Issuu

August/September 2004

Volume 16 Number 7

Blue Line Magazine 12A-4981 Hwy 7 East Ste 254 Markham, ON L3R 1N1

Canada

Ph: 905 640-3048 Fax: 905 640-7547 eMail: blueline@blueline.ca — Publisher — Morley S. Lymburner eMail: publisher@blueline.ca

— General Manager — Mary Lymburner, M.Ed.

Publisher’s Commentary

The Internet is just waiting to collect big bucks... just load ‘em up

A fulﬁllment of public trust

Ethical policing and public transparency

A gentle commanding presence

Vancouver Mounted Squad garners respect

From sea to sky

North Vancouver RCMP police a diverse area

CACP Trade Show Guide

Floor Plan and Exhibitor List

Conference promotes excellence

DISPATCHES

eMail: editor@blueline.ca

Bylaws aim to reduce bullying

— News Editor — Les Linder

DEEP BLUE

eMail: admin@blueline.ca

— Editor — Mark Reesor

eMail: les@blueline.ca

— Advertising — Mary Lymburner Dean Clarke Bob Murray Kathryn Lymburner eMail: sales@blueline.ca

— Pre-press Production — Del Wall — Contributing Editors — Terry Barker Communication Skills James Clark Police Management Dave Brown Tactical Firearms Tom Rataj Technology Dorothy Cotton Psychology Mike Novakowski Case Law Blue Line Magazine is published monthly, September to June, by Blue Line Magazine Incorporated with a mailing address of: 12A - 4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Markham, Ontario, L3R 1N1. Individual magazines are $5.00 each. Subscriptions are $25.00 per year or $40.00 for 2 years. (Foreign - $50.00 U.S.) All material submitted for publication becomes the property of Blue Line Magazine unless other arrangements have been made with the publisher prior to publshing. The authors, advisors and Publisher accept no liability whatsoever for any injuries to persons or property resulting from the application or adoption of any of the procedures, tactics or considerations presented in this magazine. 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 advice and guidance is received from a supervisor, Crown Attorney or other person in authority. Established in 1988, Blue Line Magazine is an independent publication designed to inform, entertain, educate and upgrade the skills of those involved in the law enforcement profession. It has no direct control from a law enforcement agency and its opinions and articles do not necessarily reﬂect the opinions of any government, police, or law enforcement agency. ©2004 - All articles are protected by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission. Internet activity is monitored and use or reposting of material on the Internet is restricted.

Crime and punishment

Police ethics education

A question of good judgement

The key to managing emergencies

Covert weapons

The ability to perceive weapons could save your life

Fantino responds to Ferguson report

Managing image

What does your police service stand for?

COMING EVENTS

CASE LAW

• Warrantless entry lawful to investigate alarm • Pocket safety search reasonable • Fleeing from police increases reasonable suspicion • It’s what an ofﬁcer knows that counts • House search warrant doesn’t include vehicle

Surviving a knife attack

CORRESPONDENCE

Edmonton paramedics with tactical unit 46 DISPATCHES

ODDITORIALS

Police Order of Merit appointments

Assaults on police a growing problem

RCMP helping to sell Toronto

NEWS CLIPS

New Taser available for public sale in US 57 BOOK REVIEW

Understanding suicide by cop This publication is a private venture and receives no subsidy or grant from any level of government.

BOOK REVIEW

— Afﬁliations —

The ﬁrst ﬁfty years in Newfoundland and Labrador

International Association of Law Enforcement Planners Canadian Advertising Rates & Data International Police Association The Police Leadership Forum The Canadian Press Newswire

Intelligence crucial in ﬁght against drugs

TECHNOLOGY

Printed in Canada by Janson Printing Service

ISSN #0847 8538 Canada Post - Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 176796 June 2003

The home of the Crown Victoria

PRODUCT NEWS

Police saving lives with deﬁbs

BACK OF THE BOOK

Legal theory meets reality on a street corner 3

Vancouver is hosting the 99th annual Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Conference; see page 12 for a floor plan and exhibitors list. Blue Line west coast correspondent Elvin Klassen has been busy profiling Vancouverarea police. Klassen talked to Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Chief Jamie Graham and looked at the force and some of its innovative programs. He also tells us about the VPD Mounted Squad, which has patrolled the trails and beaches of Stanley Park, kept order downtown, escorted royalty and visited countless schools and events -- even appeared on TV and in movies -- in its 95 year history. The 157 officers of North Vancouver’s RCMP detachment have to be flexible; they police everything from downtown streets to rugged coastline and mountains -- “from sea to sky.” Klassen profiles the force and its close working relationship with the community. In other stories, Blue Line Publisher Morley Lymburner suggests an innovative way to collect the millions in outstanding fines and other penalties Canadians owe; Ryan Siegmund writes about the anti-bullying bylaws several communities are adopting; Paul Tinsley and Craig MacMillan examine the importance of education and ethics in policing and Siegmund talks to Dr. James Young about his new job as the province’s Commissioner of Emergency Management. Former CPR Police officer and regular Blue Line contributor Craig Best passed away recently. In his honour, we’re re-running one of his columns -- a timely reminder of the importance of putting yourself in the ‘bad guys’ shoes and always watching for covert weapons. In our regular features, Dr. Dorothy gives us her take on crime and punishment, Mike Novakowski has five interesting case laws, Danette Dooley talks with an officer involved in ‘Operation Bullwinkle’ and reviews a book about the RCMP’s first 50 years in Newfoundland and Labrador and Tom Rataj takes a tour of Ford’s St. Thomas assembly plant, the sole source for Crown Vics. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

The Internet is just waiting to collect big bucks... just load 'em up by Morley Lymburner A staggering amount of outstanding fines is recorded in courthouses across Canada. Some sources put the figure in excess of $2 billion. Dead beat dads add an additional $800 million. The problem is there are too few people who can do anything about it. The many initiatives launched over the years have helped a little — the most effective requires offenders to pay up before their plate is renewed or licence suspension lifted — but a vast fortune remains uncollected and left for police to recover through random chance. When an officer does catch someone, however, they’re often reluctant to take a person into custody for a small fine; as Shakespeare wrote, “nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.” The solution to this problem is only a mouse click away. With the aid of modern technology and the Internet, we can enlist the services of millions of Canadians to clear up all of this. In fact, most of those millions of citizens are the very people who owe the money in the first place. “How?” you may ask. Place every outstanding fine on the Internet. Name, address, date of birth — everything. When a person with an outstanding fine sees his/her name on the Internet or, even worse, when the in-laws see it, the fine will be quickly paid. The natural common-sense of it all staggers the imagination. The best part of this is that almost

June 2003

everyone will work hard to get their names off the file. What would be the consequences of a boss seeing his/her name? What about the embarrassment of neighbours finding out? The gentle ribbing by co-workers may even be enough to get the thing taken care of. Another benefit of this idea is that we no longer will have to worry about jurisdiction. The Internet and the embarrassment will follow the person everywhere. The final remedy would be an invitation to pay the fine on the same web site with a credit card, when the transaction is complete, an automated system immediately removes the person’s name. I know the idea still has to endure the “tyranny of the minority” who would complain about privacy concerns. The simple answer is to point to newspaper articles about people arrested but not yet convicted. Their names are subject to public scrutiny, so exactly why should a person who owes money to a publicly funded and extremely expensive but necessary institution be afforded privacy?

