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Ottawa Police Services Board
Minutes 46
Monday, 26 May 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),
Councillor J. Harder, L.A. Smallwood, C. Nicholson, Mayor J. Watson
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
That the Ottawa Police Services Board confirm the Minutes of the 28 April 2014 meeting.
CONFIRMED
CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES / ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Swearing-In of Auxiliary Members
Chair El-Chantiry invited the six Auxiliary members to step forward and take the oath of office. After the swearing-in, Chief Bordeleau explained that the project is a volunteer program intended to enhance community based policing by providing an opportunity for citizens to participate and volunteer with law enforcement. He added the volunteers provide a complementary service to sworn officers by assisting while under constant supervision. He thanked the new Auxiliary members for their commitment and welcomed them to the Ottawa Police Service.
On behalf of his colleagues, Chair El-Chantiry welcomed the six new members to the Ottawa Police family, wished them success and thanked them for being volunteers and good ambassadors for the City.
PUBLIC DELEGATIONS
a) Professor D. T. Davies, Criminologist
Professor Davies’ presentation centred on complaints against the police, how officers conduct themselves and whether training and mentoring on the job is adequate. (A copy of Professor Davies’ presentation will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director.)
Following the presentation, Chief Bordeleau explained his approach for both sworn and civilian members is that every interaction with a member of the public has the opportunity to be a positive one. Millions of interactions take place per year and the majority of them are positive. The OPS vision is to be the trusted leader in policing and it is understood that members must keep working at earning that trust. Members have a very difficult job and do it very well, however, they are still accountable for their behaviour and to the public. A great deal of police oversight already exists through the Special Investigative Unit (SIU), the Office of the Independent Review Director (OIPRD), and the Board and complaints are taken very seriously. Over half of the complaints filed with the OIPRD are declared vexatious or frivolous. The complaints process is transparent and the organization strives to lower the number of complaints it receives. The OPS is a leader in Canada for ethics training, and programs are in place to ensure that the number of complaints continue to decline.
In closing, the Chief felt there is a need to recognize that the OPS is made up of a group of hard working individuals who serve the community every day, often in very dangerous situations. These individuals are committed to the safety and security of this community, they serve with honour, pride and courage each and every day, and he is very proud of them.
Chair El-Chantiry added that both he and Chief Bordeleau attended one of Professor Davies’ classes at Carleton University and have been invited back in the fall. Chair El-Chantiry thanked Professor Davies for his presentation.
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):
· Sexual Assaults Investigation
· Ottawa Youth Charged with “Swatting”
· Human Trafficking Charges Laid Against Two Persons Formerly with Diplomatic Status
· Purse Snatching – Carlingwood Area
· Canada Road Safety Week
· Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE) Awards
· Police Week – Continued Success
· Recent Shootings.
Ethics Week
On behalf of the Board, Chair El-Chantiry congratulated Chief Bordeleau and Deputy Chief Keeley for taking the lead with Ethics Week and thanked everyone who participated in organizing the event. He attended the seminar and found it offered very valuable information relating to the OPS Professional Standards Section (PSS) and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), to name a few. He believed the OPS is the only service in the province and possibly the country that offers this type of program.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
2. 2014 – 2024 DEVELOPMENT CHARGE REVIEW – OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Service Board approve the capital requirements submitted to the City for inclusion in the 2014 City Development Charge.
CARRIED
3. 2014 AUDIT PLAN
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the 2014 Audit Plan contained in this report.
CARRIED
4. CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF POLICE GOVERNANCE ANNUAL CONFERENCE: REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIP
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve a sponsorship contribution of $1,000 to the Canadian Association of Police Governance for its 2014 Annual Conference being held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from August 21-23, 2014.
CARRIED
5. CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF POLICE GOVERNANCE: NOMINATION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board support the nomination of Board Member L.A. Smallwood to serve on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Police Governance for the 2014/2015 term.
CARRIED
6. BYWARD MARKET STREET AMBASSADOR PROGRAM – 2013 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2014 FUNDING
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board continue to endorse the Street Ambassador program and approve the release of a $10,000.00 contribution to the ByWard Market Business Improvement Area for operation of the program in 2014.
CARRIED
7. RE-APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLES – CARLETON UNIVERSITY
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the re-appointment of Brian Edward Leslie Billings, Alison Hanna and Ashley Wesolowski 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
8. RESULTS OF THE 2012 OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE WORKFORCE CENSUS
Chief’s report
Presentation
Ms. D. Frazer, Director General, stated she believed this is a very important milestone for the Service. The OPS was the first police force in Canada to undertake a workforce census in 2005 and is the first police service to repeat the study. It provides information and a depth of analysis that will be continued as the workforce moves to become a more evidence based decision making organization. The presentation highlights the progress that has been made since 2005. Supt. D. Delaney led the presentation, accompanied by Staff Sergeant C. Cartwright and Staff Sergeant D. Miller. (A copy of the presentation will be kept on file with the Board’s Executive Director.)
Member Nicholson congratulated staff on the successful completion of the census. He found the presentation interesting and noted there is an opportunity for subsequent analysis between sworn and civilian, and male and female members. The information derived from the census will assist in future decision making on workforce issues. One thing that is very clear is that members are under pressure from all areas of their lives. He stated he would have questions once he had the opportunity to review the information.
Member Harder found that the report reflects a healthy organization and the average age indicates stability, that individuals will be around for a while. She wanted to know how the “right amount of diversity” is determined. Chief Bordeleau was unsure if one specific criteria exists to determine the “right amount of diversity”. The organization continues to become more diverse for very solid operational reasons (i.e. ongoing investigations that require access to officers who speak different languages). Diversity is monitored very closely in order to be as reflective of the community as possible.
After seeing the profile of a typical OPS member, Member Harder expressed interest in determining a profile for the 23.9% of female members. The Chief indicated that the census report is rich in data and there are numerous ways to extract information; only high level features were presented today.
On behalf of the Board, Chair El-Chantiry congratulated staff on the report and urged them to continue with the good work.
Chief Bordeleau thanked everyone involved in compiling this very complex report. He pointed out that 85% of members completed the survey, an amazing accomplishment when dealing with a difficult subject. Not only does the census help identify the organization from a diversity perspective, it will help inform outreach activities for recruiting, identifying and understanding the needs of members and creating a productive workplace that will retain long term employees.
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
9. APPOINTMENTS MADE UNDER THE INTERPROVINCIAL POLICING ACT: 2013 ANNUAL REPORT
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
10. OUTSTANDING BOARD INQUIRIES & MOTIONS: MAY 2014
Executive Director’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
11. LETTERS OF COMMENDATION
Chief’s report
That the Ottawa Police Services Board receive this report for information.
RECEIVED
12. BY-LAW TO AMEND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY PROCEDURES MANUAL – DELEGATED AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL OF SECONDMENTS
By-law No. 1 of 2014
That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve Ottawa Police Services Board By-law No. 1 of 2014 being a by-law of the Ottawa Police Services Board to amend By-law No. 1 of 2008 respecting the Police Services Board Financial Accountability Procedures Manual.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
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W. Fedec E. El-Chantiry
Executive Director Chair