HighlightsPage 2

From the ChiefPage 2

Our PerformancePage 3

HeroesPage 4

AN OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE PUBLICATION APRIL 2010

By Staff Sergeant Don Sweet

In 2009, there was a dramaticincrease in the number ofyouth facing robbery charges.

Of the 103 people charged, 25%were under the age of 18, a fargreater proportion than the 0.3%charged in 2008. Evidence gath-ered by the newly formed Rob-bery Unit – a centralized teamthat is able to share and analyzeinformation and is well positionedto determine patterns and trends– indicates that many youngpeople are being recruited tocarry out the robberies, althoughthe evidence does not link this togang activity.

The mandate of the RobberyUnit, which completed its first fullyear of operation in 2009, includesthe investigation of all retail andfinancial robberies, as well as allpersonal robberies and swarmings.The Unit also investigates homeinvasions, extortions and abduc-tions where robbery is the primarymotive. In 2009, the Unit invest-igated 831 events, 78 more thanwere reported in 2008. The factorsdriving this increase include a36% rise in financial robberies (23 more incidents), and a 22%increase in retail robberies (44more incidents).

Despite the increased numberof offences in 2009, the rate ofsolving cases jumped by fourpercentage points to 40%, upfrom 36% in 2008. For the new10-detective Unit – and the OPSas a whole – this was a verywelcome outcome. It shows the

The changing face of robbery

increased effectiveness of thecentralized Robbery Unit inaddressing this type of crime,which was identified as one ofthe top five concerns for Ottawaresidents in the latest PublicSurvey of Policing Services.

Another success for the Rob-bery Unit involved the OxyContinrobberies that took place over a30-day period in the fall of 2009.The Unit collaborated with theOttawa Police Crime IntelligenceAnalysis Unit and NeighbourhoodOfficers to gather the evidence

needed. As a result, severalcharges were laid in conjunctionwith 20 confirmed pharmacyrobberies and four attemptedrobberies.

Another benefit of combiningall robbery investigations withinone Unit is that it’s easier to iden-tify physical or design features ofestablishments that can be pivotalin reducing, and even preventing,robberies.

The Unit also works veryclosely with the Police Service’sYouth Intervention and Diversion

Unit, providing information thatcan be used to identify otherswithin a suspect’s family who maybe considered at risk for similarbehaviours. In addition, the Unitparticipates in many communityevents to educate residents andbusinesses about the robberyissues within our city.

In 2010, the Robbery Unit willstrive to improve on its 2009 per-formance by continuing its focuson prevention, while workingwith the community to investigateand solve these types of crimes.

Photo: Bryan McNally

A suspect is fingerprinted by the Ottawa Police.

By the numbers

1Drugs and drug dealers

– the top concern of Ottawa residents

908,400Number of Ottawa residents

86%The percent of Ottawa

residents satisfied with thequality of policing services

2996The first green cruiser in all of North America

patrolling Ottawa streets

60minutesThe approximate driving time

from the east to westboundary of Ottawa

11,000,000 kmApproximate mileage

patrolling Ottawa Streets

1: 670One police officer for

every 670 Ottawa residents

$255The cost of policing services

for every Ottawa resident (net operating budget)

87%The percent of time the

Ottawa Police arrive on-sceneto emergency calls within 15 minutes

3,065Tips received through

Ottawa Crime Stoppers in 2009

25thAnniversary of the

Ottawa Police Venturers

$10,700,000Street value of marijuana

seized by the Ottawa Police

2009: ‘A Year in Review’2009: ‘A Year in Review’

Safe today, even safer tomorrow

Continuing our commitment to community engagement

On behalf of the Ottawa PoliceServices Board, I am pleased towelcome you to the ‘2009: A Year

in Review’ from the Ottawa Police Service(OPS) and would like to take the oppor-tunity to share with you some of the year’shighlights from the Board’s perspective.

In developing the OPS 2010–2012Business Plan, the Board had the oppor-tunity to co-host extensive communityconsultations. This provided us an unpre-cedented opportunity to hear firsthandfrom a wide range of community partnersand individuals concerned with publicsafety. We’re very proud of the resulting2010–2012 Plan for a Safer Ottawa, andlook forward to engaging with the com-munity further as we work to implement itover the next three years.