This isn’t an original idea; it’s gained considerable currency in the US and other countries. Examples can be found in web sites set up by King and Pierce Counties in Washington State and San Diego County in California. Some of these sites even supply mug shots of people wanted on minor offences. One other issue this mechanism would address is the huge number of deadbeat parents who owe their children, former spouses and the courts vast amounts of money. Unlike the ill-famed gun registry, the database has existed for over 30 years in the form of the current CPIC system. It already includes the ability to check licence plates of stolen and wanted cars so it may be as simple as throwing a switch and hooking on a credit card payment module. Unlike the gun registry, the real benefit would be a rapid reduction in the size of the database once the big scramble to pay-up is over. What better way to encourage community participation! I believe it is time to end the free ride for scofflaws and deadbeats. By implementing this system, we just may see a judicial system that finally generates money to put back into the public purse. Maybe there would not be the financial struggle to build more courthouses and reduce the backlogs. Since we permit gambling and are even considering taxing marijuana to help fill the public purse, why should we be shy about collecting what is already owing. I say load ‘em up and start rakin’ it in.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

by Elvin Klassen Listed by the United Nations as one of the most desirable cities to live, Vancouver is renowned for its natural beauty and has world-class stature. It’s surrounded by water on three sides and overlooked by the Coast Range — mountains that rise abruptly to more than 1,500 metres. Blessed with a climate that is the mildest in Canada, it’s the gateway to the Pacific Rim and has an enviable economic, geographic and cultural environment. With a population of over half a million people, Vancouver is the core city of Greater Vancouver, which has a population of over two million. The many surrounding patchwork municipalities either have their own police forces or contract with the RCMP. Many of the significant policing challenges can be associated with Vancouver’s core-city phenomenon: the population increases to over one million during the working day; major events and demonstrations; drug and liquor abuse problems in the Downtown Eastside, exacerbated by poverty, mental health issues and homelessness; activities relating to Canada’s largest seaport; marginalized communities and groups and a diverse and changing cultural and ethnic mix. The Vancouver Police Department lives by its mission statement: “In fulfillment of its public trust, the Vancouver Police Department maintains public order, upholds the rule of law and prevents crime.” A few years ago one newspaper called the city the “overdose capital of Canada” because there was a serious urban decay problem created by the drug dependency cycle of theft, street crime and visible drug use. Chief Constable Jamie Graham and the members of the department have worked hard to make a difference with their self-proclaimed values of integrity, professionalism, accountability and respect. Graham took over the leadership of the VPD during the summer of 2002 after spending much of his career in Alberta and then serving as a Chief Superintendent of North Vancouver and Surrey RCMP detachments. His present responsibility includes about 1,200 active police officers, 300 assistants and countless volunteers.

Police Services Board The Vancouver Police Board, comprised of seven members, governs the department and its monthly meetings are open to the public. As a recent example of their openness Vancouver youth were invited to share thoughts and ideas about personal safety, police assistance to youth, school liaison programs and school and community safety at a recent meeting. Both the Board, the youth and the community received valuable insight into each other’s issues and concerns. Mayor Larry Campbell serves as chair and media contact person. Board members are chosen to reflect the demographics of the community and have to demonstrate that they can act in the best interest of the community. Policing structure and initiatives The Vancouver Police resources are centralized for efficiency but service delivery is decentralized through 22 neighbourhood community storefronts which partner with supportive community groups and organizations. The VPD uses volunteers to conduct a number of partnership programs. The 180 volunteers with the Victims Assistance Program are asked to work a six-hour shift every three weeks. The Safe-Ride Program is operated every day from 3 PM to 3 AM by a recovery club and offer people who are not a danger to themselves or others an opportunity to go to a detox centre rather than the drunk tank. The “Bait Car Program” was piloted in Vancouver in 2001 and has reduced stolen vehicle claims by $1 million, according to The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, more than covering its $700,000 cost. The auto theft rate in Vancouver has dropped by seven per cent and the program has now expanded to the rest of the BC Lower Mainland. An anti-fencing program requires store owners of pawnshops who want to pawn an article to register it online. If the article has been reported stolen, police make a positive identification and have a new lead in solving the theft. Simon Fraser University has partnered with the VPD on a variety of research projects to examine how police services are delivered and suggest improvements. These reports are 6

Chief Jamie Graham

available to other agencies. When the Downtown Eastside drug injection sites were established in 2003, the VPD adopted a cautious but research-based view. “We will not condone anything that is against the law,” Graham stated, “(but) once sanctioned under the proper statutes, we will co-operate with the project.” He calls preliminary results “very positive” and says the “focus is on people’s safety. In the past month a dozen people have been saved from death through overdose. These people are human and all Canadians must do their very best to work with agencies that are looking for solutions. We have adopted the principle that people who are taking drugs are sick while traffickers are evil.” When the NAOMI trials, a project to provide drugs in a controlled and supervised site, begin Graham expects to provide support as well as promote safety. “Traditional enforcement methods in Vancouver have been somewhat successful but with the numbers of police officers available, one has to look for alternatives.” Human resources Chief Graham announced when he joined the department that he hoped and intended to begin a new era of openness between the police and the public. When six officers of the VPD were charged with assault it presented him with his biggest challenge at implementing his vision of a new era. In a commentary in the March 2004 edition of Blue Line Magazine, Publisher, Morley Lymburner, pointed out the that he administered exemplary police practice and AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

solid judgment in handling the affair. “There is no doubt that Vancouver has raised the bar for transparency and police ethics,” Lymburner concluded. Other issues faced by the VPD are shared by others across the country. Changes in retirement regulations during the past year are changing the face of the VPD. Fourteen per cent of the work force will be leaving, posing some challenges, but an active recruitment policy and aggressive training program is proving successful. Community outreach

are kept busy year round. The Vancouver Police Pipe Band has a tradition of outstanding community service and award-winning skills. It dates back to 1914, when a few members of the force played their pipes for the ofﬁcial opening of the new headquarters. The band is popular with the public, appearing in 30 or more performances annually in its traditional full highland dress uniform. When ﬁrst hired Chief Jamie Graham stated that under his watch it would be his hope and

intention that it would be the beginning of a new era of openness between the police and the public, noting “we cannot expect to earn [the community’s] trust if we are not entirely open in explaining the decisions we make.” By all appearances his mandate has not only been fulﬁlled but is ﬂourishing. For more on the Vancouver Police Department, contact Sarah Bloor at sarah_bloor@city.vancouver.bc.ca or 604-717-3535.

A 12 member “diversity advisory committee” meets on a monthly basis to provide support, advice and insight into the needs and concerns of Vancouver’s multi-faceted community. Members work to monitor and offer suggestions about recruitment, training and harassment issues and hate crimes and work with the critical incident response team. The VPD is using many active public relations strategies to promote a positive image in the community. The mounted squad maintains an ongoing police presence at Stanley Park, the downtown and parades, demonstrations and public events. The motorcycle drill team, which has been rated as Canada’s foremost escort unit, provides VIP motorcade escorts in the Lower Mainland. Its 14 members will perform drill formations in 30 events this year. The bicycle patrol squad deploys 80 ofﬁcers in a year round campaign with a mandate to go where other vehicles can not go and go there rapidly. The department has patrolled the waters off Vancouver, including the Fraser River, since 1911. In a rapidly growing city that boasts nearly 100 miles of shoreline and dozens of marinas, the marine squad’s two patrol vessels June 2003

