducted Energy Weapons as outlined in this report.
CARRIED
4. POLICE SERVICES BOARD ACTIVITY, TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE – 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
Executive Director’s Report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board:
1. Receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
2. Direct the Executive Director to forward it to City Council for information.
CARRIED
5. OTTAWA POLICE SERVICES BOARD WORK PLAN – 2014
Policy and Governance Committee’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the 2014 Board Work Plan.
CARRIED
6. CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF POLICE GOVERNANCE: 2014 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve payment of $5,385 to the Canadian Association of Police Governance for its 2014 membership fee.
CARRIED
7. ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF POLICE SERVICES BOARDS: 2014 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve payment of $5,549.43, (including HST), to the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards for its 2014 membership fee.
CARRIED
8. ATTENDANCE AT POLICE ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the attendance of E. El-Chantiry at the annual conference of the Police Association of Ontario being held in Mississauga, Ontario on 3 and 4 March 2014.
CARRIED
9. ATTENDANCE AT NATIONAL POLICING RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the attendance of L.A. Smallwood at a two-day Symposium entitled “Economics of Policing: National Policing Research Symposium” being offered by Public Safety Canada on March 5 – 7, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
CARRIED
10. NEW APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLE - OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Service Board approve the appointment of Gordon Jones as a Special Constable pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the attached appointment form.
CARRIED
11. NEW APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLE - RCMP
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Service Board approve the appointment of Steve Hardy as a Special Constable pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the attached appointment form.
CARRIED
12. NEW APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLE – OC TRANSPO
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the appointment of Gordon Alain Robinson as Special Constable pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the attached Approval of Appointment form.
CARRIED
13. RE-APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLES – OC TRANSPO
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the re-appointments of Andrew Prekob, Kenneth Racine, Dennis Wilfrid Racine and Adrian Richardson as Special Constables pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the attached Approval of Appointment form.
CARRIED
14. CALENDAR OF BOARD MONITORING REQUIREMENTS - 2014
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive the 2014 Calendar of Monitoring Requirements for information.
RECEIVED
15. BOARD DISCRETIONARY FUND: 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
16. SECONDARY ACTIVITIES: 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
17. PERFORMANCE REPORT: FOURTH QUARTER 2013
Chief’s Report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
18. OUTSTANDING BOARD INQUIRIES & MOTIONS: JANUARY 2014
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
19. LETTERS OF COMMENDATION
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
COMMUNICATIONS
a) USE OF FORCE GUIDELINES
- Letter dated 6 December 2013 from Chair R. Anderson, Durham Regional Police Services Board to Minister M. Meilleur, Community Safety and Correctional Services
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this communication for information.
RECEIVED
CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO MOVE IN CAMERA
Moved by L.A. Smallwood
That the Ottawa Police Services Board adjourn the public portion of its meeting to move In Camera to discuss confidential items pertaining to legal and personnel matters, in accordance with Section 35(4)(b) of the Police Services Act.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
____________________________ _____________________________
W. Fedec E. El-Chantiry
Executive Director Chair