In addition, the Board continued itsCommunity Engagement Strategy toenhance awareness and understandingabout the Board and its role, and to buildbetter relations with key partners and thecommunity in general. Should you wish tolearn more about the Board and its keyresponsibilities, please visit our website atottawapoliceboard.ca.

I would like to thank my Boardcolleagues and staff for their valuablecontributions and commitment throughoutthe year. In particular, I wish to extendthanks on behalf of the Board to departingmember, Des Doran, for his five years ofdedicated service to the residents of Ottawa.In 2010, Mr. Doran will be completing histerm as a provincially appointed community

representative. We are sorry to lose hisexpertise and camaraderie.

The year ended with the tragic death ofCst. Eric Czapnik. On behalf of the PoliceServices Board members and staff, I wish toreiterate our condolences to Cst. Czapnik’sfamily, friends and extended family withinthe Ottawa Police Service. I would also liketo thank everyone in Ottawa who contri-buted to the extraordinary outpouring ofsupport.

As we move forward to meet newchallenges, please be assured that theOttawa Police Services Board will continueto ensure that residents and visitors to thiscity are served by a police service that isheld to the highest standards, and that thededicated members of the organizationhave the support and tools they need tomeet continually expanding demands.

I wish to conclude by extending ourdeep gratitude to the civilian and swornmembers of the Ottawa Police Service fortheir constant professionalism andcompassion. We can all be very proud ofour police service – the men and womenwho work so hard every day to maintainand improve the quality of life in our city,and who are dedicated to our goal ofcreating a community that will be evensafer tomorrow than it is today.

Sincerely,

Councillor Eli El-ChantiryChair, Ottawa Police Services Board

Cost of Policing Net Budget % ChangeExpenditures ($,000) 2009 2008-2009Compensation/Benefits 189,992 6%

Materials and Services 17,834 3%

Financial Charges 16,325 0%

Other Internal Costs 6,809 8%

Fleet Costs 1,987 0%

Transfers/Grants 29 7%

Total Gross Expenditures 232,976 6%Recoveries & Allocations (1,772) 2%

Total Net Expenditures 231,204 6%

• Project Scarecrow. An 18-month joint operation with theOPP, RCMP, Canadian BorderServices Agency and theAkwesasne Mohawk Policetargeted an organized crimegroup suspected of growingand distributing marijuana. Inlate August, 27 people werecharged with a total of 230offences; seized items includedmore than $540,000 in currencyand 3,754 marijuana plants witha street value of $1.75 million.

• Community dialogue. Inpartnership with the Lebaneseand Arab Social Service Agencyof Ottawa, the Ottawa PoliceService and Ottawa PoliceServices Board hosted an even-ing of open dialogue with theLebanese and Arab communitieson July 28. More than 100 peopleattended this successful event.

• New OPS website features a cleaner, friendlier look, im-proved usability and access toservices and information.

• Integrated YouthEngagement Strategy.Implemented by West and EastDivisions, in partnership withother city partners in response

to complaintsfrom residents and businessesconcerning youthdisturbances in parks and other areas.

• Award for the Vaniercommunity. The OntarioAssociation of Chiefs of Police(OACP) awarded the Vaniercommunity with their annualOACP Community MobilizationAward to recognize exemplaryongoing community mobiliza-tion that improves the relation-ship between police and thecommunity. The award is inrecognition of the work from a number of communityorganizations, including Crime

Prevention Ottawa, the VanierBusiness Improvement Area,community organizations, citycouncillors, and the residentsof Vanier.

• Street crime. The StreetCrime Unit continued its focuson street-level drugs andprostitution. In 2009 1,457charges were laid (includingtrafficking, robbery, breach ofprobation, possession of stolenproperty and prostitution)against 300 persons and 11problem addresses were shutdown. Drugs seized includepowder and crack cocaine,marijuana, hashish, ecstasy

pills, mushrooms and heroin.• Contraband Seizure. In July,

the Ottawa Police assisted withthe largest contraband seizurein the area. In cooperation withthe Ottawa RCMP Customs and Excise Section and theCanadian Border ServicesAgency, approximately 1.3million contraband cigarettes of various brands wereconfiscated. The arrests andseizures were part of the RCMP Contraband TobaccoEnforcement Strategy.

