DATE:

22 September 2014

TO/DEST:

Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM/EXP:

Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT/OBJET:

APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL CONSTABLES – RCMP

RECOMMENDATION

That the Ottawa Police Services Board approve the 10 appointments of the RCMP officers listed in Annex A 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.

BACKGROUND

In 2003, the Police Services Board (Board) reviewed a recommendation concerning an ongoing integrated policing initiative that would see members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) appointed as Special Constables. This appointment would enable the officers to enforce certain Ontario provincial statutes in the City of Ottawa. Their appointments would continue for a period of three years.

The initiative was based on the desire to continually improve the delivery of policing services to the residents of the City of Ottawa by capitalizing on the existing co-operation between the OPS and the RCMP. The opportunity existed to build on the interoperability of the two services and the goodwill gained during special event policing, and to apply these concepts to day-to-day policing functions. The goal of this arrangement is to enhance policing capabilities for both the OPS and the RCMP.

In pursuing this initiative, the OPS had six key objectives:

· Additional back-up resources for OPS members responding to calls;

· Increase in community confidence;

· Enhanced current partnerships in co-operation with the RCMP;

· Reduced confusion regarding mandates and limits of authority;

· Enhanced response without usurping mandates, and

· Elimination of artificial barriers.

The RCMP wanted to attain a number of important objectives with the appointments of their officers:

· Operational experience for patrol officers;

· Experience giving and gathering evidence;

· Increased opportunity for interaction with the public in a policing capacity;

· Enhanced response capability in the federal mandate;

· Streamlined communication, and

· Team building.

To ensure that the above noted RCMP members can carry out their assigned duties, applications are made to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to have them appointed as Special Constables pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act. The Board appoints the RCMP members as Special Constables upon approval by the Ministry. The appointments are valid for three years, or until the appointees are no longer deployed in Ontario.

DISCUSSION

Approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for the re-appointment of these members as Special Constables. Pursuant to Section 53 of the Police Services Act, upon receipt of the Board appointment of their status, the members will be required to undertake the Oath of Office by the Chief of Police.

CONSULTATION

Not applicable.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Not applicable.

CONCLUSION

The OPS is fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with the RCMP. The approval of Special Constable status for these RCMP members will enable them to undertake the full scope of their duties while assigned to the Ottawa area.

(Original signed by)

Charles Bordeleau

Chief of Police

Responsible for Report: Director General Debra Frazer

Attach. Annex A