BLUE LINE CANADA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT MAGAZINE
www.BlueLine.ca
NOVEMBER 2021
COVER STORY
Clothing and duty gear A 2021 tactical gear review p. 12
HOLDING THE LINE
HEALTH & WELLNESS
The power of resources p. 14
Being dealt an ACE p. 20
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Contents
November 2021 Volume 33 Number 9
Features COVER STORY
12 Clothing and duty gear
A 2021 tactical gear review. By Hilary Rodela and Brendan Rodela.
Columns
4 Editor’s Commentary 10 Q&A 14 Holding the Line 16 Technology 17 Behavioural Sciences 20 Health & Wellness 24 Case Law 30 Back of the Book
Departments
18 Posturing and misconduct
Managing disputes and understanding the relationship between conflict and misconduct. By Scott Easto.
21 Limiting sleep disorders among police officers
Nearly 60 per cent of police officers experience clinically significant insomnia. By Brittani Schroeder.
22 De-escalation and managing heightened emotions
5 News 5 By the Numbers 8 Dispatches 8 Calendar 27 Off the Shelf 28 Product Showcase 29 Marketplace 30 Blue Links
COVER PHOTO: SELIGAA / ADOBE STOCK
Evidence-based training developed through applied research and real–world application. By Steven Poplawski.
17 @Blue_LineMag
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22 November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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EDITOR’S COMMENTARY BY BRITTANI SCHROEDER
BLUE LINE www.BlueLine.ca
Fulfilling a law enforcement dream
I
am so honoured to bring to you the actions of both humans and animals, and November 2021 issue of Blue Line as how they act similarly during intraspecies its new editor. Before we can begin conflict. Police organizations are actively this new chapter, it’s only right to say learning how to manage disputes while thank you to Brieanna Charlebois, Blue also understanding the relationship beLine’s previous editor, for bringing the law tween conflict and misconduct, which enforcement community a wealth of in- ultimately helps to keep complaints formation over the past year. The Blue Line down and increase support. team will miss her and wishes her the best This month’s Behavioural Sciences of luck in all her future endeavors! column, written by Peter Collins and As we move forward together, I feel it’s Dilnaz Garda, focuses on the healing only right that I share a little about my- power of literature. In the recent and far self. I stepped into this new editorial role past, psychologists and psychiatrists at the beginning of September and alike have prescribed literature have quickly been learning about Together, we as a form of medication for the world of law enforcement and will bring to patients with varying backall that it entails. As a child, I ac- the forefront grounds and life experiences, tually dreamed of being a police interesting such as being a war veteran. It officer, and that was probably and new has even been said that those brought on by seeing Canadian insights into who prefer to read novels may police TV shows such as Flashpoint the law be more empathetic individand Rookie Blue. Even Castle, a enforcement uals. The overall hope of this show that took place in New York industry. kind of prescription is if we all City but featured Canadian actors read a little more, maybe we Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic as it’s could make deeper, stronger human main characters, was on my list of favour- connections with each other. ites. Even though I found my way into the Our technology column from Peel world of editorial, I am so glad I can work Regional Police’s Derek Snider reflects on with the law enforcement industry in why it is important to bring new, 21st some way through this new role. century technologies to police services With that being said, I am excited to across the country, and how it could share this month’s issue of Blue Line, better help the surrounding communwhich includes columns and features ities. Although these technologies can from a variety of law enforcement ex- sometimes be seen as cost-prohibitive, perts. I think this issue has something for especially in a time when police budgets everyone in the industry. are facing extreme scrutiny, Snider beThe November cover story features a lieves the returns far outweigh the cost if detailed review of tactical gear, for those the technology is properly prioritized and on or off duty. From head to toe, authors implemented. Hilary and Brendan Rodela assess clothing As I begin this new journey with Blue and firearm accessories, while also stating Line, I invite you to pitch me your ideas, their own experiences whilst using the send me your latest news and accomplishproducts. Gear is extremely important to ments, or connect with me just to have a all officers, and an incredibly individualis- chat. I am looking forward to meeting tic choice. When an officer has the right more of you as in-person events resume, gear, they can do their job much more ef- including our Blue Line Expo on Oct. 28. ficiently than when they don’t. I am very excited to bring you new content It’s been said that humans have an in Blue Line as we finish out 2021, and beanimal-like behaviour, but how similar yond. Together, we will bring to the foreare we? In Scott Easto’s article on postur- front interesting and new insights into the ing and misconduct, he analyzes the law enforcement industry.
Reader Service Print and digital subscription inquiries or changes, please contact Beata Olechnowicz, Audience Development Manager Tel: (416) 510-5182 Fax: (416) 510-6875 email: bolechnowicz@annexbusinessmedia.com Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 GROUP PUBLISHER/VP SALES | MARTIN MCANULTY mmcanulty@annexbusinessmedia.com PUBLISHER | ADAM SZPAKOWSKI aszpakowski@annexbusinessmedia.com EDITOR | BRITTANI SCHROEDER bschroeder@annexbusinessmedia.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EMERGENCY SERVICES GROUP | LAURA AIKEN laiken@annexbusinessmedia.com ACCOUNT MANAGER | JANICE EATON jeaton@annexbusinessmedia.com MEDIA DESIGNER | GRAHAM JEFFREY gjeffrey@annexbusinessmedia.com ACCOUNT COORDINATOR | KATHRYN NYENHUIS knyenhuis@annexbusinessmedia.com COO | SCOTT JAMIESON sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com ANNEX BUSINESS MEDIA 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 Tel. 416-442-5600 • Fax 416-442-2191 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40065710 ISSN 0847-8538 Printed in Canada SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada — 1 Year $31.50; 2 Year $52.50 plus tax USA — 1 Year $136.50 CAD Occasionally, Blue Line will mail information on behalf of industry-related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. Annex Privacy Officer Privacy@annexbusinessmedia.com; Tel: 800-668-2374 © 2021 Annex Business Media. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada. No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. Readers are cautioned and advised that articles presented herein are edited and supplied for your personal awareness and should not be used for further action until appropriate guidance is received from a supervisor, Crown Attorney or other persons in authority. All advertising is subject to the publisher’s approval. Such approval does not imply any endorsement of the products or services advertised. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not meet the standards of this publication.
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NEWS
PHOTO CREDIT: DURHAM REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
ONTARIO
Project ECONOLINE disrupts fentanyl trafficking in Durham region
The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) enacted a Durham Region Opioid Response Plan due to a significant increase in opioid-related deaths within the community. Recently, the DRPS Drug Enforcement Unit led numerous investigations into fentanyl traffickers in areas impacted by the opioid crisis. Project ECONOLINE was a five-month drug investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Unit with the assistance of the Gun and Gang Enforcement Unit, Tactical Support Unit and the East Division Community Response team. The team executed almost 30 search warrants within the GTA, arrested 44 individuals, and laid a total of 295 Criminal Code and Controlled Drug and Substance Act charges. Throughout the five-month period, investigators seized 5.8 kilograms of fentanyl, 30 kilograms of illicit cannabis, 4.2 kilograms of cocaine, 205 grams of methamphetamine, 3,000 oxycodone pills, and a quantity of hydromorphone, GHB and MDMA with an approximate street value of $2.5 million. Police also seized eight handguns and over $300,000 in cash.
Project ECONOLINE has made a significant impact on the availability of fentanyl in areas experiencing high overdose rates. These investigations into drug-trafficking and the arrests of those responsible have disrupted multiple smaller trafficking cells and deterred traffickers from dealing drugs within the Durham Region. Through funding provided by the Ontario Government, Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO) supported the DRPS investigation. The funding provided by CISO demonstrates DRPS’ commitment to community safety. The DRPS would like to thank the members of the investigative team for their dedication and perseverance, their law enforcement partners, CISO and all of the other law enforcement agencies that provided assistance during this investigation. ALBERTA
Calgary Police canine park
A Police Canine Park has been unveiled and opened at the Calgary Police Service (CPS) headquarters, outside of the Youthlink Interpretive Centre. This park was generously donated by the Zeidler family, in loving memory of Margaret Midge Zeidler. The new park provides a place where people can honour and remember all the CPS
Police Service Dogs (PSD). It is a location where one can remember fallen PSDs, celebrate new dogs with a place to present them with their badges, a place to give a proper send off to those dogs that are about to leave service, and a place to educate the community about the Canine Unit. The CPS hope people will enjoy learning about the amazing work their dogs do. The park will also be a place for retired Canine Unit members will come to reflect on their previous partners. A place to explore, to learn, and to share ‘tails’.
PHOTO CREDIT: CALGARY POLICE SERVICE
BRITISH COLUMBIA
B.C. Premier John Horgan promises more funding for depleted naloxone kit supply
British Columbia’s naloxone supply is depleted, forcing some police agencies to buy their own supplies of the overdose-reversing drug. Premier John Horgan says his government is working to allocate funding to buy more naloxone kits, which have successfully been used to reverse opioid overdoses in thousands of people in the province. The Victoria Police Department has been paying for its own naloxone kits this past year after funding ended in April 2020, while the Saanich Police Department said in a
BY THE NUMBERS In October 2020, Statistics Canada released its most recent staistical summary of homicide rates. For more information, visit www150.statcan.gc.ca.
678
homicides (486 males and 144 females) occurred in 2019 nationwide, at a rate of 1.80 per 100,000 population. Nine in 10 victims knew their accused. The proportion of female victims killed by an intimate partner was eight times greater than the proportion of male victims.
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1 in 4
homicides in Canada were gang-related. The number of gang-related homicides increased in 2019 to its second highest rate ever.
27%
of victims of homicide and 38 per cent of accused persons were Indigenous, despite accounting for a mere five per cent of Canada’s total population. The rate of homicide for Indigenous people was 6.5 times higher than for non-Indigenous people.
261
homicides were committed with a firearm, which amounted to two in every five homicides. Over half (60 per cent) of those were committed by handguns.
