DATE:

22 July 2013

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 12 re-appointments and 56 new 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 Ottawa Police Services Board (Board) reviewed a recommendation concerning an ongoing integrated policing initiative that would see certain 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. The 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 Ottawa Police Service (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;

· Elimination of artificial barriers.

The RCMP sought 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;

· Team building.

In support of these objectives, this report requests that the Board reappoint 12 and newly appoint 56 RCMP members as Special Constables. The number of members involved in this request is larger than usual as a result of several factors: a higher than normal transfer rate of members in and out of the local unit, 25 new members over the past 2 years assigned to Parliament Hill and GDPP members not having received Special Constable training over the past 2 years. Together these factors left the local RCMP unit with approximately 70% of its current membership without Special Constable status.

DISCUSSION

The Police Services Board appoints the RCMP Member as a Special Constable upon approval by the Ministry for a 3 year period or until the appointee is no longer in the employ of the RCMP. Upon the termination of employment, the OPS advises the Ministry to terminate the appointment.

Approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services for the 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 Acting Chief Keeley on behalf of)

Charles Bordeleau

Chief of Police

Attach (1)

Responsible for report: Director General Debra Frazer