• New police station at 211Huntmar Drive. The 41,000sq. ft West Division PatrolStation opened in December2009, which will improveservice to residents in thegrowing west end of the city.

• Crime Prevention Weekwas celebrated across Ontarioduring the first week ofNovember 2009. The theme“Prevention Pays – GetInvolved. It’s your Community.It’s Your Future” was markedby many local communitycrime prevention events,including the OPS “Let’s Chat”Coffee Shops.

Photo: Bryan McNally

Ottawa Police Service Board: Front Row: Henry Jensen, Eli El-Chantiry (Chair), Diane Guilmet-Harris, Maria McRae. Back Row: Wendy Fedec (Executive Director), Bob Monette, Jim MacEwen (Vice Chair), Des Doran.

2009: ‘A Year in Review’2009: ‘A Year in Review’

Iam proud tohighlight thegreat work done

throughout 2009 bythe civilian andsworn members ofthe Ottawa PoliceService (OPS). Weare lucky to live inOttawa, consideredone of the safestlarge urban centresin Canada, accordingto the National CrimeSeverity Index. Whilethis is good news,we must continue towork with residentsand our communitypartners to preservethe security we enjoyand build a com-munity that’s saferstill – all while en-hancing Ottawa’squality of life.

As safe as Ottawa is, the city does havecrime. Street crime, drugs, youth crime andgang activity continue to be a concern ofthe community and the police, especiallyfor our patrol officers and specialty units –such as the Street Crime Unit, the Gunsand Gangs Unit, and the Robbery Unit.Their good work continues to improve thequality of life in the communities mostaffected by these forms of criminal activity.

Investigation and patrol represent onlya portion of our policing duties. During2009, we continued to collaborate with our many partners in the National CapitalRegion as part of Operation INTERSECT.This partnership works to collectivelyensure the safety and security of the com-munity during major events, as was donefor the visit of U.S. President Barack Obamaand in dealing with the H1N1 flu pandemic.

Good policing also seeks to preventcrime. Our Robbery Unit provides adviceto the community in order to reducepreventable crimes. Members of thecommunity are also taking a moreinvolved role with the police to preventcrime, as seen in the valuable work of ourvolunteers at community police centresand in the Auxiliary Police program.

During Crime Prevention Week, we heardresidents’ concerns during the successfulLet’s Chat coffee-shop sessions, held tohelp formulate what the Ottawa PoliceService should look like in the future. This

positive dialogue willcontinue as we im-plement our latestthree-year businessplan, 2010–2012 Planfor a Safer Ottawa.

Beyond dailypolicing activities, weat the Police Servicecontinue to reviewthe way we dobusiness, includingan examination ofthe way we use ourpatrol and districtresources to ensurethe right people areat the right place atthe right time. Theopening of the newWest Division PatrolStation in December2009 improvesservice to residents,but the methods ofconstruction also

show how we have looked for ways toreduce our carbon footprint and become agreener organization. In addition, we aremore mindful than ever of victims of crime,who can suffer significant personal trauma.In 2009, the Ottawa Police introduced anumber of new initiatives to improve oursupport for victims of crime and to protectthe vulnerable in our community.

Unfortunately, 2009 ended on a tragicnote, with the death of Cst. Eric Czapnik –a husband, a father and a son. On behalf of the Ottawa Police Service, I offer thesincerest of condolences to Cst. Czapnik’sfamily and extend thanks to the entirecommunity for the overwhelming supportgiven to the family, as well as to allmembers of the Ottawa Police Service.

The safety and security of Ottawa is ashared responsibility. By working togetherand caring for the well-being of ourneighbours, we can build a communitythat will be even safer tomorrow than it istoday.

Sincerely,

Vern WhiteChief of Police

Photo: Clint Eastop

Chief White addresses new recruits at anOPS graduation ceremony.

Around the city: 2009 highlights

In 2009 the number of OttawaPolice members grew by 4%.