November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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NEWS statement that its naloxone kits will expire at the end of the year. Bowen Osoko, a spokesman for Victoria police, says the force allocated $15,000 from its human resources budget to buy the kits, which retail between $130 and $140 each. He says police departments across the province were notified of the funding cut, but the severity and frequency of overdoses meant the Victoria Police Department never considered not buying more kits. The province declared a public health emergency in 2016 as overdoses climbed due to the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, and since then 7,760 people have died from suspected ODs.
PHOTO CREDIT: BERNARD CHANTAL / ADOBE STOCK
Osoko said the Victoria police used over 100 naloxone kits in the past year, and officers are asked to respond to overdoses daily. Const. Steve Addison, a spokesman for the Vancouver Police Department, said the force recently purchased more naloxone kits but could not comment on the funding or size of its supply. Sheila Malcolmson, the minister of mental health and addictions, said in a statement that “having police officers carry naloxone is integral to saving lives in our communities,” and her ministry will work to ensure there are no further funding gaps. – Canadian Press
help raise awareness. “It’s important that both the public and the policing community understand that mental health supports have been greatly expanded and exist at the OPP, that the mental health of OPP members is the number one priority for me and the organization, and that if there is a member in need, they have many options for support available to them,” the commissioner wrote. The OPP peer support program is still evolving. “Full time peer supporters will eventually be replaced with actual mental health clinicians across the province,” he said. In preparation for that, almost 700 OPP members have been trained as peer supporters. OPP psychologists actually work in the field, which is crucial to trust and relationship building, the commissioner said. “Day in and day out, they’re building relationships with members to break down the barriers to care, to reduce the stigma around mental health and to build that trust and confidence with our members so when they do need to reach out, they feel more comfortable in doing so, or when we put them to ground on a critical incident, hopefully there’s already a level of awareness or at least some knowledge of who the doctors are and what they’re able to do,” he said. It is embedded in legislation that a candidate must be physically and mentally fit to perform the duties of a police officer and candidates are tested for these, but that doesn’t mean officers won’t be affected over time. “It’s important that the officers themselves, their families and the general public realize that it doesn’t mean they’re broken, and it doesn’t mean that they’re not capable of continuing to serve and protect their communities. It just means that we have to mindfully manage the impacts of the job.” – Canadian Press / Local Journalism Initiative
ONTARIO
OPP makes mental wellness a priority for officers
Two and a half years ago, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) did not have a full-time psychologist or partnerships with any external mental health providers. The organization now has a complete healthy workplace team with full-time mental health clinician professionals. Not only is OPP member wellness a priority, but OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique has travelled the province talking to members about it. He’s also spoken internationally and at events to 6
BLUE LINE | November 2021
ALBERTA
Getting a handle on bike theft
Most Canadian cities, like Edmonton, have a bicycle theft and bicycle return problem. The local police service likely has a bicycle graveyard, like the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), where unclaimed bicycles are tagged and left in rows until auction day. Other than reminding owners to write down their bicycle’s serial number to make claiming a bicycle easier, the EPS didn’t have a safe, modern solution. EPS’ Detective Dana Gehring and Constable
Kenny McKinnon work with online fencing and directly on the streets in Edmonton’s busiest cycling division. “As avid cyclers who knew a solution existed, we researched options and discussed with our cycling communities,” explained Cst. McKinnon. In 2019, the EPS officially partnered with non-profit bicycle registry, Bike Index. Bike Index is run by cycling enthusiasts who are passionate about crime prevention in their lifestyle and recreation. They developed a free web-based platform for owners to register their bike using a smartphone or desktop computer. Users can input as much information as they have, and if their bicycle is ever stolen, they can click a button to mark it ‘stolen’ in the system. If an owner needs to claim their bicycle or prove ownership, everything is in their online profile. Thanks to the team at Bike Index, not only can police agencies track bicycles registered on Bike Index, the new dashboard they’ve developed for agencies who want it, tracks recoveries.
PHOTO CREDIT: EDMONTON POLICE SERVICE
Each EPS officer has a profile with ‘law enforcement access’. This allows any active member to search a bicycle on Bike Index, and if it is registered, the officer can see additional information, like the owner’s phone number, to get in direct contact with the rightful owner. This one feature alone has aided officers in contacting owners who didn’t even know their bicycle was stolen yet! The officers are able to catch suspects, identify owners, and return bicycles before a report would normally be submitted. This also means bicycles don’t have to get processed, tagged, and left in a bicycle graveyard. The EPS has built relationships and created accounts for local bicycle shops, Edmonton universities, and the Stolen Bikes Edmonton Facebook group who have all helped to register nearly 90,000 bicycles, and recover nearly 700 bicycles in two years. By including the bike shops, bicycles are registered at the point of sale, so they are protected as soon as they leave the store. www.BlueLine.ca
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November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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NEWS DISPATCHES The Prince Albert Police Service has appointed Farica Prince to the position of deputy chief. Deputy Chief Prince began her career in policing in October 2001 with the Dakota Ojibway Police Service, where she was posted to her home community of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in southern Manitoba after graduating from RCMP Depot Division. In 2005, she moved to the Blood Tribe Police Service in southern Alberta, where she served as a front-line officer until 2008. She was then seconded to the training academy at RCMP Depot in Regina and served both in the Applied Science and the Firearms Training Unit. Deputy Chief Prince returned to the Blood Tribe Police Service in 2011 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2012. In 2013, she was promoted to Acting Staff Sergeant and to Inspector in 2018, when she was also recognized as a Commissioned officer by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta. In 2019, Farica Prince received her Bachelor of Policing degree from Charles Sturt University. Assistant Commissioner Ches W. Parsons has been appointed Commanding Officer of National Division RCMP, after serving three years as Commanding Officer of B Division in Newfoundland and Labrador. Assistant Commissioner Parsons is native from Newfoundland, where he studied in Commerce at Memorial University before attending the RCMP Academy at Depot in Regina, in 1987. His operational policing roles have included Serious and Organized Crime, Major Crimes, and the Emergency Response Team. He also worked in the field of national security for 17 years, most recently as the Director General of Federal Policing National Security in Ottawa. With a strong commitment to collaboration and bringing people together, Assistant Commissioner Parsons is a lifelong community volunteer, and spent many years working with First Nations, Métis and Indigenous communities across Canada. As Commanding Officer, he places high value on promoting health and well-being among employees, and on ensuring they have the tools and support needed to protect Canadians and our national interests. 8
BLUE LINE | November 2021
Assistant Commissioner Parsons has said he is honoured to serve in this new role, and to return to a city that he and his family call home. Constable Dale Pollock, a 14-year member of the Woodstock Police Force, sadly died at home early Monday morning, August 9, from what appears to be health-related issues. Pollock chose to enter a career in policing after many years as a long-distance truck driver. Pollock joined the Woodstock Police Force in September 2007 after graduating from the Atlantic Police Academy. The 53-year-old officer is well known for his strong work ethic and reputation as a quiet leader. The Cobourg Police Services Board has selected Jeffrey Haskins as the new Deputy Chief of the Cobourg Police Service. Deputy Chief-Designate Haskins is a 30-year veteran of policing, serving with the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS). Since being hired as a police cadet in 1991, he has ascended the ranks and is currently an Inspector. While at DRPS, Deputy Chief-Designate Haskins served in the Intelligence Branch, Professional Standards Unit, Equity and Inclusion Unit, Regional Duty Inspector Office, and was the Divisional Commander at both East and West Division. Deputy Chief-Designate Haskins spearheaded the 2017-2019 DRPS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Deputy Chief-Designate Haskins is a graduate of the Humber College Police Foundations program and holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice Studies from the University of Guelph. He has also completed the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Global Studies Program, an executive development program for succession-ready senior leaders in policing. Constable Dan Murray is celebrating 50 years in policing and has the distinction of being the longest-serving Edmonton Police Service officer with badge #1. Growing up, Murray always wanted to be a police officer, and he joined at the age of 17 in 1971. He has served with 12 police chiefs and numerous police units,
and today he works at the Downtown Division front counter assisting with public inquiries and reports. Dan was inspired to a lifetime of public service by President John F. Kennedy’s words: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” These words continue to inspire him today. Summing up his journey, Murray says, “It’s been outstanding, I can’t imagine doing any other job, I’m just really grateful that I got the chance to live my dream.” PROMOTIONS, RETIREMENTS, RECOGNITION • If you have an officer in your agency recently promoted or retiring or an individual you wish to have recognized (major award or recently deceased) you can let Blue Line magazine know by emailing: bschroeder@annexbusinessmedia.com.
CALENDAR NOTE TO READERS: check with all organizers as COVID-19 continues to affect events. Law of Police Conference November 4 – 5, 2021 Location: Vancouver, B.C. 10times.com/law-policing BCACP/CACP Police Leadership Conference April 3 – 5, 2022 Location: Vancouver, B.C. 10times.com/bcacp-cacp International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training 2022 Conference May 15 – 18, 2022 Location: Fort Worth, Texas iadlest.org/conf-2022 CANSEC 2022 June 1 – 2, 2022 Location: Ottawa, Ont. defenceandsecurity.ca/CANSEC/ 59th IAWP Annual Training Conference September 12 – 16, 2022 Location: Niagara Falls, Ont. iawp2022niagarafalls.org/ IACP 2022 October 15 – 18, 2022 Location: Dallas, Texas theiacpconference.org Find more calendar events online at blueline.ca/events.
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Q&A Blue Line editor Brittani Schroeder recently spoke with Sean Shapiro of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to speak about the importance of connecting with the community and finding new ways to engage with them, especially during a global pandemic. Q: Why was reaching out to the community via social media so important to the TPS?:
The TPS Traffic Services Unit has been engaging the public in person and through social media for many years. We have steadily grown across all the primary social media platforms, where we spoke at our audience rather than truly engaging in conversations with them. Our meaningful engagement really took place at trade shows and public events where our officers were available to discuss traffic safety and answer questions one-on-one with the public. During the pandemic, we needed to pivot and expand our social media efforts to both grow our audience and find innovative methods to connect in a more meaningful way, since in-person was no longer an alternative.