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

A gentle commanding presence Vancouver Mounted Squad garners respect by Elvin Klassen For 95 years the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Mounted Squad has helped keep Stanley Park safe, escorted royalty and dignitaries, appeared in movies and TV programs, ridden in countless parades and horse shows and visited area schools and communities. Throughout it’s showed a commanding presence while keeping order in the community. “Mounted police officers are ideal for patrolling the trails and beaches of Stanley Park,” notes Cst. Doug Jensen. “On horseback, a police officer is three metres above the ground, which provides an unrestricted view. Since Stanley Park is over 400 hectares in size with 200 kilometres of roads and trails, patrolling on horseback is quick and efficient.” The squad’s horses play an important public relations role, says Cst. Mike Kuncewicz, an 11 year member. “An officer on horseback is much more approachable than an officer in a car. They are petted by thousands of tourists every year.” The squad trucks its nine horses to schools, community events and seniors residences and each of the seven members carries trading cards with pictures of the horses and officers, which have proven to be very popular. Only first class constables with a minimum of five years on the job, a desire to learn and an interest in horses can apply to join. New members must complete about 40 hours of training, ride in the park and downtown for some 100 hours and pass a competency test before receiving their spurs. The squad looks for horses that are of good temperament and pleasant with people. They must be gelded, well trained, preferably dark in colour, at least five years old, stand at least 16 hands high and not be afraid of large crowds,

city traffic and noise. New horses are assessed for at least two months before they’re accepted, assigned a badge number and given further and more extensive nuisance training. They’re introduced to unfamiliar objects and noises that could be encountered while patrolling and ridden around and over bridges, shopping carts, plastic, newspaper and even a scarecrow filled with tin cans. Police horses are trained to remain calm when faced with unexpected or unwelcome events, including umbrellas opening in their face, balls rolling between their feet, gunshots, firecrackers and smoke bombs. After they’ve become accustomed to nuisance items in the paddock, located in Stanley Park near the Rose Garden, they’re taken out into the park and city to become familiar with large groups of people, cars and buses. “Horses like to be with their herd,” notes Cst. Rich Kitos, a three-year member, “(and)

training is required to make them feel comfortable when alone on the job. Every time you take a horse on patrol, you are involved in training. Taking a horse downtown on a busy street can be grueling. Doing things with horses that you would never dream possible is very rewarding. In my 16 years as an officer, this is by far the most dangerous policing position that I have had. You never know what might happen.” Officers are responsible for grooming their horses before riding them, putting on the bridle and saddle and cleaning at the end of the day. The squad employs two stable attendants to feed the horses, keep the barn clean, groom and exercise horses not on patrol that day and look after those that are injured. The horses are very useful to clear the beaches after fireworks displays and beach parties, Kuncewicz says, noting a gentle order to “wrap it up” and “move” is usually enough to convince rowdy party goers to clear an area. “The horses’ presence brings about respect that often is not there when officers are on foot patrol. One or three passes on the beach is non-confrontational, non-threatening and very effective.” The Vancouver Mounted Squad assisted Victoria Police during the 1994 Commonwealth Games, clearing the waterfront with very few problems, he says. Many officers were impressed with their clearing ability. “They told us they really could have used us on one night the horses weren’t used,” Kuncewicz notes. He points out that the squad is very effective at managing crowds. People move out of the way when they see the horses; mounted officers have an unrestricted view of the situation and can diffuse problems before they develop and scatter crowds. At a peace rally, mounted officers kept marchers at the rear of a parade, moving and separated them from the crowd. They were able to establish eye contact with participants, showing them they couldn’t hide, eliminating rock throwing and garnering a respect for authority often absent with foot or bicycle patrols. “People find it unusual to have horses on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver,” says Field. “Horses often draw people into dialogue because they have good memories of these animals. This respect makes the public obey most orders. It is rare that they do not comply when horses are present.” Sgt. Geramy Field can be reached at geramy_field@city. vancouver.bc.ca or 604 717-2775; Elvin Klassen, Blue Line’s west coast correspondent, can be reached at elvin@blueline.ca.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

From sea to sky North Vancouver RCMP police a diverse area by Elvin Klassen Soon after Gord Tomlinson took over as superintendent of the North Vancouver RCMP detachment in 2001, he became aware of a community of up to 30,000 Iranians whose policing needs were not met. He consulted with them, addressing many of their concerns and established a Persian liaison group. “I meet with this group every two months to discuss policing concerns in their community and we are experiencing unbelievable success,” he says. Connecting with the city’s youth is also a high priority. When one elderly lady asked what she could do to reduce her fear of young people, Tomlinson suggested she try saying hello, “talk to them and see what they are doing.” Five officers are assigned to the district’s 52 schools; they use a marked Jaguar, VW, Land Rover, Mercedes and ¾ ton Dodge Hemi, donated through partnerships with local car dealers, to connect more effectively with students. Street and stranger safety, bullying, Internet safety, the criminal justice system, drug and alcohol abuse and impaired driving are among the topics they discuss with students. The detachment holds an eight day youth academy each year to give students interested in policing training and simulations of events relating to that day’s instruction. Topics include problem solving, police paperwork, courtroom trials, forensics identification, crimes against property and persons and traffic investigations. Some students who have attended the academy and helped in the summer program went on to become police officers. Other youth initiatives include friendly basketball games between local constables and students and youth asset management. Individuals deemed at risk are provided with an informal assessment relating to 50 assets that a well-rounded person needs. If areas of weakness are determined, students are pointed to agencies who can provide assistance. The detachment’s 157 officers and 70 support staff police North Vancouver’s 135,000 residents and operate out of modern offices located in the heart of the city’s business section. Tomlinson can see the snow-capped Coast Mountains above the city’s skyline and ocean liners picking up grain and dropping off containers in Burrard Inlet through the huge corner window in his office. The area is blessed with a spectacular range of natural and scenic landscapes: mountains and alpine forests, lush parks and peaceful lakes, a rugged coastline and beautiful beaches. Tomlinson also speaks very highly of the June 2003

city’s residents, especially the many people who volunteer with the detachment. The city’s “highly effective” Block Watch program, for example, has 13,000 homes participating. Since the North Vancouver RCMP detachment extends from sea to sky, a variety of services are required. One member is assigned to port enforcement on a full time basis and school liaison officers man the marine patrol during the summer months. They cover special events on the waterfront, patrol the waterways, conduct safety inspections and promote public relations and safety awareness. The detachment works closely with the North Shore Rescue Team in the mountains of North Vancouver, promoting safe trail hiking as cooperating on search and rescue. This 40member group of volunteers works in mountain, canyon and urban settings and volunteered 3500 hours last year on 85 searches involving 106 subjects. Officers use off-road motorcycles to combat motocrossers who venture on to trails and private property. They’re a hazard to hikers and their noisy bikes irritate residents, says Sgt. Bob Beaudoin, head of the traffic section, who adds complaints are a daily occurrence during sunny weather. Most of the offenders are teenage boys too young to have driver’s licenses, he notes, but adults from the lower mainland have also been caught riding illegally. “The police’s motocross bikes were donated by parents who ‘couldn’t get the message 9

across’ to their children concerning the legal use of motocross bikes,” he says. Despite the area’s hilly terrain, the detachment operates a five member bike squad for most of the year. Members patrol the many trails and parks that are inaccessible to cars, work many special events and provide many positive contacts in helping kids with bike and street safety. Community policing centres have been established in three neighbourhoods, with storefront constables responsible for running the centres, programs and budgets. Neighbourhood constables take ownership of a particular community and their concerns, working residents to find solutions based on mutual understanding, trust and joint problem solving. They also assist the general duty members working in the area as needed. The detachment is the 40th community in Canada that has connected to a domestic violence emergency response program. Individuals who are exposed to high-risk violence are given alarms which allow them to connect directly with police when they need emergency assistance. North Vancouver has three full-time staff members to provide victim services rather than relying on volunteers, enhancing consistency and efficiency. Officers from as far away as New York use the detachment’s vacuum metal deposition chamber, which can detect forged identification when normal methods don’t work. North Vancouver is one of only a handful of forces in North America to have the equipment, Tomlinson notes. Detachment member Cpl. John Van Tassel is skilled in identifying knots and ligatures and has assisted on many investigations, including the Jon Benet Ramsay murder case in Colorado. Other successful programs include bait car, Amber Alert, Business Watch and graffiti eradication and the detachment is currently testing DVD video recorders in squad cars. 50 regular duty members voluntarily meet regularly to learn how to improve their intelligence gathering skills, work sources better and disseminate information effectively and efficiently between each other and other detachments. Each page of the Detachment’s web site has a cartoon image of a Mountie in dress uniform holding an umbrella. This little fellow has been an informal mascot since the early 1980’s, when he was drawn by Sgt. Rod Booth of the Serious Crime Section. For more information on the North Vancouver detachment, contact Jennifer Pound at jennifer.pound@rcmp-grc. gc.ca or 604 985-1311.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

EXHIBIT FLOOR PLAN CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE 99th ANNUAL CONFERENCE Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, B.C.