*Corporate Services includes new recruits (50) and officers on training (30).

2009 Authorized Strength

Pat

rol S

ervi

ces

Cor

pora

te S

ervi

ces

Exe

cutiv

e/P

SB

Em

erge

ncy

Ope

ratio

ns

Sup

port

Ser

vice

s

Crim

inal

Inve

stig

atio

ns

Officers

Total

1,356

541

1,897

Civilian

Key Crime Trends

Road Safety

Crimes Againstthe Person

Crimes Againstthe Property

Highway Traffic ActViolations (All)

Motor VehicleFatalities (Deaths)

Total CCC OffencesExcl. Traffic

Other Criminal Codeof Canda Offences

2008: 6,0292009: 6,021

% Change: -0.1% 2008: 30,7512009: 30,228

% Change: -1.7%2008: 112,1082009: 111,946

% Change: -0.1%

2008: 232009: 25

% Change: 9%

2008: 4,2072009: 3,669

% Change: -12.8%

2008: 40,9872009: 39,918

% Change: -2.6%

The new CSI: Crime Severity IndexBy Randy Mar

With the launch of theirNational CSI, theCanadian Centre for

Justice Statistics and the CanadianAssociation of Chiefs of Policehave produced a new tool thatwill help communities to betterunderstand police-reported crime.It is an international first, but italso affirms that Ottawa is, andcontinues to be, one of the safestlarge urban centres in Canada.

Why was there a need for theCSI? Historically, the reporting ofcrime at the national or commun-ity level has been about presentinga crime rate, which is the numberof crimes per capita. This statistichas its limitations because, inproviding a community’s overallpicture of crime, the same weightis given to crimes of very differentmagnitudes – mischief, graffiti andmurder are considered of equalvalue.

The CSI addresses this problemby assigning weights to each typeof crime in the Criminal Code ofCanada, based on sentences

handed down by judges over afive-year period. In other words,serious offences have a greaterweight assigned. For example, thehighest weight is given to violentcrimes such as murder, and thelower weights given to crimessuch as mischief and minor thefts.

What does this mean for

Ottawa? Used in combinationwith the traditional measures thattrack crime over time, the CSIprovides the community and OPSwith a better understanding ofcrime trends in the city. DeputyChief Sue O’Sullivan, who playeda key role in developing the Index,kept an eye on the possible impact

for Ottawa. “Ottawa Police willnot only be able to track thevolume of crime, but whether ornot crime is more or less seriouson a yearly basis. It can alsocompare crime severity betweenjurisdictions,” said O’Sullivan.This means the Index can also beused to examine crime severity at

Photo: Shy Ing

Chief White welcomes new members of the Ottawa Police Auxiliary.

the local ward level, which willhelp OPS set its priorities.

The CSI is another tool toassess crime patterns and toensure that OPS has the rightpeople at the right place at theright time; ready to respond toour community’s policing, safetyand security needs.

Community standards,professional standardsBy Staff Sergeant Denis Cleroux

Police are entrusted withcertain privileges in orderto serve the residents of

Ottawa, such as the right to carrya gun and the powers of arrest.With these privileges come re-sponsibilities and the need forofficers to abide by a strict codeof conduct. If they don’t, com-plaints can be lodged and theOttawa Police Service’s Pro-fessional Standards Section (PSS)can be called in to investigate.

As part of the Office of the ChiefDirectorate, PSS is responsible forthe impartial, professional invest-igation and resolution of com-plaints from the public regardingthe conduct of OPS members. Italso pursues complaints aboutpolice policies and service toresidents. As well, PSS investigatesand resolves Chief’s complaintsabout member conduct andpolice services.

With the opening of the pro-vincial Office of the IndependentPolice Review Director (OIPRD),October 2009 marked a signifi-cant change for the ProfessionalStandards Section. The publicnow has an independent point of contact to bring forward anycomplaint. Upon receiving acomplaint, the OIPRD determinesif the matter will be investigated,and by whom. They can conductthe investigation themselves,assign it to the involved policeservice, or assign it to an externalpolice service.