Q: Who spearheaded this social media effort?:
In an attempt to create more engaging content, I began creating videos on all of our social media platforms. In relation to an investigation, I was required to create a TikTok account and in doing so, I uploaded a video onto TikTok just to see what would happen. The results were surprising! With the support of my supervisor, Sgt. Jason Kraft, I began to experiment with creating a totally different kind of content. It was uncharted territory, but it was working well and it was evident that we were on to something special.
Q: Which platforms does the TPS focus on?:
The Service is active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and now TikTok. We are excited to use this new platform because this is where we find the most engagement. Beginning in March 2021, after much experimentation with the platform, we saw both a growth in our audience and their activity. In only seven months, our account has grown to over 181,000 followers with millions of views each month. In addition, we have seen much success 10
BLUE LINE | November 2021
Sean Shapiro PHOTO CREDIT: SEAN SHAPIRO
with our live-stream efforts on TikTok, which I have replicated and broadcast regularly on our other platforms. Live streaming supports our community-driven initiatives by allowing our community and safety partners onto our platform to share their messages to our audience. We had previously believed that impressions and views were a valuable measurement of success; however, we came to find that getting meaningful interactions in the form of shares, comments and view time was the true measure of achievement.
Q: How did you transition from speaking at your audience to engaging with your audience?:
Like many social media users, we would post statements and educational instructions, but we limited our two-way interactions with the public. Today we focus on dialogue, and it is during these informal conversations that we find ourselves building relationships. My personal transition to working on our social media was really by accident; I was involved in an on-duty motor vehicle collision as a member of the Motor Squad. I was brought into the Traffic Safety Programs office while I was recovering, and one thing led to another. Speaking to the public is what I’ve been doing since I joined the TPS. Transitioning
to doing the same on social media was a natural progression for me. What was really different was the fact that I began live streaming daily. For one hour each day, whatever traffic or police questions that came our way would be answered live. Speaking with an average of 400 persons in a live session—sometimes over 700—can be a somewhat strange feeling. I’ve also developed some amazing relationships with members of the public who are now a part of a community of moderators that assist me with keeping the live chats both classy and manageable. Our TikTok live show can be heard during regular segments of the Jerry Agar show on NewsTalk1010, where we can answer questions from both audiences.
Q: What topics do you focus on during these social media sessions?:
Most of our content is traffic-related, but during our live streams, we are also addressing a lot of general policing questions from the public. Questions range from “Can I remove my muffler from my car?” to “How can I become a police officer?”, and the occasional “Why are my tax dollars paying you to be on TikTok?” That last one is my favourite, because I get to speak to how efficiently we are engaging and helping the public, which is truly a cost-effective strategy for the Service as we can now reach a larger audience. I encourage all of my policing colleagues to spend more time on social media to build stronger relationships with an audience that wants to talk to you. If you want to reach them, you just need to be where they are spending most of their time – and it’s your job to identify the platform being used by your target audience. Editor’s Note: You can follow the TPS Traffic Services on the following social media accounts: Twitter: @TrafficServices TikTok: @TrafficServices Instagram: @TrafficServicesToronto Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trafficservices YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ TrafficServicesTorontoPolice
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ELECTRONIC POLICE NOTES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY For nearly 150 years, Law Enforcement agencies in Canada have been recording their administrative duties, evidence, case notes and calls for service on paper notebooks. Today at Digital Mobility Inc. (DMI a Canadian software company) we are announcing our solution to replace this historic paper process. Intelligent Mobile Patrol (IMP) software solution, is more than simply taking e-notes during a shift. IMP was designed by officers for officers as a complete cross-platform workflow solution. Our solution modernizes the current paper process, leverages the power of data gathered while maintaining the integrity of officer e-notes to support the prosecution process. IMP creates efficiencies, reduces administrative time, reduces costs and more importantly, allows officers and investigators to use the power of information gathered. As a cross-platform mobile application and desktop software, IMP does not limit users to one platform. Rather allows for a customizable environment, complimented by multiple suites for front line, investigators and supervisors.
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS ~ MULTIPLE SUITES ~ CUSTOMIZABLE TO YOUR AGENCY CROSS PLATFORM SOLUTION Designed for officers, investigators & supervisors IMP Patrol, IMP Investigator, IMP Supervisor Start e-notes on Android/iOS Finish e-notes on Windows PC Native Android/iOS/Windows
☑ ☑ ☑ ☑ ☑
SUPPORTING THE CROWN PROSECUTION BRAIDMARK® security (patent pending) Instant authentication of e-notes in court Transparency Full end-to-end encryption Security and data integrity
FULLY INTEGRATED WITH CAD & RMS Eliminates duplicate entries Import CAD call details Push e-notes to RMS from anywhere
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CENTRALIZED DATABASE Immediate access to e-notes by investigators/supervisors Search e-note database from anywhere Leverage the power of data. E-notes accessible in one location
.NET POWERED ADMINISTRATIVE PORTAL Supervisor, review, e-sign and comment on e-notes Export to PDF Compile case notes for investigators
FUTURE INTEGRATION Designed with open API’s for future integration Future integrations with CAD/RMS/DEMS systems Future integrations with court and Business Intelligence tools
☑ ☑ ☑
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intelligentmobilepatrol.com For a demo, contact: info@intelligentmobilepatrol.com
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November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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COVER STORY
Clothing and duty gear A 2021 tactical gear review
W
earing and using the right equipment can make all the difference in your day. Whether on or off duty, it is important to be comfortable yet also have the ability to be efficient. This past year, several companies have developed outstanding gear – both apparel and accessories – to make an officer’s day the best it can be. When you have the right gear, you can do your job much more efficiently than when you don’t.
comfortably, without sacrificing flexibility or mobility. And they look good doing it, too. Finding a shirt that is great for off duty time and also while at the range is a challenging task, but the LA Police Gear Combat Shirt might just fit the bill. Thick, yet breathable material makes this shirt a comfy choice for your outdoor excursions. Each sleeve has a zipper pocket and a spot for a moral patch. The material has just enough stretch that it moves with you.
Apparel
Good, solid footwear is key in the world of law enforcement. When you stand on your feet for hours on end at a call or crime scene, pursue a subject on foot, or any other strenuous activity on the job, what you put on your feet matters. Any seasoned officer will tell you that quality boots are crucial. LA Police Gear’s Sector 8” boots have been known to be the remedy for long shift fatigue; they offer not only a professional look, but are comfortable as well. With cushioned insoles to keep your dogs from barking after several hours on your feet, the Sector 8” Boot is cost effective too. The rubber outsoles feature a rugged tread that’s perfect for any rough terrain you may encounter on duty, or off. The side-zipper allows you to put them on in a hurry and
LA Police Gear’s BFE Stretch pants can carry everything an officer might need. Featuring a 10-pocket design, there is no limit to what you can take with you. The BFE pants deliver in every way: a high quality, tactical, cop friendly product, for less than a pair of jeans at the mall. The BFE pants are made from a blend of 67 per cent polyester and 33 per cent cotton, and they also feature two front pockets, two back pockets, two hip pockets (perfect for a rifle mag), two zip top cargo pockets with internal organizers, one deep, slender front pocket (perfect for a pistol magazine), and one handcuff key pocket built into the rear center belt loop. The stretchable fabric allows the officer to load up with all their gear and carry their firearm IWB
Fantastic footwear
LAPG Frunk Pack has several pockets, is expandable, and has an adjustable strap.
“When you have the right gear, you can do your job much more efficiently than when you don’t.” 12
BLUE LINE | November 2021
take them off just as fast when its finally time to relax. For tactical purposes, the 8” A/T boots have the same technology support as their A.T.L.A.S. boot line. They are water, slip, and oil resistant and are great for long hour wear, on duty or off. They are comfortable and hold up on the street and in rugged terrain. The A/T Trainers are equipped with mesh that is sturdy yet allows for airflow, so your feet stay fresh. These shoes are great for running and working out. The soles provide a nice cushion, so your feet will not tire. The tread is made from the same material, including the same pattern, as the A/T tactical boot so your shoes will not wear quickly. These are also flexible and light, making them ideal for working out so you can be in your best shape on or off duty. For strictly on-the-street purposes, the Norris sneaker is an ideal design. The sneaker is solid and feels like a tactical, duty boot to the touch, but wears like your favorite pair of sneakers or trainers. The Norris sneaker is equipped with Ortholite footbeds and rubber perfect for rough terrain. While wearing them you can tell they are durable shoes that will last and will protect your feet.
Firearms accessories and more
A shotgun can be a highly reliable solution for a variety of needs. Howwww.BlueLine.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: CHOKCHAIPOO / ADOBE STOCK
By Hilary Rodela and Brendan Rodela
ever, if there is one major complaint about shotguns, it is the ammo capacity they have or don’t. While the shotgun is a powerful weapon, and would likely be a one hit wonder in most scenarios, you can’t afford to let the weapon run empty on you. XS Sights, known mainly for their quality optics, also offers accessories for many firearms, including the 12ga. Remington 870 shotgun which provides a solution to this problem. The XS Sights Remington 870 Magazine +2 Extension and Detent Swage Tool Kit is a fast, inexpensive way to add capacity to your favorite shotgun. The kit includes the one piece magazine extension, a new spring that can be trimmed to the appropriate length, and the detent swage tool too. To assemble, after unloading, disassemble your shotgun by removing the mag tube cap, barrel, and spring. You’ll likely notice two dimples on the end of the magazine tube as well. If your magazine tube does not have these dimples, you can move straight to the next step in the process. In order for the extension to function, the shotgun shells must be able to move past those dimples, into the extension piece. In order to raise those dimples, clean the magazine tube, and apply a bit of oil to the detent swage tool to prepare. Simply insert the tool into the end of the magazine tube until it hits the dimples, and lightly tap it in with a hammer until @Blue_LineMag
“Women’s tactical wear is becoming more and more tailored to the female form, making clothing less baggy yet still professional. Men’s tactical apparel is being developed with materials that are even more durable than ever.”
