DATE:

14 October 2014

TO/DEST:

Executive Director, Ottawa Police Services Board

FROM/EXP:

Chief of Police, Ottawa Police Service

SUBJECT/OBJET:

PERFORMANCE REPORT: THIRD QUARTER 2014

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 Report.

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, 95 percent of the time);

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

§ Number of Criminal Code Offences per sworn officer.

The report covers the reporting period between July 1 and September 30, 2014. Third 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 OPS has received an average of 374,000 calls for service annually over the past five years. This total includes both calls that were dispatched and those that were handled through alternative means.

Figure 1: Total Calls for Service (All Priorities)

The number of calls declined nearly seven percent (-7%) in the third quarter to 90,200, compared to 96,600 calls received during same time period last year. Some of that decline has been driven by a drop in mobile response calls (-11%), such as suspicious person(s) and cancelled calls.

Emergency Calls for Service (Priority 1)

The OPS 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.

In the third quarter, the OPS received 938 calls (-19%) for service classified as Priority 1, compared to 1,151 from the same time period last year (-213). This includes all events involving a known imminent danger to life; actual or potential danger for bodily injury or death; crimes in progress or imminent. Calls include the known use of weapons or apparent life-threatening injuries, and all police officers assistance call.

The decline in number of Priority 1 calls may be attributed to fewer tiered response and ambulance assist calls from the Ottawa Paramedic Service. The OPS also received fewer calls related to disturbances, mental health act, and accidents with injuries during the third quarter.

Priority 1 Response Performance

The OPS aims to respond to Priority 1 calls for service within 15 minutes, 95 percent of the time. The Service has continued to achieve this standard since the implementation of the Call Response Protocol in June 2012. The OPS responded to Priority 1 calls within 15 minutes 95 percent of the time in the third quarter.

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.

Figure 2: Service Time (Citizen Initiated, Mobile Response)

In the third quarter, service time increased by two percent to 70,200 hours. The cumulative amount of time officers spend on calls remains in line with the five year average.

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.

Figure 3: Number of Criminal Code Offences per Officer

In Q3 2014, the number of criminal code offences handled per officer declined two percent to 6.8 offences per officer. The decline continues to be driven by fewer Criminal Code of Canada Offences (-229) compared to the same period in the previous year.

CONSULTATION

These metrics are 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 performance updates as part of the Performance Monitoring Framework. Further development of the Framework is currently taking place under the Value priority (Goal 2.0) in the 2013-2015 Business Plan and the Service Initiative Program. 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