In 2009, the overall number ofcomplaints about OPS decreasedto 410, a 22% drop from 527 in2008. Public complaints decreasedby 35% and Chief’s complaints by12%. The only increase was seenin complaints about policy orservice, which rose from 7 in 2008to 10 in 2009 and were primarilyabout procedural issues, call-response standards and training.

Complaints that are investigatedcan, and do, improve police service.For example, one service complaintin 2009 concerned a criminalreference check a youth needed inorder to volunteer. The investiga-tion concluded that documentationrequirements imposed on someoneyounger than 16 were undulyonerous and difficult to meet. As a result, the documentationrequirements were changed.

The Professional StandardsSection also seeks ways toprevent complaints. As part ofthis proactive approach, PSS heldsessions to raise awareness andeducate officers about the mostfrequently received complaints,with an aim to reducing them. Inaddition, PSS is now using leading-edge technology to analyze, trackand identify problem trends earlyon, so similar proactive measurescan be taken sooner.

Of the 410 total complaintsreceived in 2009, 22 resulted indiscipline, 267 did not result indiscipline or further proceedings,and the remaining 111 complaintswere under investigation at thetime of printing.

My first shift with theOttawa Police AuxiliaryBy Auxiliary Officer Simon Kelly

On July 1, 2009, I joinedthe other members ofthe Ottawa Police

Auxiliary’s inaugural class as wewere deployed for the very firsttime. Our assignment: to help outwith Canada Day festivities.

Our Unit is small, made up of13 uniformed members (sevenwomen and six men) who willvolunteer a minimum of 160hours a year. Each of us hascompleted a training program

that spanned 12 weeks, in whichwe received instruction fromsworn and civilian membersabout crime prevention programs,special events and educationprograms related to communitysafety.

As a resident of Orleans, I wasassigned to the Petrie IslandCanada Day event. I reported forduty at the Tenth Line Station,where I met Cst. Richard Allman,my partner for the shift. Once atthe island, we began patrollingthe event – my first experience as

2009: ‘A Year in Review’2009: ‘A Year in Review’

Complaints2008 2009 % Change 2008-2009

Public Complaints 237 155 -35%

Chief’s Complaints 290 255 -12%

Total 527 410 -22%

Excessive Force 54 30 -44%

Improper Conduct 362 292 -19%

Neglect of Duty 97 71 -27%

Firearms Discharge 7 7 0%

Policy and/or Service Complaints 7 10 43%

an Auxiliary Police member. I quickly lost my first-day jittersand was able to relax and enjoymy conversations with kids andadults of all ages. It was a greatway to introduce the AuxiliaryPolice Unit to the public.

Throughout my shift with Cst. Allman, I saw how ourpresence helped kids to build atrusting relationship with policeat an early age. I thought back tomy childhood and realized howpolice had been positive rolemodels in my life. I am proudthat as a member of the AuxiliaryPolice I now have theopportunity fulfil that role forothers and to give back to thecommunity.

When you called in 2009

Total Calls to Ottawa Police (911, Call Centre, Info Desk, Switchboard)

Total Calls requiring response (dispatched or alternative resolution)

Total Calls dispatched

Total dispatched calls generated from citizens(includes 78,289 priority 1 emergency calls)

Total reports generated from calls for service (General Occurrences)

Total number of offences under the Criminal Code of Canada

Ottawa Police Solvency

900,839

366,018

275,718

168,705

106,590

39,918

35%

Make the right call!

9-1-1

613-230-6211

613-236-1222, ext. 7300(TTY 613-760-8100)

613-236-1222(TTY 613-232-1123)

9-1-1Life-threatening Emergency or Crime in Progress

613-230-6211Other Emergencies

613-236-1222, ext. 7300(TTY 613-760-8100)

Call Centre: To report a theft, property damage, missing person or stolen vehicle

613-236-1222(TTY 613-232-1123)Community Police Centres and all other enquiries

By Anat Cohn

On December 29, 2009,Cst. Eric Czapnik wasfatally stabbed while

on duty. Born on May 26, 1958,Cst. Czapnik was 51 at the time ofhis death. It was 26 years since anOttawa Police officer was killed onduty and the senseless act that tookaway Eric’s life left everyone withmany questions and few answers.