8"
boots have been known to be the remedy for long shift fatigue
the shoulder of the tool is flush with the magazine tube. Next, remove the swage tool and trim the spring to the appropriate length (about 33”, or to your desired preference). Then re-attach the barrel, insert the spring, attach the extension and you’re ready to go. The Streamlight-TLR-6, Mounted Weapon Light was designed for smaller pistols and can enhance the use of an officer’s gun. After Brendan Rodela tried it out on his Sig Sauer P365 firearm, he saw it was easy to affix and it added to the gun without making it look or feel heavy. Officers will need a new holster, though, to accommodate the light. With 100 lumens, the light itself is bright and has a wide span, making it a great choice for any officer. The TLR-6 also includes a laser.
After Rodela tested the light on his firearm, he found it was easy to reach the laser switch. Rodela’s hands are small and usually this poses a challenge, however with the TLR-6 he was able to reach the switch comfortably and effectively. Finally, it has a long run time, approximately 11 hours, so officers will never be without light. The LA Police Gear Twist Angle Flashlight offers up to 750 lumens and has a long run time: up to 80 hours on the low setting. Made with durable, aerospace aluminum, it also has the ability to be angled so you can see into those hard-to-reach places. A magnetic charger that takes seconds to set up, also makes charging easy. The Twisted Angle flashlight also has a high, medium, low, and strobe function along with memory functions and locking capabilities. The LAPG Frunk Pack is another great item, especially for range day or off duty hiking. Don’t let its size fool you, it has more room than it appears, and it even has a removable holster. The pack has several pockets, is expandable, and has an adjustable strap. It can easily carry a backup firearm, extra magazines and anything else you may want to have with you.
Final notes
All of the items that were reviewed in this article were tested both on and off duty, and all passed the test. No matter what your need is or what your title is, there is gear for you. Women’s tactical wear is becoming more and more tailored to the female form, making clothing less baggy yet still professional. Men’s tactical apparel is being developed with materials that are even more durable than ever. Tactical wear is no longer bulky or cumbersome; it is lighter, stretchier, yet more rugged than ever before bringing all of the qualities you look for together.” Hilary Rodela has been a professional public safety writer for seven years, and is a licensed private investigator. Brendan Rodela is an active duty police officer and professional public safety writer.
November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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HOLDING THE LINE BY MICHELLE VINCENT
O
ne of the most powerful personal traits we can support during any mental health growth may be resilience, and many find that one of the most powerful aspects of resilience is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the belief that a person has the ability to be effective in their world and the world around them. The relationship between self-efficacy and resources, or more accurately, the knowing and confidence of availability of these resources, is what empowers our people. For example, having a trusted and respected peer support team is one example of a resource; feeling as though this team is accessible 24/7 would be another aspect to it. Another example of a resource is Edmonton Police’s Reintegration Program. Again, this resource is trusted and respected, as well as accessible 24/7, which is the key to the power of these resources. Educating our police service members in what these resources are, and how they may support us in our time of need, continues this powerful piece. When members understand what available resources exist within an organization and outside of an organization, as well as when they are best utilized, they are in the position as leaders to suggest these same resources to their teammates, should they see fit. When members are in distress or stressed, they may not remember what is available to them for support in that moment. Each one of us, regardless of our rank or position within the organization, has the opportunity to lead by recognizing when one of our work family may benefit from a particular resource – thus the importance of education. Resources are only useful (and should only be called resources) if they are accessible and effective. There can be two components to the experience of having these available, trusted resources. The 14
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first would be feeling valued, the second, feeling empowered. When our members feel valued, they are much more likely to trust the organization they are serving. They are less likely to be an organizational liability and are much more likely to be engaged in “common sense” while serving. When they feel valued and empowered, inspiration, passion and commitment to serving their community may be present in our members, along with pride in representing the organization they are serving. Let’s face it: when we believe and trust in the intentions of the organization, delivering policing services and responses to the community in a clear, positive and effective way are much more likely. Ensuring these resources are – and remain – trusted at all times is key in ensuring their efficacy. If your peer support team and/or Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team are comprised of individuals who are not trusted (for whatever the reason), valid or not, it is the experience of the members that will determine its efficacy. Reaching out to membership in a safe way to inquire about their experience of a particular resource, even if perceptual at the time—meaning that some may not have had the opportunity to utilize it—provides feedback of the actual power of the resource. This feedback important as the organization is dedicating time and financial
“Each one of us, regardless of our rank or position within the organization, has the opportunity to lead by recognizing when one of our work family may benefit from a particular resource – thus the importance of education.”
means to ensure its availability, and hopefully its efficacy. Leaders, be it high-ranking police, constable or civilian, must discuss the power of the resources available within their organization and within their communities. Have meaningful conversations with your colleagues, friends and family, network with your peers and, most importantly, always say yes to any opportunity that involves connecting with other organizations and any training that comes your way. If you can, attend the training/conferences regardless of whether the organization will pay. The learning, connection and sharing of resources is so powerful that the rewards will be unending in repayment. There is no dollar amount we can put on discovering an amazing resource and bringing it forth. I recently experienced this when I had the pleasure of watching York Regional Police (YRP) bring Edmonton Police’s Reintegration After Critical Incident and LongTerm Leave program into their organization. Back in 2015, I attended their training; I loved it so much and felt its powerful mental health impact on the EPS organization, so I attended it once again in 2017 on my own dollar and time. I then approached our Chief (at the time) and had many meetings with our staff Psychologist to have YRP implement this powerful resource. Today, because of so many who had inspiring conversations, it is now implemented. So, get excited, never give up and share any resource you see as amazing so your organization can have the most resilient, self-efficacious, valued and empowered members. Michelle Vincent is a retired York Regional Police officer and the founder of The Haven, Ontario’s first non-profit, inpatient treatment centre exclusive to first responders and uniform personnel. Contact her at michelle.vincent@thehaven.cloud.
www.BlueLine.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: PX MEDIA / ADOBE STOCK
The power of resources
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TECHNOLOGY
BY DEREK SNIDER
The future of policing technology
P
olice services across the country have postponed the use of mobility tech, even as nearly 90 per cent of Canadians carry smartphones that provide almost limitless information and communication capabilities in the palm of their hand. The need for police services to embrace mobile technologies in order to provide a higher level of public safety and well-being, and to enhance officer safety, is so abundantly clear that many services are now investigating it. What they are finding is that, while the benefits of the innovative technologies are immense, the cost and complexity of these large projects are also significant. Few services want to be early adopters at a time when police budgets are facing extreme scrutiny. Peel Regional Police (PRP) has embarked on a three-year plan to roll out mobile technologies to front-line officers to make them more effective and safer. It’s a large, complex roadmap that will hopefully pave the way for other services to launch their own mobile journey. PRP’s Director of Information Technology Services, Tony Ventura, offered his thoughts on this topic.
Five steps to creating and implementing a mobile strategy 1. Start planning yesterday
It is one of worst kept secrets in policing that police technology is many years out of date – but no one wanted to go first. Technology is not cheap or easy to implement. You can’t just buy a bunch of smartphones and call that a mobile technology deployment. The PRP built a mobility initiative into its 10-year capital plan that includes not just the cost of buying and installing the equipment, but also the cost of paying for annual licenses, cellular services, future developments, and upkeep.
2. Define your purpose
Saying technology would be “nice to have” is not a legitimate purpose. PRP has been committed to implementing body-worn cameras (BWCs) for a long time; now, pairing BWCs with smart phones creates enormous benefits. It enables officers and investigators to review video in the field right after it’s been recorded; to tag relevant video evidence for easy retrieval; to record 16
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Director of Information Technology Services, Tony Ventura PHOTO CREDIT: PEEL REGIONAL POLICE
victim and witness statements while they are fresh, along with supporting video evidence such as injuries or damaged property. Almost every front-line officer has responded to a call for service, only to have that victim decline to testify at a later date. With digitally stored videos and records, the evidence is preserved and accessible. Using the old system, many police services have storerooms with 20 years’ worth of paper notebooks that hold oceans of information that are mostly inaccessible.
“The last 30 years have produced the greatest boon in technological innovation, perhaps ever. Yet, some technology has barely changed within many police services.”
see what they wanted and needed. They had a lot of good ideas that the PRP hadn’t considered. A small one that’s important to officers is the ability to access a shared calendar to manage their schedules on the fly. The biggest thing everyone wanted was the ability to query names. They want to know quickly and easily when doing a traffic stop or investigating a crime whether a vehicle is stolen, or a person is wanted. They need that type of information quickly for their safety and that of their community.
4. Be flexible, responsive
The PRP started with the pilot project using Android phones. Later, they did an audit of their members and found that about 80 per cent of them used Apple iOS phones in their personal lives. Rather than retrain the vast majority of the PRP members on a new technology, they switched to iOS. In the end, officer preference was the biggest factor in their choice.
5. Continue planning, anticipate issues and spending
The PRP expected that deploying all these phones to police who often work in challenging conditions would require a lot of repairs and replacements. They were surprised by how low the breakage was. In six months, there was one break in about 2,000 phones. Police services have to anticipate their total cost of ownership over the life of the phone. Deploying mobile technology is not a one-time, pig-in-a-python expense. There are ongoing expenses, especially if you properly use your system as a platform for continuous improvement.
- Anthony Odoardi, Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief, Innovation & Technology Why do it?
The PRP has enabled officer-to-officer communication, which couldn’t happen before without a dispatcher relaying messages. With the new system, an officer searching for a missing child can connect directly with other officers and coordinate the search.