August 23 - 24, 2004

Advanced Interactive Systems 210,214,212,216 Atlantic Police & Security Supply Ltd 316 Bank of Canada 115 Bell Mobility Canada 305, 307 Blue Line Magazine 403 Blue Max Lighting 413, 511, 512, 513, 610, 612 BMW Motorrad Canada 105 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc 202, 204 Business Watch International 601 CALEA 117 Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics 415 Canadian Police Research Centre 6 Code 3 Public Safety Equipment 107, 206 Copeland Engineering 207 CP Police 417 Crime Prevention Analysis Lab 800 Crime Sciences Inc 816 Current Corporation 310, 211 Dack Shoes 724 davTech Analytical Services 517, 616 Decatur Electronics, Inc 717 Deeley Harley Davidson Canada 715 Department of Justice Canada 515 Dictaphone Canada 412 Diemaco 506 Draganﬂy Innovations 1027 DSM Law Enforcement Products 917 Entertainment Software Association 414 Environmental Criminology Research Inc 503 Epic Data 407 Eurocopter Canada Ltd 104, 106 Evin Industries Ltd 112

FATS 603, 605, 607 Federal Signal Corporation 404 FinTrac 606 First Choice Body Armor 317, 416 Ford Canada 103 Garda of Canada 726 Glock 110 Gordon Contract 626 Groen Brothers Aviation 521, 620 Halifax Group 111 Hi-Tec Invervention 611 i2 Inc 501 Insurance Bureau of Canada 514 Integral Designs 600 InTime Solutions Inc 702, 700 Jane’s Information Group 622 Justice Institute of BC 710, 712 Kee-Lock Security Ltd 904, 906, 1004, 1006 Kontron 405 Law Enforcement Torch Run 5 M/A Com Private Radio Systems Canada Corp 505 Martin & Levesque & Blauer Canada 523, 525 Maxxam Analytics Inc 313 MD Charlton Company 801, 900, 902, 903 Med-Eng Systems Inc 707 Medtronic of Canada Ltd 113 Mega-Technical 723,725,727,820,721,822,824, 826 Michaels of Oregon 706 Mindspace Inc 502 Mr Pin Man Inc 817 National Police Services 625, 627 NEC 604 10

OMSR Correction Service Canada 315 Operation ID 701 Ottawa Police Service 507 Outdoor Outﬁts 213 PW Allen & Company 217 Paciﬁc Safety Products 203, 205, 302, 304 Panasonic 303, 402 Peerless Garments 807, 905 PMBA 4 Precision Mounts 811, 813 Printrak (a division of Motorola Inc) 311, 410 R Nicholls 821,823,825,827,920-927,1026 Remington Arms 1001 Rocky Boots Inc 613 Rogers Wireless Inc 910 RCMP 911,1010,913, 915, 1012,1014 Second Chance Body Armor 527 Sierra Systems 1019 Sierra Wireless 306 Sigarms 1026 Syscon Justice Systems 614 Tactical Advantage Law Enforcement Products 108 Telus Mobility 806 Templar Corp 215 Transport Canada 516 Versaterm 406 Victim Services BC 3 Victor Woolens 1016 Visteon Corp 711, 713, 810, 812 VS Visual Statement 1010, 911 Waterford Technologies 814 Whelen Canada 621, 923, 720, 722 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Atlantic Police & Security Supply See Advertisement Page 50 Atlantic Police & Security is continuing its growth throughout the Canadian market with some of the most innovative products in Law Enforcement. Most recently we have introduced to the Canadian market a new line of body armour from First Choice Armor. This ISO certified manufacturer is the first to produce a patented NIJ certified ballistic vest with STAB resistancy all in one panel. With an exclusive distribution agreement in Canada we are proud to provide this product that protects the lives of officers everyday. Atlantic Police is a national distributor offering a complete lineup of Law Enforcement products including uniforms, duty gear, outerwear and fleet equipment. Blue Line Magazine See Advertisement Page 71 Blue Line Magazine is Canada’s national law enforcement magazine, read by the full spectrum of the industry from management to front line personnel. For over 16 years, Blue Line has continuously formed a powerful relationship with its readership, delivering unbiased editorial content while reporting on the latest trends and technologies shaping Canadian Law Enforcement. Blue Line’s complete multi-media package includes Blue Line Magazine, Blue Line News Week, Blue Line Online, and Blue Line Trade Show. BMW See Advertisement Page 33 BMW will be presenting some of our models which have many applications including police, paramedic, rescue work and other patrol duties. BMW Authority Motorcycles offer superior performance, safety, and low cost of maintenance. In addition to some of the many standard features like ABS, dual batteries, heated grips, adjustable electric windshield, and variable-height rider’s seat, you can also custom order specialized options such as sirens and front and rear flashing light systems in red or blue. davTECH Analytical Services See Advertisement Page 36 davTECH Analytical Services (Canada) Inc has positioned itself to become a leader in Traffic Safety Products and Solutions throughout Canada. Our product line of Radar, LIDAR, Emergency LED Lighting, Accident Investigation Software, Traffic Analysis Equipment, Alcohol Breath Testing Instruments, Drugs of Abuse Testing and all related peripherals enable us to supply the sale while also providing authorized technical support for all our lines. davTECH is an authorized distributor for Decatur Electronics, Laser Atlanta, Intoximeters, NPAS, Visual Statement, Eluminator Lighting, Metro Count, Medtox and Cozart Bioscience to name a few. Decatur Electronics See Advertisement Page 37 Decatur Electronics, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets the finest speed measurement products and traffic safety equipment in the world. The radar products are used for law enforcement, sports, industrial/OEM and scientific applications. The radar speed message trailers are the finest quality and most rugged in the industry, with extra-bright June 2003

LED characters and the ability to display over 200 preprogrammed and additional 200 userprogrammed messages. Dictaphone Canada See Advertisement Page 58 A division of Dictaphone Corporation, the Dictaphone Communications Recording Systems Group (CRS) is a leading provider of communications recording and quality monitoring systems for public safety, financial services, and call centers. Dictaphone CRS principal product is the Freedom network appliance recording system. The Freedom system’s revolutionary design gives call centers all types of new found freedom to access and store their voice information wherever, whenever, and however they want. Diemaco Law Enforcement See Advertisement Page 24 Diemaco is the strategic source of supply for small arms to the Canadian government, and supplies small arms systems to roughly half of our NATO allies, including Netherlands, Denmark and the UK. Diemaco now offers services directly to Canadian law enforcement agencies. Products and services include sniper systems, tactical weapons, patrol rifles, 40 mm launchers, pistols, less lethal solutions, optics, accessories, armourers’ tools, engineering, service and repair, training, safety equipment and technical publications. Federal Signal See Advertisement Page 39 Law enforcement has unique needs when it comes to warning the public of emergency situations. Police officers are challenged more every day as they seek a safe path through heavy traffic with increasingly distracted motorists. To help meet this challenge we brought together the finest engineers, distributors, and field and customer support people to create a specialized Police Products Group. Our job is to serve you every day - and keep Federal Signal the number one name in emergency products. First Choice Armor & Equipment See Advertisement Page 51 First Choice Armor & Equipment, Inc. is an international leader in personal protection technology and design. As an ISO 9001:2000 certified company, First Choice has pioneered the development of innovative ballistic/stab-shank resistant vests and protective equipment that is state-of-the-art, lightweight and comfortable. First Choice provides their premium equipment to both law enforcement and military agencies. GLOCK See Advertisement Page 65 GLOCK pistols are the perfect combination of reliability and accuracy. Their high-tech engineering and construction creates a handgun that can stand up to more punishment than even the most unforgiving conditions can generate. When you investigate the individual advantages of a GLOCK, you’ll see that it will outperform whatever you’re aiming at. Considering the care and ingenuity with which it is built, there’s a very good chance you’ll be hitting your targets for a long, long time. 11