When Eric died that morning,the city was shaken. Words cannotexpress the feelings of grief, butthe volume of attention spokeloudly to the appreciation, admir-ation and respect that peoplehave for frontline workers likeCst. Czapnik. Condolences fromthe Polish community and aroundthe world poured in, reaching outto his wife and four children. Morethan 8,000 fellow officers, emerg-ency workers and civilians attend-ed the police funeral in Ottawa onJanuary 7, 2010, and more than10,000 people watched the cere-mony online from our live webcast.

Many events are underway tohonour Eric’s life and contributionto the community. On May 2, 2010,respects will also be paid at theOntario Police Memorial in Torontoand on September 26, 2010 at the

Canadian Police and PeaceOfficer’s Memorial in Ottawa.

On behalf of the Ottawa PoliceService, we would like to thank thecommunity for your overwhelmingresponse. It was greatly appreciatedduring this difficult time.

Donations for Cst. Czapnik’schildren can be made at allScotiabank branches in Canadato account #400060117811 – intrust for Cst. Eric Czapnik. Anyother donations can be made to theOntario Police Memorial Foundation.Please visit www.opmf.ca/memorial/donations.php for details.

Constable Ireneusz ‘Eric’ Czapnik

By Louise Logue

Youth make mistakes, andsometimes those mistakesput them on the wrong

side of the law. But should theyalways be charged and enteredinto the court system?

Take, for example, the casefrom last fall when an improvisedexplosive device (IED) was foundin an Ottawa schoolyard. It was astartling discovery that had thepotential to damage the buildingand injure people, but the IEDwas the result of two youthexperimenting with homemadefirecrackers and other devices. It was determined there was nointent to harm anyone or anythingand the youth were diverted fromthe courts, instead receivingcounselling through the schooland the Ottawa Fire Department.

The Ottawa Police Service isfirmly committed to providingsuch a variety of responses tothese youth: education; earlyidentification; early intervention;diversion; sanctions; and enforce-ment. These approaches ensurethat youth have the opportunityto learn from their mistakes and

make better choices in the future,while fully understanding theextent of the law.

Pivotal to the OPS approachare 24 School Resource Officers(SROs) who carry out a programof crime prevention in secondaryschools and their feeder schools,while building solid relationshipswith students and school officials.Our patrol officers are aware ofthe law that governs policingyouth and the diversion optionsavailable – based on the guidingprinciples of the Youth CriminalJustice Act.

SRO and patrol officers cancall on the Youth Interventionand Diversion Unit to provideeducation, consultation, support,and training to all officers and thecommunity interested in youth atrisk.

Additionally, the Youth Inter-vention and Diversion Unit facil-itates referrals to community-based youth agencies who arewell positioned to assess youthand provide meaningful treat-ment services that mitigate riskfactors known to be associatedwith the likelihood to re-offend.

During 2009, the Unit referred

Heroes in life, not death: Constable Ireneusz ‘Eric’ Czapnik

By Donna Watson-Elliot

When there’s a crime,there’s a victim. Theworse the crime, the

more traumatic it is for the victim.While the traditional focus ofpolicing has been, and continuesto be, the apprehension of thecriminal, there’s no reason why avictim needs to be left alone in atime of crisis.

Recognizing this, OPS patrolofficers – often the first contactfor a victim of crime – can call onthe Victim Crisis Unit (VCU) toprovide crisis intervention, sup-port and assistance to victims ofcrime and to those involved intragic circumstances.

In 2009, the Unit was called toattend 156 crime scenes and pro-vided follow-up support for 3,190police calls to residents andfamilies. For many of these calls,victims simply need support andinformation, not a professionalcounsellor. To meet these needsthe Unit relies on the collabor-ative support of communitypartners such as Ottawa VictimServices, a non-profit serviceprovider funded by the AttorneyGeneral of Ontario.

In 2009, the VCU carried out apilot project to help the victims of High Risk Offenders (criminals

considered likely to re-offend andpotentially cause violence againstthe victim). Once offenders arereleased into the community, vic-tims have not historically receivedsupport and assistance. To addressthis gap, the one-year projectreached out to 223 victims. Of those,56% (124) accepted assistancefrom the designated VCU counsellor,and only 6 victims declined.