3. Use experts, but also involve the users
PRP engaged PWC Consulting to advise them on the foundational work needed, but they also did focus groups with officers to
PRP leadership’s vision is to enable one of the most innovative and effective police services in the world. You can’t maximize public safety and well-being, or officer safety, or provide 21st century policing, using 20th century tools. We live in a mobile society and modern policing must reflect that. The returns far outweigh the cost, assuming you prioritize your initiatives and plan and implement these essential tools in a smart and thoughtful way. Derek Snider is the Manager of Corporate Communications for Peel Regional Police.
www.BlueLine.ca
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES
BY PETER COLLINS AND DILNAZ GARDA
The healing power of literature: This is your mind on Leonard Cohen
PHOTO CREDIT: PING198 / ADOBE STOCK
I
n the popular Emmy-winning television show, Ted Lasso, the main protagonist is an American College football coach, from a second-tier division, who is hired to coach an English Premier League that is facing relegation. Regarded by the owner and players as incompetent, he slowly wins over all his detractors with his folksy optimism. In an early season one episode, he gifts a book, individually chosen for each and every one of his players that will address their individual shortcomings and serve as an inspiration. The healing power of the word, through literature, has been recognized since ancient times. Above the library entrance in the ancient Greek city of Thebes, was the inscription that the building was a ‘healing place for the soul’. The term Bibliotherapy first appeared in a 1916 article in Atlantic Magazine. According to a 2015 New Yorker magazine article written by short-story author, Ceridwen Dovey, after World War I, traumatized soldiers were often ‘prescribed’ a course of reading to help them heal. In Britain, books authored by Jane Austen were highly recommended for the same purpose, and librarians in the United States were trained as to what reading to recommend to the returning soldiers. In 2013, Berthoud and Elderkin published a book entitled The Novel Cure: An A-Z of Literary Remedies, written in the style of a medical dictionary that matched ailments, ranging from abandonment to zestlessness, with 751 suggested ‘reading cures’. Berthoud and Elderkin believe that a novel is a collection of experiences transmitted from the mind of one to the mind of another. As well as offering a way to unwind and to learn about life as a distraction, entertainment and diversion literature can be much more powerful. A novel, or short story, read at the right time in one’s life can – quite literally – change it. This belief is supported by science. In 2013, Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University, published an analysis of 86 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies. He concluded that there was substantial overlap in the brain networks used to understand stories and the networks used to navigate interactions with other individuals — in particular, inter@Blue_LineMag
actions in which we’re trying to figure out the thoughts and feelings of others. Scientists refer to this capacity of the brain to construct a map of other people’s intentions as ‘theory of mind’. Dr. Mar, in collaboration with University of Toronto’s Dr. Keith Oatley, discovered that individuals who frequently read literature seem to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and see the world from their perspective. This relationship persisted even after the researchers accounted for the possibility that more empathetic individuals might prefer reading novels. The psychiatrist, Dr. Norman Rosenthal, published a book entitled Poetry Rx. He believes poetry can act as a kind of medicine. Rosenthal said, “Although all literature can console, there is something about great poetry – its rhythms and cadences, its consciousness and brilliance – that has a power and charm all its own.” The book has 50 poems suggested by Rosenthal under the categories of loving and losing; responses to nature; aspects of the human experience; living in a search for meaning; and the last phase of life. A poem I always found to be inspirational also became the namesake for the Invictus Games first held in London, England, in 2014. These games are the Olympic Games for wounded warriors. The word ‘invictus’ means unconquered, and it was chosen because it embodies the fighting spirit of wounded, injured and ill veterans, and personifies what these tenacious men and women can achieve post injury. The poem, Invictus, was written by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903). To me it means never give up:
“Out of the night that covers me Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. “In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. “Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. “It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul.” During these tough pandemic times, literature can be therapeutic for anyone. Try it.
References
1. Dovey, C. (2015) Can Reading Make You Happier? New Yorker Magazine, 9 June 2015. 2. Berthoud, E. & Elderkin, S. (2013) The Novel Cure – an A-Z of literary remedies. Toronto: Penguin Random House. 3. Rosenthal, N. (2021) Poetry Rx – how fifty inspiring poems can heal and bring joy to your life. Old Saybrook, Connecticut: Gildan Media. Dr. Peter Collins is the operational forensic psychiatrist with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section. He is also a member of the crisis/ hostage negotiation team of the Toronto Police Service Emergency Task Force. Dr. Collins’ opinions are his own. Contact him at peter.collins@utoronto.ca Dilnaz Garda is the President of Canada Beyond the Blue and the head of the English Department at a high school with the York Region Board of Education.
November 2021 | BLUE LINE
17
PSYCHOLOGY
By Scott Easto
T
he nature of policing includes, but is not limited to, being called to intervene in disputes that inherently put police officers in the midst of a clash. Managing disputes and understanding the relationship between conflict and misconduct is essential in assisting police organizations in their professionalism, keeping complaints down and maintaining public support. Police agencies routinely conduct investigations into complaints and accusations of misconduct. These are almost always classified as non-professional behavior, or a mistake that requires disciplinary 18
BLUE LINE | November 2021
action—not the type of corruption or organized criminal behavior that people see on TV. Sometimes there are allegations of abuse of authority or excessive force that garnish a lot of media attention. In “Animals many incidents, once the dust threatened by settles, the media provides infora member of mation that the suspect had their own resisted the officer. With that inspecies will formation, the officer’s subsequent ‘posture’ in behavior, including apparent misresponse conduct, may be explained. to the threat/ What many people cannot conflict before understand is that confrontation submitting or between people, including police fleeing.” officers to different degrees, causes a stress reaction, which is a cortisol dump into the bloodstream that affects the behavior of both a suspect and the officer. Confrontational stress arouses the sympathetic nervous system within a
person. The degree of arousal depends on the suddenness and perceived severity of the threat; and may differ from person to person depending on factors such as their confidence level, physical and/or mental abilities, experience and training. Some arousal is helpful in physical encounters, but too much can be detrimental. Arousal can, in extreme cases, cause temporary loss of higher thought processes as the ‘primitive’ midbrain takes over for survival and the ‘flight, fight or freeze’ response kicks in. Actions of officers that appear to be misconduct are often knowingly being captured on video, yet the officer continues in their actions without thought to the potential consequences. This may be because they are caught up in the www.BlueLine.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: TOM WANG / ADOBE STOCK
Posturing and misconduct
stresses of the situation and believe erroneously that they have the authority and are right in doing what they are doing. It is quite likely ‘posturing’ that is occurring, something that is common animal behavior in intraspecies conflict.
What is posturing?
Animals threatened by a member of their own species will ‘posture’ in response to the threat or conflict before submitting or fleeing. As posturing occurs prior to and during the conflict, it often determines how a conflict is resolved and is an important process of intraspecies conflict for police to understand. Picture two animals of the same species squaring off to exert their will over the other; this generally happens over food, territory or a mate. They will stomp the ground, make threatening noises, bare their teeth, snarl, strut, and their fur will stand on end (piloerection), so they look ‘bigger and badder’. The purpose of this display is to intimidate the other into backing off, submitting and establishing a pecking order or hierarchy in the social group. If a fight does occur, it is not usually to the death, but the winner may impress their dominance onto the loser to teach them a lesson, put down further challenges and firmly establish their hierarchal position. An unprofessional example of humans posturing would be an officer ‘teaching a suspect a lesson’ to impress on them not to run again after a foot chase. It is not right, and to limit this behavior it is important to understand the physiological, social and psychological reasons posturing occurs. People posture in many ways to let others know not to mess with them. Gang colours, tattoos, clothing and hairstyles can be considered pre-emptive posturing. Police are given powers to enforce rules and like others with similar authority, their authority is clearly identified. They wear clearly marked uniforms, wear their badge, carry weapons, and drive police cars with police lighting and markings; all are signs of their social authority. Marked police vehicles arriving at a disturbance may be enough to send the participants fleeing; for that reason, police presence is recognized and incorporated into ‘use of force’ models. When an officer exerts their authority over another person, the conflict and posturing has begun. The person may recognize the officer’s authority, submit and comply, or not, and @Blue_LineMag
“Managing disputes and understanding the relationship between conflict and misconduct is essential in assisting police organizations in their professionalism, keeping complaints down and maintaining public support.” the situation/conflict could escalate. Posturing by both parties may involve verbal threats or physical displays of violence. What kind of verbal exchange has been witnessed during arrests? Is there Tac Com, swearing, threats, ultimatums? How much of it is used to intimidate the other into submitting? This is part of the posturing. The person who chooses not to flee challenges the officer’s authority. The resulting stresses from this conflict are arousing both parties’ sympathetic nervous system. The officer will be assessing the suspect, using available information of how the suspect looks and acts to help decide the necessary use of force. The suspect assesses the officer’s abilities and professionalism based on cues, including stance, confidence, voice, communication, tactics, equipment, clothing and apparent fitness level. In these confrontations, both the officer and the subject assess each other while they posture. The posturing continues throughout the conflict until the conflict has ended. When conflict is created by a subject not complying with police, in addition to doing their job, there is a subconscious motivation for the officer to establish their authority, confirming their hierarchal and social position. It is an afront to their authority and social standing to have someone disobey them or worse, resist arrest. To ensure survival of the species, animals of the same species do not usually fight to the death. To make sure that they are not challenged again, the winner will impress their dominance onto the loser, firmly establishing their hierarchal position—and teaching them a lesson. ‘Teaching a lesson’ can be part of the posturing that occurs during conflict with the police. This drive is animal behaviour, and we are influenced by its motivators. The drive to use authority to teach a lesson needs to be guarded against by police or any person in a position of authority. Using as much force as necessary does not include ‘teaching a lesson’ or impressing on the suspect who is boss. This is where an officer can get into trouble, letting these animal drives/instincts take over,
not thinking objectively, trying to ‘teach a lesson’ by saying things or doing things that amount to misconduct, that we often see reported by the media. Understanding conflict behavior has led to training police personnel to fall back and objectively assess situations during police pursuits. Creating distance decreases the impact of the confrontational stress, which in turn decreases the heart rate and allows for better control over other sympathetic nervous responses, ultimately giving time to think more objectively so that the officer does not get too wrapped up in the chase. That objectivity allows the officer to better assess the situation and resist the drive to stop the vehicle and make the arrest (establishing social hierarchy, dominance, etc.) at the expense of public safety. The same thing happens during the stress of personal conflict, and it should be handled in the same way. Be objective, assess your actions, ask yourself what is driving your behavior. Are you acting out of necessity or emotion? Are you posturing during conflict in a manner that would get you into trouble? This explanation for conflict behavior is not an excuse for being unprofessional or committing any form of misconduct, it is simply another lens to understand some behavior. Policing organizations should provide awareness training to officers so they understand how conflict affects them, and how to deal with the effects of conflict so they can maintain professionalism. Training in tactics that keep officers objective during the conflict of a fail to stop or pursuit situation has decreased the number of police pursuits and increased public safety. Similarly, training to deal with the stressors of intrapersonal conflict can lower incidents of misconduct during arrests and lead to increase public support of the police. Scott Easto is a retired police officer who served with the Brantford Police Service from 1981 to 2014. His career included work in patrol and community services, with a heavy emphasis on training. He retired at the rank of Inspector with responsibilities of professional standards, accreditation, media relations and planning.