Gordon Contract See Advertisement Page 5 Gordon Contract is Canada’s foremost supplier of uniform and safety footwear to Federal, Provincial and Municipal Government agencies with over thirty years of experience. We carry virtually every brand and can source almost every type of footwear. We pride ourselves on our service and dedication to the Police, Fire, EMS and Municipal City workers that we serve. In addition to footwear, we now carry a full line of Law Enforcement Supplies including uniforms, belts and accessories, flashlights, cuffs and ancillary items. Visit one of our two Toronto locations or our Winnipeg store. We look forward to serving you. Integral Designs See Advertisement Page 53 Integral Designs is a niche manufacturer of specialized outdoor products, including: Sleeping systems: Primaloft and down sleeping bags, liners, bivy sacks Shelter systems: Single wall tents, bivy shelters, ultra light tarps and tarp shelters Clothing systems: Custom outerwear, Primaloft insulated clothing, vapor barrier socks The company started business in 1986 making equipment for some of North America’s top mountaineers, and still has its roots firmly in the mountaineering and lightweight backpacking markets. Specialized military and law enforcement personnel have equipment needs very similar to those of mountaineers, and are discovering that the lightweight, high performance fabrics and insulations used by Integral Designs can help them to do their jobs better. Integral Designs specializes in small production runs and “just in time” manufacturing at its Calgary factory. More than 50% of production is sold to outdoor stores and specialized military groups in the USA. InTime Solutions See Advertisement Page 41 Use InTime Enterprise to schedule and manage Officer Deployment for daily work schedules, Special Duty/Off Duty Assignments, Event Management and Emergency Response Deployment. Plan in advance using the Master Schedule feature and manage daily operations such as officers being late, calling in sick, leaving for training and more with the Work Schedule. InTime Enterprise captures all Time & Attendance data in real time so that Payroll is accurate, timely and error free. Built on the J2EE standard, InTime Enterprise delivers the advantages of platform independence, fast, efficient performance and a scalable long-term solution. MD Charlton Company See Advertisement Page 49 MD Charlton Company is a full service Law Enforcement Distributor through out Canada for over 25 years! We pride ourselves on Honesty, Quality Equipment and Great Service. In addition we offer Full Instructors Training for Chemical Munitions, O.C.(pepper spray), Distraction Devices, Specialty Impact Munitions, Taser International Master Instructors, Pepper Ball Systems, and ASP Batons. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Medtronic of Canada See Advertisement Page 19 Medtronic of Canada Ltd. is the Canadian subsidiary of Medtronic Inc. the world’s leading medical technology company. Medtronic is a leader in the design, manufacture, sales, and service of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and manual defibrillators. Medtronic currently has more than 450,000 units in operation worldwide, and the LIFEPAK 500 is the most popular AED ever produced with more than 100,000 units in use. Police deployment of AEDs in the United States has doubled survival rates (9.0% to 17.6% in MiamiDade County), and police forces in Canada are now committing to AED use, with the LIFEPAK 500 as their AED of choice. Mega-Technical See Advertisement Page 17 Mega-Tech is very pleased to be able to offer to our customers a list of suppliers that are consistently rated number one in the industry. By providing these highly rated products and a full factory trained service department, Mega-Tech is truly able to offer a one stop shopping experience that will ensure our customers of the satisfaction that they deserve. At Mega-Tech that is a guarantee. Our product line has been expanded dramatically and we have opened an eastern office to provide both sales and service support to Eastern Canada. Michael’s of Oregon See Advertisement page 21 Kydex Tactical Holsters from Uncle Mike’s Law Enforcement feature injection molded Kydex construction, which ensures high quality and performance. With a fully-adjustable belt loop and leg, Kydex Tactical Holsters offer users a customized fit that positions the firearm below a raid jacket or tactical body armor. The velcro-adjustable leg strap includes an elastic segment for comfort and firearm security. Northrop Grumman See Advertisement Page 2 CommandPoint™ is the new first responder command and control software for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical agencies and other incident management activities. The CommandPoint™ application suite combines the best technological standards for the expanding market of emergency operations centers with state-of-the-art capabilities. Ease of use with fewer forms, increased user preferences and speed in the execution of commands enhances the readiness, response time and recovery operations for public safety agencies and the citizens of the community they serve. Much more than an integrated public safety system – CommandPoint™ is a philosophy that utilizes a core technical application as the directional gateway for both first responder and emergency management solutions. Effective crisis management can now be measured through the coordinated command and control of information resources from notification, to response, escalation, containment and recovery.

Pacific Safety Products See Advertisement Page 23 Pacific Safety Products Inc, manufacturer of the PROTECTED BY PSP line of soft body armour, is Canada’s leading provider of protective vests to law enforcement, military and public safety personnel. Founded in 1984 PSP has been bringing everyday heroes home safely for 20 years, and has grown to include more than 130 employees at three Canadian facilities in Kelowna, British Columbia; Brampton, Ontario; and Arnprior, Ontario. These facilities are equipped with complete design, production and research capabilities, and at the head office in Kelowna PSP houses one of the most advanced ballistic research labs in North America. Panasonic Canada See Advertisement Page 72 Panasonic has deployed over 25,000 rugged notebook computers into law enforcement organizations throughout North America. Our top of the line CF-28 Toughbook can be found in many public safety organizations throughout the US and Canada. Panasonic offers a full range of rugged notebooks suited for the public safety market including the CF-28 and our newest model the CF50. For more information on the Toughbook lineup, drop by our booth. R Nicholls Distributors See Advertisement Page 35 Included in the leading edge products Nicholls will be featuring this year is the MP7 PDW from Heckler and Koch. The PDW offers the firepower of a submachine gun, medium range capabilities of an assault rifle and pistol-like close combat dimensions.The Digital Eyewitness once again shows that Kustom Signals is the In-car Video market leader. The Hindi baton cap is one more reason the Autolock baton from Monadnock is the premier solution in retractable batons. The Hindi cap adds functionality and aids in the retention of retractable batons.There is no other training suit that provides protection against as wide a range of less lethal munitions as the Pine Tree’s Simulation Training. Pine Tree’s Defender 20 gauge less lethal firearm and the world’s first level IV retention holster, the Raptor, will also be featured in the Nicholls booth. Second Chance Body Armor See Advertisement Page 29 Second Chance Body Armor is featuring the new Ultima Level II soft body armor, 37% lighter than previous technology, wrapped in Gore-Tex Comfort Cool pad covers. Lightest, thinnest, most comfortable Second Chance vest. New Second Chance Ballistic Helmets and Shields, featuring revolutionary, lightweight ballistic technology. Sigarms See Advertisement Page 55 Sigarms is proud to equip some of the world’s most elite law enforcement agencies, tactical response teams and military units. In the demanding world of the law enforcement professional, you don’t want to have to worry about your sidearm. You want the performance of Sig Sauer with the revolutionary new DAK trigger – because superior performance is no accident. 12