The work of the VCU is over-whelmingly appreciated by thosethey’ve helped. A survey sent tovictims who received on-scenesupport from the Unit’s profes-sional counsellors in 2009 allreported the attention andsupport they received from theVCU either met or exceededexpectations, with the majoritychoosing the latter.

Such support and assistance tovictims shall remain a priority forthe OPS. In partnership with localcommunity agencies, the OttawaPolice Service will continue toimprove the service it provides tovictims through the multi-agencyCoordinated Victim AssistanceProgram.

If you are a victim needingassistance or information, pleasecontact the Ottawa Police ServiceVictim Crisis Unit by phone at613-236-1222, extension 5822(TTY 613-760-8009).

Supporting victims in time of need

Photo: Shy Ing

Ranger the dog makes an appearance at a canine demonstration for the Aboriginal Soccer program.

approximately 200 youth to the Ottawa Community YouthDiversion Program at the Boysand Girls Club, and well over1,000 youth (or their caregivers)to youth-based interventionservices within the community.

“Hundreds of young people inconflict with the law are nowprovided with effective interven-tions that hold them accountablefor their actions, and help reduceor eliminate risk factors. Throughthe commitment and leadershipof the OPS to this program, ourcommunity is a safer place andour young people and theirfamilies are receiving the supportthey need,” says Scott Bradford,Executive Director, Boys andGirls Club of Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police Service'sfundamental approach to policingyouth seeks to implement a col-laborative solution that involvesthe youth, the family, and infor-mal and formal community sup-ports. The better the assessment,the better the response, and themore effective our community offront-line service providers canbe.

2009: ‘A Year in Review’2009: ‘A Year in Review’

Partners at work.

By Margaret MacDonald

When U.S. PresidentBarack Obamastrolled through the

Byward Market during his visitlast February, Operation INTER-SECT was fully engaged.

Launched in May 2008, Oper-ation INTERSECT is an emergency-preparedness partnership thatbrings together more than 20 pub-lic security and emergency agen-cies in the National Capital Region.Because the region encompassestwo major cities in two provincesand has various national andinternational institutions, there is a critical requirement to ensurea collaborative approach fordealing with major events andpotential threats to the commun-ity’s safety and security.

Operation INTERSECT isabout collaboration and coord-ination among agencies to increasepublic safety in the event ofnatural disaster or a major inci-dent such as Obama’s visit toOttawa, and the more routineevents hosted in the region, such as the annual Canada Day

celebrations.Readiness means anticipating

and planning for emergencies,regardless of size or complexity.

Produced by the Planning, Performance, and Analytics Section, Office of the Chief Directorate. Inquiries about this publication can be sent by e-mail to CorporatePlanning@ottawapolice.ca

or call us at 613-236-1222 ext. 5456.

Available at ottawapolice.ca AcknowledgementsIn addition to the Ottawa

Police organizational chart andjurisdictional map, the Ottawa

Police provides the communitywith information on calls forservice and crime activity.

Knowing when it’s just a kid’s mistake

Partnerships in the City: Operation INTERSECT

In addition to President Obama’svisit, the partners of OperationINTERSECT also worked closelyto implement the Interagency

Influenza Pandemic Plan in 2009– developed to ensure a coordin-ated community response inOttawa during the influenza

pandemic.In August 2009, Operation

INTERSECT won the CanadianAssociation of Chiefs of PoliceMotorola Award for Excellence in Emergency Preparedness.

“This award provides valida-tion that the initiative undertakenin the National Capital Region issetting a new standard for emer-gency preparedness in Canada,”said Operation INTERSECT’sSteering Committee co-chair,Chief Superintendent SergeTherriault, a Criminal OperationsOfficer with the RCMP.

The award recognizes astandard of excellence in thecombined efforts of law enforce-ment, fire services, and emer-gency medicine in preparingtheir agencies for any majoremergency or event that poses athreat to a community’s safetyand security, and hence itsquality of life.

For more information, visit the Ottawa Police website at:www.ottawapolice.ca/en/community/partnershipprofiles/operationintersect.aspx