November 2021 | BLUE LINE
19
HEALTH & WELLNESS BY ISABELLE SAUVE
I
t is hard to establish how childhood experience will impact someone in the future. A common experience can have a strikingly dissimilar effect on each individual involved. Some may have lived seemingly negative episodes in the first years of their existence that somehow become enriching and allows them to grow stronger as a result. For others, the same experiences or environment leaves a traumatic toll with multiple negative and long-lasting consequences on their adult life. Highly targeted, The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study was the first large-scale endeavor to examine the impact of child abuse and related adverse childhood experiences on subsequent physical health and mental health. The ACE Study examined the relationship amongst ten categories of adversity experienced in childhood and wellness outcomes into adulthood. The ACE categories included various forms of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction experienced in childhood: physical abuse; sexual abuse; verbal abuse; physical neglect, emotional neglect, an immediate family member who is depressed or diagnosed with other mental illness; an immediate family member who is addicted to alcohol or another substance; an immediate family member who is incarcerated; witnessing a parent being abused; and, losing a parent to separation, divorce or other reason. Later studies have expanded ACE to include gender discrimination, racism, witnessing a sibling being abused, witnessing violence outside the home, being bullied, involvement with the foster care system, living in a war zone and living in an unsafe neighborhood. A striking correlative relationship was discovered between the degree of traumatic exposure and future physical, as well as psychological, health. From a law enforcement perspective, and particularly from a recruitment and management standpoint, the results can be utilized to further understand how past traumatic events affect not only those whom we serve; but perhaps more importantly, how police applicants and current members may themselves have been impacted. The understanding of the potential significant long-term impact of early traumatic episodes can allow us to gain a better insight into how one reacts to situations 20
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“In law enforcement, understanding that ACE are common can allow deeper understanding of some of the challenges people at calls for service, or fellow co-coworkers, may be facing.” and challenges today. It also provides a window into what approach may be most appropriate and effective when interacting with individuals who have experienced traumatic childhood events. The results of the ACE study drew a clear link between the experience of childhood trauma and future social and psychological adjustment and well-being. The study also underscored the impact of trauma on human development and behavior. The results indicated experiencing these ACE in childhood could trigger interacting stress response systems such as the metabolic regulatory, cardiovascular and immune systems. Toxic stress resulting from ACE can have a permanent detrimental impact on a child’s brain development and its function. ACE have been linked to various mental and physical health issues including depression, suicide attempts, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disease and even premature death. When ACE are experienced multiple times, especially in the absence of supportive adult relationships to act as a protective buffer, these negative events are more likely to trigger excessive and enduring stress responses. Astonishingly, the study recognizes that ACE are quite common. A projection of the study estimates that more than two-thirds
of the population could report having dealt with at least one ACE. It also projects that nearly a quarter of the adult population may have endured three or more ACE. The findings bring implications for our medical and mental health systems. Furthermore, from a first responder standpoint, these statistics have a significant and widespread ripple effect. In law enforcement, understanding that ACE are common can allow deeper understanding of some of the challenges people at calls for service, or fellow co-coworkers, may be facing. Understanding that exposure to adverse situations at a vulnerable – and relatively helpless – stage of life can pre-dispose individuals to future physical/ mental health issues permits greater compassion. It also allows for the most appropriate and effective measure to be taken based on the situation, such as adopting a trauma-informed approach to prevent re-traumatization through our interactions. Having some comprehension of where another person is coming from allows for a greater connection and to have a greater impact. Having insight that early childhood trauma is linked to adult mental and physical wellness can allow frontline members to assist in providing protective buffers to children who have experienced one or more ACE. As the saying goes: “it takes a village to raise a child”. Law enforcement employees have the opportunity to make a difference and to seize opportunities to play an educational role when engaged in various situations. It would be interesting for future studies to shed light on whether or not some degree of exposure to ACE during childhood may offer some protective factors and may contribute to resiliency. Perhaps frontline workers who have had some degree of exposure to adverse events early on in their lives are now more protected against the impact of trauma on the job. Research findings can offer a wealth of knowledge and evidence-based opportunities and should be used to make our police services more effective and robust. Isabelle Sauvé is a 14-year veteran with the OPP, and currently the new Psychological Services Advisor in the OPP’s Healthy Workplace Bureau. She has a MA in psychology and is a PhD candidate. She is also an ultramarathon/endurance athlete and the Racing the Planet/4 Deserts 2018 Series winner as well as a Guinness World record holder. She can be contacted at: isabelle.sauve@hotmail.com.
www.BlueLine.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: LOREANTO / ADOBE STOCK
Being dealt an ACE
MENTAL HEALTH
Limiting sleep disorders among police officers By Brittani Schroeder
the stress of being exposed to intense, violent and/or traumatic situations as part of their role.
Reducing sleep disorderrelated problems
PHOTO CREDIT: TEROVESALAINEN / ADOBE STOCK
S
leep problems affect the vast majority of police officers. In fact, nearly 60 per cent of police officers experience clinically significant insomnia (Angehrn), which is five times higher than the general population (Roth; Ford, Kamerow). Most people are unclear as to what constitutes insomnia and how to address it. To answer these questions, Blue Line approached HALEO Clinic, a virtual care clinic specializing in sleep whose experts have developed a new approach to treating sleep disorders. As Dr. Marie-Helene Favreau, HALEO’s medical director, explained, “Insomnia can be defined as having trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings or waking up too early in the morning. It qualifies as a chronic condition when any of these symptoms reoccur at least three times a week, for three months or more. That’s when we start witnessing negative impacts on our physical and psychological health, along with increased risks of developing serious chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression.” Police officers deal with a much higher prevalence of sleep disorders mainly due to their shift work schedules, but it is also related to @Blue_LineMag
55% of police officers in Canada are diagnosed with chronic sleep disorders
To reduce the problems associated with sleep disorders, even for those with severe conditions and shift work sleep disorders, unique protocols have been created. One such protocol was developed for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i), delivered by highly trained healthcare professionals through a virtual care platform. For Julien Heon, vice-president at HALEO Clinic, whose wife is a police officer in Montréal, ensuring access to high-quality care for sleep problems is a serious, yet unmet need. “CBT-i has been very difficult to access; there are very few trained experts in North America, and the waiting lists are extremely long. The traditional protocols are also quite long, with programs usually ranging from eight to 12 weeks. That’s why it was so important to develop a fiveweek program, delivered via video-conference through a mobile app. In other words, there’s now a trained sleep expert in every town, coast to coast, with no waiting list.” The program is also designed for organizations looking to support employee health, safety and performance. Employers are provided with a suite of communication and program reporting tools, while their employees can enter the clinic on their own by completing a short, clinically validated online questionnaire to evaluate their sleep, or by downloading the HALEO app. “Recently, we attended the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Québec Association of Chiefs of Police Annual meetings, and the interest level from most departments in the country is extremely high,” said Heon.
Sleep disorders in police officers
Studies have routinely shown that sleep disorders significantly reduce the ability of police officers to make the right decision quickly, and they have also proven to increase absenteeism, workplace accidents, disability, and medication cost for organizations. Furthermore, those same individuals will be dealing with more irritable moods, fatigue, and anxiety and depression symptoms that will heavily impact their personal lives as well. “We are helping individuals who have been struggling with their sleep for 10 or more years, who have concluded that they could never have good sleep again or have tried everything, including medication and other techniques,” Heon continued. One patient, Louis Moffatt, a lieutenant-detective with 20+ years of service stated, “The program quickly changed my ability to sleep well, for seven or more hours, without any medication. I could see an impact on my ability to perform at my best on the job while also being the best dad for my kids when I get home—both aspects that were heavily impaired when I was struggling with my sleep. I am a high performer, and not being able to sleep properly was challenging. I’d recommend the program to any peer who wants to improve their sleep”.
References 1.
2.
3.
Angehrn, A et al. Sleep Quality and Mental Disorder Symptoms among Canadian Public Safety Personnel. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020. Roth, T. New developments for treating sleep disorders. J Clin Psychiatry, 2001, 62, 3–4. Ford, D, Kamerow, D. Epidemiologic Study of Sleep Disturbances and Psychiatric Disorders: An Opportunity for Prevention?
November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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TRAINING
De-escalation and managing heightened emotions By Steven Poplawski
T
raditionally, police training primarily focuses on gaining compliance from a person, while ensuring the safety of all involved. The goal of the process is 'subject compliance'. Once safety is established, the need to achieve compliance is placed first in the process of de-escalation and the management of emotional escalation. With the focus of the interaction on achieving this goal, the personal or human needs of the person would be placed further down the line. Officers can convey options, speak to consequences of non-compliance and deliver education regarding the rules and laws surrounding the issue. While the professional need of subject compliance is important to this process, what is often missed or placed at the end of the interaction is the person themself. Through proper training, a service approach to de-escalation is recommended, focusing first on the human needs and the physiology of the person. When and how should officers deal with the human needs of the person they are attempting to de-escalate? Can addressing human needs help avoid escalation before it starts? 22
BLUE LINE | November 2021
Personal vs. professional needs
Imagine a person driving a vehicle and they have just come over the top of a hill. On their right they see a police cruiser and realize they were exceeding the speed limit. Flashing lights emerge in their rearview mirror and they pull over. The officer appears at the window and asks, “Do you know how fast you were going?” This is a typical example of how professional needs are placed ahead of human needs; the focus goes immediately to the speeding offence instead of the driver. In this case, the driver is likely experiencing stress and emotions as a result of being pulled over. There is likely fear relating to the potential ticket costs and the increased car insurance associated. In most cases, there would be overall anxiety as a result of being pulled over, and this fear might even cause a physiological response like increased heart rate, lack of focus and/or sweating. Emotions are primed and elevated, simply by the situation they find themself in.