Syscon Justice Systems See Advertisement Page 37 Xtract: Secondhand Transaction Surveillance and Intelligence System, a police tool, replaces paperbased pawnbroker and secondhand transaction reporting. Merchants use a standard web-browser to submit their secondhand transaction data to police. Xtract automatically reports on apparent matches between transaction items and stolen property descriptions, enables ad hoc searches of the transaction database by police officers, and allows for deployment of automated agents that alert officers of the presence of persons or items of interest. Currently, over a hundred pawn and secondhand dealers report their transaction information, via Xtract, to Vancouver Police Department and Kelowna RCMP. Visteon See Advertisement Page 45 The need for on-board police electronic support systems has proliferated dramatically in the last ten years to the point where today’s law-enforcement personnel are crowded by in-vehicle hardware components and overloaded with information that is difficult - and often dangerous - to access from behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Visteon has responded to these challenges with TACNET - an intelligently engineered, integrated tactical network that centralizes the command and control of multiple electronic systems and provides full mobile data functionality. With TACNET, lights, siren, radios, radar, video, and more - virtually all-law enforcement systems and components within the vehicle - are better accessed through an officer’s choice of controls. Simply put, TACNET helps officers do their jobs better. VS Visual Statement See Advertisement Page 38 During the past few years, VS Visual Statement Inc, has become the number one developer of collision investigation software in the world. Thousands of agencies solve problems with VSI software with such titles as the VS Investigator editions, the new VistaFX and now the ReportBeam web-based collision reporting system. Using ReportBeam, Law Enforcement Agencies can complete their state report accurately and easily, include state-of-the-art diagrams if desired, and then submit the report to a centralized database. Not only can the public, insurance companies and lawyers search and purchase these collision reports online, a historical first, but administrators can review statistics and charts from data gathered and make informed traffic management decisions, in effect, creating safer communities. Several RCMP units are now using VS investigative software and have adopted VistaFX as their national standard. VistaFX diagramming is now taught as part of RCMP reconstruction essentials in Canada. Visual Statement provides a full range of products including the fastest and easiest 2D, 3D, and realtime animation software on the market, as well as versions dedicated to crime and fire investigations. All software is built with constant input from policing agencies and is in effect, “officer-driven” with a strong emphasis on customer support. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Police leadership conference promotes excellence by Glynn Wide Constables to chiefs and all ranks in between mingled, discussed policing and listened to presenters at the 2004 Police Leadership Conference in Vancouver. The majority of attendees to the well-attended conference came from British Columbia but there were also delegates from across Canada, England, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. The conference provided an opportunity for delegates to develop relationships with other police personnel and related professionals, including members of the Justice Institute of BC and community colleges. The subjects discussed and put forward by guest lecturers at the conference supported the Police Leadership Forum’s motto that “leadership is an activity, not a position.” The theme of the conference was ‘excellence in policing through community health, organizational performance and personal wellness.’ Presenters included Chief William Bratton of the Los Angeles Police Department. A former New York police commissioner, Bratton led the LAPD to a 39 per cent decline in serious crimes and a 50 per cent reduction in homicides. He also initiated the internationally acclaimed COMPSTAT system, a computer-driven management accountability process that is an integral part of his decentralized management philosophy. Bratton talked about community health through the police via public safety, which COMPSTAT enabled, and described how rapid response, random patrol and reactive policing has led to a paradigm shift. He also spoke about how decriminalizing drunks and alcoholism, deinstitutionalizing emotionally disturbed persons, removing vagrancy from the statutes, societal acceptance of recreational drug use and an increase in homeless have impacted police resources. Bratton’s model of community policing has addressed many concerns; now, police target speciﬁc crimes through intelligenceled policing and attack crime strategically. COMPSTAT allows leadership to accept responsibility and reduce crime, fear of crime and disorder in society. Management can instill trust in staff, empower them and encourage risk-taking while still holding them accountable. Bratton’s presentation allowed delegates to look inwardly at the way they track and pursue crimes in their communities. RCMP Commissioner Guiliano Zaccardelli discussed how policing has changed. He recognizes that within the policing sphere there are many personnel at all ranks and positions who possess leadership skills. Zaccardelli also identified operational changes that impact policing as a result of globalization, technology and terrorism. He asked June 2003

all delegates to rethink a new vision of integration among police agencies and review how they operate and work with other services. Ideally, nobody “owns” a particular problem; resources and responsibilities should be shared. Zaccardelli asked delegates to reach out to all other policing agencies and governmental departments and develop partnerships at all levels. He emphasized that excellence in operations can be achieved by tackling crime and developing a seamless lawenforcement framework. Zaccardelli identiﬁed a number of policing pillars which must be value driven, including intelligence-led policing, bridge building and accountability, all of which will reduce the erosion of trust. He proposed a federated model which can overcome Canada’s size, geography, diversity and unique domestic reality. The challenge remains to work within Canadian capabilities to address the needs of this unique country. Newly arrived immigrants must be – and will be – accepted within Canadian society and police services must adjust and actively recruit, select and train from all members of the community. Gordon Graham gave a presentation on managing risk in the policing context. The main purpose of risk management is to “create the future” by identifying what can go wrong and taking active, sensible steps to prevent it. He told the group that certain strategies can help to prevent or alleviate risk, including standardizing processes and anticipating problems, rather than simply reacting to them after incidents occur. Through policies, procedures, training, supervision and discipline, police leaders and managers are in a position to address risk before it happens. Graham also described ﬁve “concurrent themes” that can serve as a checklist for managers’ activities: • Risk management, which should be the “anchor” for all activities • Systems, which should be up to date, designed properly and properly implemented • Customer service, which should provide technical competence, dignity and respect, creating a ‘wow’ among clients (enhancing the image of the organizing by leaving a positive impression) • Accountability, which starts when everyone understands their role with internal systems, follows and respects that role • Integrity, which includes ethical behaviour, 13

the visible manifestation of integrity Graham also discussed police misconduct and how to prevent/deal with it through training, management and discipline. He emphasized the importance of paying particular attention to high-risk, low-frequency events, which present particularly serious risk to organizations and their members. Dr. Kevin M. Gilmartin spoke on the ‘preservation of idealism in the law enforcement professional,’ which he also referred to as “emotional survival”. He explained the dynamics that can transition idealistic and committed police officers into angry, cynical employees who resent both the agencies they work for and the public they serve. He introduced educational and leadership interventions which can “keep good people good.” In a lively lecture, he explained that some officers become consumed with policing, only to become cynical, and urged police and their leaders to develop and encourage balanced lifestyles that allow officers to continue interacting within their communities. Sir Ronnie Flanagan, who was knighted in 1998, lectured on his role as Her Majesty’s inspector of constabulary for the London and East Region of the United Kingdom. He’s responsible for overseeing and inspecting British police constabularies in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Flanagan also discussed leadership from his unique perspective as a former member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), which he joined in 1970, retiring as chief constable in 2002. While in the RUC, now the Police Service of Northern Ireland, he gained a fascinating and unique leadership perspective. He also drew on his experience as director of the intermediate and senior command courses at the Police Staff College, Bramshill. Flanagan gave an overview of how police services interact with the public to gather intelligence, emphasizing that only through intelligence-led policing can criminal acts and domestic terrorism be effectively counteracted. One example of this, he said, is the way the RUC and British Army worked closely with each other and the community to bring about a sustained truce in Northern Ireland. Glynn Wide is a Staff Superintendent with the hamilton Police Service and president of the Police Leadership Forum. Glynn Wide can be contacted at gwide@hamiltonpolice. on.ca.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