Human needs first
Based on advancements of research and training, there is a new model of training for
de-escalation that places the human needs of the person directly after the establishment of safety. In the example provided, the officer should first focus on the person and their immediate human needs before addressing any speed violations. The officer should employ the professional tools of personalization and validation prior to the discussion of speed limits. In this modern process, the officer needs to assess if the person is ready to receive the information that they are about to deliver. It cannot be assumed that because you are talking with someone, they are listening. Unless the human factors have been addressed, it is likely that the person’s fear of the situation is preventing any real communication and understanding between them. The physiological stress response they are experiencing is real and can directly lead to escalated emotions.
Establishing trust as a priority
Research in human behaviour indicates that trust is achieved by first focusing on the person and their direct needs. We need to remember that professional goals are the officer’s own goals in this situation. The importance they place on them may not be shared by the person they are interacting with. The person will likely not be interested in the seatbelt program that is currently being enforced or the speed complaint that led the officer to their current location. Initially, the driver will be viewing the event from their own point of view and will be more concerned about the cost of the impending fine. Trust is established through the officer’s acknowledgement of the person’s human needs and a genuine effort to address them. If compliance is beign sought after, why would someone do that if trust has not yet been established? Until a human connection is made, the officer is viewed through a lens of authority. The focus is on the uniform instead of the officer themselves. The person’s attention is on “what’s going to happen to me?”. If the officer takes a few moments at the beginning of the encounter to establish themself as a person, and acknowledge their www.BlueLine.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: THIRDKEY / ADOBE STOCK
Evidence-based training developed through applied research and real-world application
human needs, there can be greater results in lowering emotions. An officer can present their own name and acknowledge that they are aware that being pulled over can be stressful for some people. In doing this, the officer has 'normalized' the emotions the driver is experiencing. The simple act of acknowledging their situation can build trust and allow the officer to move forward with the professional needs. The stage for real communication is being set by first letting the person know they are seen and that their concerns will be heard. The process will be one that the officer and driver work through together. Agreement is not required in order to make a meaningful connection. The process of real human connection is the point, and it still allows for enforcement when appropriate.
Focus on acceptance
When it comes to de-escalation, compliance can always be achieved. The application of force will ultimately gain compliance. Force, however, is not easily accepted by the public, and although necessary at times, needs
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to be reduced and eliminated when possible. In placing human needs first, the focus of attention needs to be on gaining acceptance. Acceptance leads to compliance. When we apply professional techniques like validation, we are showing the other person that we are willing to see them as a person. Officers can focus on a process that brings both people together, and working towards understanding and acceptance. In the speeding example provided, it would be better if the officer were able to convey to the driver why speed enforcement is happening, and how the speed enforcement is there to protect the public. If acceptance of this fact is established, then long term compliance will be achieved. From a human perspective, the goal of de-escalation is to gain 'voluntary' acceptance and compliance of what must be done. It is through acceptance that lasting compliance is achieved.
needs of the person first. In following this process, officers are first focused on making genuine human connections with the people they serve, before addressing any professional needs. Strict enforcement is not the goal; acceptance of the law and the enforcement initiative is. It’s only when we establish trust with the person that real communication occur, and provide the opportunity for acceptance. Emotional reactivity and escalation are more likely to occur when there is a sense of disconnect. When the safety needs are met, focus on the person first, build that connection and establish trust, and then you will be in a good position to deal with the professional needs of the day. Steven Poplawski, BA, is a retired Senior Constable, and is now an Instructor and Research Assistant. Having worked in policing for over 20 years, Poplawski has always been involved in the training and education of law enforcement professionals. He has provided training in defensive tactics, Reality Based Training, firearms and many other areas through his role as a certified Police Use of Force Instructor in the Province of Ontario.
Acknowledging human needs
The path of enforcement and compliance must begin with acknowledging the human
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2021-10-13 9:57 AM
CASE LAW
BY MIKE NOVAKOWSKI
Tracking a cell phone without a warrant justified by exigencies
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BLUE LINE | November 2021
“[T]he police can act without prior judicial authorization where there exists an imminent threat to police safety or public safety, or in circumstances where there exists a risk of imminent loss or destruction of evidence.” - Associate Chief Justice Fairburn him. Even though the woman may have been safe, Bakal had a history of violence, demonstrated assaultive behavior that night, had a firearm when he assaulted his girlfriend, and left with it in the waistband of his pants. From this, the judge inferred Bakal was prepared to use the gun on short notice. As for the initial search of the vehicle, the trial judge found the searching officer subjectively believed he was entitled to search the vehicle incident to the
assault arrest, and it was objectively reasonable in the circumstances to do so. The judge noted that finding a firearm “may well have been evidence to corroborate” what the woman said happened in the bedroom and therefore bolster her credibility. Bakal was convicted of multiple drug and firearm offences and was sentenced to six years in prison. Bakal appealed his convictions, arguing that his s. 8 Charter rights protecting him from unreasonable search and seizure had been violated when the police, without a warrant, tracked his cell phone and searched his vehicle following his arrest. First, he submitted there were no exigent circumstances amounting to an immediate risk of danger to justify the warrantless tracking of his cell phone. His girlfriend was safe and in police protection at the time the pinging occurred. Second, he contended that the scope of the search incident to arrest power was limited to evidence necessary to prove the offence and did not extend to include searches for “collateral evidence”. www.BlueLine.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: VALMEDIA / ADOBE STOCK
O
ntario’s highest court has upheld the warrantless 'pinging' of a cell phone to track the whereabouts of a domestic assault suspect who left the scene with a handgun in his waistband. In R. v. Bakal, 2021 ONCA 584 a woman called 911 at about 3 a.m. to report that she had just been assaulted by the accused (her boyfriend). The woman told police that Bakal had banged her head against the bedroom wall several times, pushed her onto the bed, and choked her with both hands. She said Bakal had left the apartment with a handgun in the waistband of his pants. The gun, which Bakal always carried with him, had been on the bedside table during the assault. While he had not specifically threatened her with the gun on this occasion, he had had done so in the past and the woman “didn’t want to get shot”. Bakal had taken a suitcase containing the woman’s belongings with him when he left. She did not know where he went but provided his cell phone number. As a result of the information obtained from the 911 call and police attendance, a Major Crime Unit investigator opined that the situation was urgent, and it was critical for public safety that Bakal be located as quickly as possible. The investigator contacted Bakal’s cell phone service provider and asked that the cell phone be pinged in order to locate its geographic location. Based on this pinging, Bakal’s vehicle was located and stopped by a different police department, and he was arrested for assault. An officer then searched the vehicle incident to arrest and found suitcases in the back, one containing women’s clothing, and a vacuum-sealed package of cocaine in a hidden compartment in the trunk. The search was stopped and a telewarrant was obtained to search further. Police then located two loaded handguns with serial numbers removed, hidden in a locked compartment in the center console of the vehicle. Bakal was charged with numerous firearm and drug-related offences. At his trial in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the judge found exigent circumstances justified the warrantless tracking of Bakal’s cell phone in an effort to locate
Warrantless tracking ('pinging')
Although the police normally need prior authorization to track a cell phone, Associate Chief Justice Fairburn, speaking for a two member majority, concluded that the trial judge did not err in finding that the warrantless tracking of Bakal’s cell phone was justified on the basis of the common law exigent circumstances doctrine. “[This warrantless search doctrine’s] singular purpose is to accommodate those situations where the state can forgo obtaining prior judicial authorization because of the urgency of the matter at hand,” she said. “In particular, the police can act without prior judicial authorization where there exists an imminent threat to police safety or public safety, or in circumstances where there exists a risk of imminent loss or destruction of evidence.” In this case, the police decision to track Bakal’s phone met the exigent circumstances requirement:
“The police are charged with the responsibility of protecting the community’s safety. To this end, what the police knew was that the [accused] had just violently assaulted his girlfriend on a bed while his firearm lay next to them. The police had been informed that the [accused] had a history of violence, including previously threatening his girlfriend with his gun. They also knew that he had left this highly volatile situation with his firearm in the waistband of his pants. It is against that factual backdrop that the trial judge concluded that the concerns over public safety were well-founded.” [para. 25] Moreover, even if the police could have obtained a tracking warrant under s. 492.1 of the Criminal Code, they “would have been hard pressed to obtain one in the less than three hours that transpired between when it became clear that the [accused] had to be located and when he
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was actually located a few hundred kilometres away.”
Warrantless vehicle search
The majority rejected the submission that the warrantless search of the vehicle exceeded the scope of a proper search incident to arrest. First, the firearm was more than evidence that would merely corroborate the woman’s version of events. “To be clear, the firearm was not some benign object lying on the bedside table where the complainant was being choked,” said Fairburn. “Rather, it was a deadly weapon that she had been previously threatened with and that she was afraid may actually be used during the violent assault … The firearm was very clearly part and parcel of the offence, part of the physical and psychological domination taking place during the assault. While it was not 'used' in the sense of being pointed at the complainant during the assault, it was plainly 'related' to the assault and would be entirely relevant at a later trial for assault. It
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would also be entirely relevant to any sentencing proceeding that may ensue were the [accused] to be convicted. Therefore, it was not merely corroborative of the complainant’s account, but fundamentally linked to the offence.” Second, even if the firearm was only 'collateral' in nature – serving only to bolster the complainant’s credibility – the search incident to arrest doctrine applied. Here, the searching officer said he searched the vehicle to discover evidence and, in doing so, the officer was not limited “to searching only for evidence that is admissible at trial as going to prove an element of the offence.” As Fairburn stated: “… [T]he common law does not expect the police to ask themselves pristine questions about the elements of an offence and how what they are looking for might tie into those elements. Nor does the common law expect the police to consider complicated questions of admissibility. “Rather, the common law requires the
police to ask whether the search is ‘truly incidental’ to the arrest in question. At the end of the day, what is required is that the police can clearly explain why they did what they did and how it was connected to the arrest. On that basis, an after-the-fact reviewer will be able to determine whether a ‘valid purpose connected to the arrest’ was being pursued and, if so, whether it was ‘objectively reasonable’ in the circumstances.” [references omitted, paras. 59-60] Since the officer had lawful grounds to search the vehicle incident to arrest, Bakal’s s. 8 Charter rights were not violated during the search of the vehicle.