RCMP contracts out some DNA testing The RCMP’s overworked forensic labs are contracting out some DNA testing to the private sector, raising concerns within the force about control over the important crimefighting tool. Internal documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the Mounties have turned to outside labs to help cope with a backlog that has left staff struggling to satisfy the demands of the justice system. “The needs of our clients are not being met in a timely and efficient fashion,’’ says an RCMP memo released under the Access to Information Act. The RCMP’s forensic biology program, with a budget of about $7 million and more than 100 full-time staff across the country, analyses the DNA of materials such as blood, body fluids and hair for police, the courts and government agencies. The internal notes acknowledge that deadlines for completing DNA analyses considered urgent were met only about eight per cent of the time last year. As of Jan. 30, “the backlog stood at 591 cases in progress and 57 unopened cases.’’ The memos reveal there has been “limited outsourcing’’ in the past few years “in an attempt to meet the need for more timely responses’’ when demand for services is high. In addition, the RCMP signed a three-year contract with private laboratory Maxxam Analytics in September that could be worth as much as $3 million. The internal notes, prepared late last year, say the use of outside labs is “a very expensive process both in financial costs and administrative overhead’’ to support and manage the process. “There is also some concern on how this practice is perceived by the clients.’’ The RCMP documents note several other problems: • Employees were “cynical and close to burnout’’ due to the chronic backlog, poor morale, lack of professional development

opportunities and insufficient clerical and technical support. • The workload left staff too busy to stay current in their field of expertise. “This situation is of great concern and is only going to get worse as the program continues to experience a serious loss of senior specialists to retirements and promotions.’’ • Heightened public expectations of what forensic science can deliver, given its popularity in TV dramas such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. “The ‘CSI factor’ has raised our clients’ expectations as well, both in terms of what information can be obtained and how quickly results can be reported.’’ The internal notes laid out four options: the status quo, reduction of forensic services, additional contracting, or a $1.9-million budget increase to bring 11 new staff into the program. The memo noted the contracting option could have “a significant impact’’ on the RCMP’s relationship with clients, depending in part on the performance of the company hired. In addition, it could harm the Mounties’ image. “The force would no longer be recognized as an organization of excellence focused on technological innovation in the field of forensic DNA analyses.’’ The proposal to hire new staff was recommended as the “most viable option’’ to ensure the goal of “offering all of our clients the highest quality forensic service.’’ The cost was estimated at more than $1.1 million to cover salaries and almost $800,000 for equipment, maintenance and operating expenses. RCMP Sgt. Gilles Deziel said the request for funding was turned down. However, he said the force was still able to hire the 11 individuals through reallocation of resources. Deziel was not able to immediately explain how or where the force found the funds, or what impact the reorganization would have on the forensic biology program.

On Page 6 of the June edition of Blue Line Magazine the photo credit was attributed to the author of the story. The photo credit should have been attributed to Gaston Taylor of the Carleton University Safety and Parking Services.

Retired Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Eric Hamilton Silk died at his Streetsville home in June at the age of 96. Silk served as OPP commissioner from 1963 to 1973. He was the sixth person to occupy the top position, and remains the only civilian to serve. Silk immediately initiated a major restructuring of the OPP. He greatly improved morale and initiated sweeping organizational changes that significantly improved its professionalism, accountability and recognition. Many of the best practices Silk formed during the 60s and 70s remain with the force. He introduced many valuable and important training initiatives that enabled the OPP to evolve into the highly specialized police service that it is today. After his retirement, Silk continued to provide valuable knowledge and experience to the force and was a community-minded leader and notable citizen of Ontario. In appreciation of his outstanding career in the Ontario Public Service, retired commissioner Thomas B. O’Grady dedicated the OPP general headquarters library in Silk’s honour in 1995. Former provincial court judge David William Ramsay pleaded for help in June just before he was sentenced to seven years in jail for sexually assaulting teen prostitutes, one as young as 12. Associate Chief Justice Patrick Dohm handed Ramsay a sentence that was two years longer than the maximum the Crown had been asking for. Ramsay couldn’t give his four native victims any reason for his behaviour. Instead he spoke about the intense shame he now feels and his attempts to kill himself. The former judge dealt with three of the girls in his courtroom before and after his encounters with them. He had full access to their files and knew exactly how young and troubled they were. An Ottawa woman and a police officer are being hailed as heroes after saving a man from drowning in the Ottawa River. Samantha Lewis, 21, dove into a fast-flowing river in June to save a stranger. Lewis jumped into the water with a co-worker and another man after people began shouting about someone in the water. Ottawa police Cst. Sal Barakat arrived and took out the back seat of his police cruiser to use as a life buoy. He tore off his gun, utility belt, boots, body armour and uniform shirt before diving into the river to assist the rescue. A former undercover Mountie who was forced to resign from the RCMP for leaking internal anti-biker gang communications documents to an author has been reinstated in June and awarded two years’ back pay. Bob Stenhouse was sworn in as a full member at Alberta’s K-Division headquarters in Edmonton. Stenhouse was then immediately suspended with pay while he awaits a new, court-ordered disciplinary hearing. Stenhouse resigned from the force under threat of dismissal in July 2002 after an internal board of inquiry ruled against him. The 20-year veteran admitted he had leaked internal strategy documents in 1998 and 1999 to Toronto journalist and author Yves Lavigne who quoted from them in his book Hells Angels at War. The internal documents detailed a strategy in which police forces across Canada would effectively attempt to scare politicians into providing more funding to fight organized crime.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Bylaws aim to reduce bullying by Ryan Siegmund Several Canadian communities are targeting bullies, both young and old and those who encourage them with new anti-bullying bylaws. The town of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta became the second Canadian municipality to approve a bullying bylaw April 20. Its law differs from Edmonton, which has charged four people since passing its bylaw more than a year ago, in that it also targets adult offenders. Special Cst. Brent Craig spearheaded Rocky Mountain House’s bylaw, which he says will not interfere with school board policies already in place nor be used as a substitution for criminal charges. Instead it’s a ‘tool’ that can be used by a peace officer against those who bully or encourage bullying and he hopes it will help them realize the impact of their actions. Bullying is a longstanding problem in the town of 6,500 people. The bylaw will offer alternatives to victims and educate/ deter bullies. One-time occurrences are documented and repeat offenders are dealt with, Craig says, though he notes this aspect is not written into the bylaw because lawyers say problems would arise in defining what is repetitious bullying. The education comes in the form of informative, anti-bullying sessions that are offered to bullies as an alternative to paying a fine. Adults and school children will be separated and offenders under 18 are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, which “really opens a can of worms for those people

who don’t know how to control their kids,” Craig says. He hopes the sessions will encourage them to take an active role in discouraging their child’s behaviour. Bullies are encouraged to make the most of the one-time only sessions , those that don’t, face ﬁnes and/or up to six months jail time. “We’d want to hit them in the pocket because obviously the educational sessions didn’t do them any good,” notes Craig. “We don’t want them thinking it’s a joke.”