A different view
Although Justice Paciocco agreed with the majority that the exigent circumstances doctrine justified the warrantless tracking of Bakal’s cell phone, he found the search of the motor vehicle incident to the arrest was unlawful. In his view, based on the evidence presented during the Charter voir dire , “the
Crown failed to establish that either the searching officer … or the directing officer … had an objectively reasonable basis linking the handgun to the assault.” Nor could the search be upheld on the basis that the officer was conducting a search for other offence-related evidence when he found the handgun. “There was no reasonable basis for believing that evidence linked to the assault, such as the female clothing [the searching officer] referred to, would have been secreted inside a hidden compartment,” said Paciocco. As a result, opening the hidden compartments incident to Bakal’s arrest for assault was unlawful. But Paciocco would nevertheless have admitted the evidence – including the handguns and cocaine – under s. 24(2) of the Charter. Bakal’s appeal was ultimately dismissed.
Mike Novakowski is Blue Line’s case law columnist.
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OFF THE SHELF 10-33: An Officer Down Steps Back Up
10-33 – the portable radio code every police officer dreads. “Officer down.”
ON NOVEMBER 27, 1998, Laurie White, in her third year as a constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was that “Officer down.” Shot in the line of duty, Laurie had to have her right leg amputated below the knee. 10-33 – An Officer Down Steps Back Up is an inspiring memoir revealing her struggles to adjust to her new normal while working to return to active duty with the RCMP.
In this memoir, author Laurie White shares her physical, emotional, and psychological struggles, while making inspiring observations based on life experiences as a person with a disability, a first responder with post-traumatic stress disorder, and as a single parent. White’s experiences inform her belief that emotions resulting from pain, loss, grief, and trauma are highly relatable, and transcend individual circumstances. This memoir describes how facing our struggles with humility and humour can help us to overcome adversity and build resilience. Readers will learn that sharing vulnerabilities and challenges can create unique opportunities for personal growth, increased awareness, and higher levels of empathy. White shares her journey in an authentic way so that others facing adversity realize they are not alone in their ongoing struggles to achieve and maintain physical and mental health.
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White is a graduate of Brock University and the University of Ottawa, as well as the RCMP Training Academy (“Depot”). She lives in British Columbia with her children, Rachel and Brett, and their dog, Molly.
An Officer Down Steps Back Up
Laurie White
ISBN 9781039115736
9 781039 115736
LAURIE WHITE served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from 1996 to 2020, when she retired as a sergeant. She survived a gunshot while attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence of an alleged sex offender in Kitimat, British Columbia. Her injuries were so severe that her right leg had to be amputated below the knee. Laurie successfully returned to her RCMP post after only ten months of rehabilitation, likely becoming the first police officer in Canadian history to have returned to full, unrestricted policing duties with an artificial leg. As a woman with an amputation, as a survivor with a permanent disability, and as someone who lives with PTSD, White is a sought-after inspirational speaker within the policing world and beyond. She has received several awards, including the prestigious 90000 > Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal and the Medal of Valour from the International Association of Women Police.
10-33 An Officer Down Steps Back Up
Posted from her home in Ontario to a community in Northern British Columbia, she is tested by the demands of learning By Laurie White police work. Despite being a single woman ISBN: 978-1-03-911575-0 without readily available local personal support systems, she establishes herself as a 10-33: An Officer Down Steps Back Up is the competent, well-respected constable. memoir of an incredible young Less than three years into her 10-33 woman whose journey through career, she is seriously wounded traumatic injury provides insights by a gunshot while serving an and lessons we can all benefit arrest warrant on a career from. It tells the story of a young pedophile. Her injuries require woman who graduates university amputation of her right leg below in Ontario without a clearly the knee. defined life strategy to harness White recounts the impact of that education. Laurie White the loss of her leg over the next recounts her search for direction, several years as she struggles to meaning, and purpose prior to her decision regain her position as a fully operational to become a member of the Royal Canadian police constable with the RCMP. She is the Mounted Police. She recounts the degree of first in organization history to return to full commitment and the challenges she faces duties with a prosthetic leg. White’s story is while attending Depot in Regina, Saskatchfull up heartbreaking, and yet uplifting. She ewan and graduating to earn the title of recounts how she faces and overcomes “Mountie”. physical pain and limitations that most of us Laurie White
cannot imagine, only to be nearly broken by emotional and psychological issues. Her journey over the ensuing years into establishing a “New Normal” redefines the dimensions of her identity as police officer, woman, mother, wife, and friend. Although this book should be well read within the law enforcement profession, it should not be seen as a for-police-only volume. It is a story of the human experience in overcoming trauma and living with a disability. White shows how her initial battle is to survive her wounds and accomplish tangible goals; later, she moves past mere survival and begins to thrive and grow in life. This book is written from a deeply personal perspective, and that demands a lot of courage on the part of the author. Once I began to read 10-33, I found it difficult to put down. - KEVIN M. GILMARTIN, PH.D. AUTHOR OF EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT: A GUIDE FOR OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
November 2021 | BLUE LINE
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BACK OF THE BOOK
BY TOM WETZEL AND DENISE DEBIASE
A supply of courage
C
ourage is defined as “a person's ges that they cannot control, such as ability to do something that tunnel vision and changes of blood flow to frightens them”. major organs. Despite all this, they will The day a man or woman is somehow find a way to trudge forward, and sworn in as a peace officer, they know that courage certainly plays a part. Sometimes they have agreed to risk their lives to they have time to assess and will make protect and serve others, every day. Most decisions that are prudent, such as a tacwill feel pretty confident when they first tical retreat until they have more redon their bullet proof vest and tighten a inforcements. That, too, is courage; to duty belt around their waist that includes know when to act or when not to. a gun, extra bullets, a portable There are other types of situaradio, handcuffs, and possibly an “Under tions which will present themelectronic control device and extreme selves to an officer that will also pepper spray. Some will have a stress, require a form of courage. One tourniquet attached somewhere officers example is going to work a 12on their uniform in case they encounter hour shift being physically exhave to control blood flow if an physical hausted after having worked two officer is shot in the leg or and psycho- previous days of 12-hour shifts. arm. These are all important logical Then add into this mix that an things to help keep an officer changes officer could have small children safe, but what they need next that they at home who don’t let them sleep doesn’t have a tangible form or cannot adequately or regulraly. While definable shape, but it is vital to control ... running on fumes, the officer is survive as well as get the job Despite all keenly aware that they may be done. this, they involved in physical encounters That invisible stuff is called will someon that shift where multiple courage, and cops must muster how find a people may resist arrest, or the it on a regular basis, sometimes way to officer could become involved in without any time to prepare. It trudge a deadly force encounter. is important to understand that forward, Despite knowing these risks an officer can be “scared to and courahead of time, that officer will death” but still draw upon their age certain- still suit up and respond to the courage when needed, and that ly plays a call of duty. All of these types of courage can take all different part.” courageous decisions are made shapes throughout an officer’s day after day, week after week and career. year after year until the point of The unique thing about police work is retirement. that no two shifts are alike. Officers basicThe decision to become a cop takes guts ally suit up and then go out into the in and of itself, especially today’s society community to “see what happens”. That where officers face a heightened level of initial uncertainty will quickly be replaced scrutiny. It is impressive that young men with risky calls for service or encounters and women still desire to put on a uniform with dangerous people and situations. A and keep the peace despite the risks. Aptraffic stop for a speeding vehicle could parently, there is still a supply of courage change into a shootout with armed men. A out there and we are all safer for it. seemingly gentle person in a mental health crisis could suddenly change into a violent Tom Wetzel is the Chief of Police in Richmond Heights, encounter, putting the officer in great Ohio, a Northeast Ohio suburban Police Lieutenant and jeopardy. A search for a wanted person in former SWAT Commander. He is also a certified law a dark building or abandoned home could enforcement executive, adjunct professor in community and internationally published author on police get dicey very quickly. A high-speed pur- policing topics. suit is just one blown tire away from disaster. Lt. Denise DeBiase has been a member of the Richmond You can be sure there are plenty of Heights Police Department in Ohio for over 26 years and sweaty palms, but that is just the begin- is currently serving as the executive officer. She is a Certified Law Enforcement Executive in the state, former ning. Under extreme stress, officers en- DARE, bike patrol, crime prevention, and juvenile counter physical and psychological chan- diversion officer, and detective. 30
BLUE LINE | November 2021
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Digital Mobility Inc.
11
GLOCK Inc./The Safariland Group/ Streamlight
31
Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers
29
Hi-Tec Intervention Inc.
32
Humber School of Social & Community Services
23
ILET Summits Inc.
27
Ladniak Personal Real Estste Corporation
29
Pride in Service
29
Telus Health
15
The International Association of Women Police
25
Toronto Police Museum & Gift Shop
29
Vortex Canada
9
Interested in advertising with Blue Line?
Reach the law enforcement community across Canada with an ad in Blue Line and/or in Blue Line News Week, our weekly eNewsletter. Contact our advertising account manager to book your space today: Janice Eaton: 416-527-0191 jeaton@blueline.ca
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www.BlueLine.ca
DRAGON SKIN
®
The most comfor table 4 ERGONOMIC advantages over duty belt in the world any other duty belt in the world:
1 •No rubbing on upper hip bones 2 •No pulling on lower back 3 •No pinching the sciatic nerve 4 •No squeezing off blood flow to lower legs Sold only in sets ie: (INNER AND OUTER BELT)
100% ERGONOMIC STRETCH
Made in Canada
www.hi-tec.qc.ca
1-(888)-709-4400
service@hi-tec.qc.ca