However education is a grey area for the moment, as bylaw developers are still working on the program’s content and length. Craig is considering making a video for the sessions with graphic content that would clearly show distraught victims -- a young boy who hung himself, for example. “I want to see tears in the bully’s eyes,” he says and teach them to respect people as individuals. He also wants to reach the bystanders who encourage bully behaviour. By holding them accountable, he hopes to reverse their ‘egging on’ effect, noting that in most cases, a bully won’t pick on kids unless he’s showing off to his peers. “All it takes is for the friend to say ‘let’s go some place else’ and it’s done… you’re trying to get the reverse effect because then that person (bully) remembers what his friend said the first time.” Craig says his research has revealed many suicides attributed to bullying. “People are just too scared to go to anybody,” he says, noting outcasts are always the targets. “It doesn’t matter what they do, what they wear, what they say… they’re going to be picked on. Those are the people who commit suicide or it goes too far and they bring guns to school.” The Rocky Mountain House bylaw disciplines offenders as young as 12 years old. The average age of the perpetrator in the last 30 North American school shootings is just 14, he notes. Randy Borum is one of five authors who conducted a study on safe schools, sponsored by the US Secret Service and Justice Department. He studied 40 school shootings and learned that by the time you can single out the violent offender in your school, it’s too late. Over the past 25 years, many US shooters were victims of bullying, depressed, had suicidal thoughts or used weapons in the past. He advises police and educators to create a school culture where youth don’t develop feelings of alienation in the first place. Instead of singling out potential shooters, pay attention to students who may be troubled and discover what may be causing them to feel this way. The most surprising commonality he found was that other students were fully aware of a peer’s dangerous plans, yet rarely told staff about them before an attack. Quebec passed an anti-harrassment law, the first of its kind in North America, in June which makes companies responsible for preventing hostile behaviour and intimidation in the workplace. “It is interesting that, as we struggle to determine a response to bullying by children, whose brains have not developed to the point where they can fully understand the ramifications of their behaviors, there is a growing concern for bullying among adults in the workplace,” notes York University psychology professor Debra Pepler. Pepler and her colleagues launched the CaAUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

nadian Initiative for the Prevention of Bullying (CIPB) last year. “In our research… we found that half the children whom we saw bully others were also observed being victimized by their peers,” Pepler said. “Whatever way we measure it, we find that the children who both bully and are victimized are at (the) highest risk for psychological problems.” Pepler finds it intriguing that Canada has a more proactive and positive approach to adult bullying and harassment than for children and youth and says there is still much to learn. Quebec’s law begins by identifying the problem and providing counseling for those involved, she notes. Pepler sees the anti-bullying session process in Rocky Mountain House as a chance for bullies to come away with positive experiences. “There is no question that the extreme forms of bullying are against the criminal code... the response however to children who bully must be formative,” she says, adding “in other words, it must teach the children something and provide support for the skills, attitudes and social experiences that they are lacking. “This is not to say there should not be consequences. When children violate the right for safety, there should be consequences, but consequences that offer the child an opportunity to find a positive means of acquiring status and leadership.” Brent Craig is a bylaw enforcement officer in the town of Rocky Mountain House Alberta and can be contacted at bcraig@rockymtnhouse.com

June 2003

Bully Bylaw Part 1 Definitions 1. In this bylaw: a) ‘Bullied’ means “the harassment of others by the real or threatened infliction of physical violence and attacks, racially or ethnically-based verbal abuse and gender-based put-downs, verbal taunts, name calling and put downs, written or electronically transmitted, or emotional abuse, extortion or stealing of money and possessions and social out casting.” b) ‘Minor’ means an individual under 18 years of age. c) ‘Peace officer’ means “a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or a special constable appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Police Act, Revised Statutes of Alberta, 2000, chapter P-17 and all amendments or successors thereto.” d) ‘Public place’ means “any place, including privately owned or leased property, to which the public reasonably has or is permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise, within the corporate limits of the Town of Rocky Mountain House.” e) ‘Violation ticket’ means “a violation ticket as defined in the Provincial Offences Procedure Act.” Part 2 Enforcement No person shall, in any public place: 1. a) Communicate either directly or indirectly, with any person in a way that causes the person, reasonably in all the circumstances, to feel bullied. b) While not taking part in any action described in part 2, section 1(a), encourage or cheer on, any person described in part 2, section 1(a). 2. Any person who contravenes part 2, section 1(a) of this bylaw is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable a) for a first offence, to a specified penalty of $250.00; and b) for a second, or subsequent offences, to a fine not exceeding $1,000.00; and in default of payment of the fine and costs, to imprisonment for six months. 3. Any person who contravenes part 2, section 1(b) of this bylaw is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and is liable a) for a first offence, to a specified penalty of $100.00; and b) for a second offence or subsequent offences, to a

fine not exceeding $250.00; and in default of payment of the fine and costs, to imprisonment for six months. 4. If a violation ticket is issued in respect of an offence, violation ticket may: a) specify the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence; or b) require a person to appear in Court without the alternative of making a voluntary payment. 5. A person who commits an offence, may; a) if a violation ticket is issued in respect of the offence; and b) if the violation ticket specifies the fine amount established by the bylaw for the offence make a voluntary payment equal to the specified fine by delivering the violation ticket and the specified fine to the provincial court office specified on the violation ticket. Policy To establish a written policy, approved by council, to promote zero tolerance of bullying and to give those who have been charged under the Bully Bylaw a choice of paying their fine or attending an educational session and having the charge withdrawn. Administration Procedure • A charge under the Bully Bylaw has been issued to a person. A court date shall be set at least 3 months from the date of offence allowing for a session date to be made available. • As a one-time opportunity any person who has been charged under the Bully Bylaw will have the choice to either pay the fine issued to them or to attend an educational anti-bullying session. • If the accused person is a young offender a parent or guardian must also attend the session. If a parent or guardian cannot attend the session it will not occur and the fine must be paid. • The violation ticket is still processed through the court system. • If the person fails to attend the scheduled session they shall pay their fine. Failure to pay a fine results in a warrant for their arrest. • If the person attends the scheduled session a letter will be sent to the crown signed by a peace officer asking for the charge to be withdrawn.

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Crime and punishment by Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Ph. D., Psych. Every now and then, I have one of those AHA! moments, usually after running across an idea or way of thinking that never occurred to me, but seems perfectly obvious once I see it (aha is closely related to ‘duh,’ I think). This happened to me recently when I began reading What is a crime? — a Law Commission of Canada discussion paper. A friend sent it to me ages ago and I carried it around for almost a year — so you can see how enthusiastic I was about the whole topic. I mean, geez, what’s there to say about “what is a crime” anyhow? Crime is the stuff in the Criminal Code that gets you sent to jail; how tricky is that? I assumed it would be full of technicalities and trivialities that only a lawyer could ﬁnd interesting. The paper turned out to be quite thought provoking, causing little light bulbs to go off in my head and changing the way I think about crime and behaviour. Many have a simplistic view of the subject — if something is bad and against society’s interests, you make it a crime, add it to the Criminal Code, put “thou shalt not...” in front and punish people who do it — send them to jail or something. It’s all based on certain assumptions: • people will be less likely to do something if it’s made a crime • we can catch and punish criminals • punishing criminals makes them less likely to

commit another crime • we all know and agree about what is right and wrong • making more things illegal will make society safer • most crime is committed by scary, bad people out there on the streets OK — when it’s put that way, I guess we all know things are not quite that simple, but it’s sure easy to forget all those minor details and things we really do know — like most criminals are never caught, punishment is not really a deterrent, it’s not always clear — and we don’t all agree — what’s right or wrong, not everyone can control their behaviour to the same degree, some things are ‘badder’ than others... and we ALL do things that are bad now and then. One of the Law Commission’s jobs is to decide if there are laws we have but don’t need and laws we need but don’t have. All the hoopla around decriminalizing marijuana gives you an idea of how complex their job is. I don’t think you’ll ever find anyone who thinks it’s just fine to spend your life stoned (even people who spend their lives stoned), but people DO disagree about whether the Criminal Code is the way to influence people not to do that. Think about laws related to alcohol—its sale, use and whether one should get in a car after drinking — or my favourite topic, what to do about mentally ill people who commit

crimes ans what role the Criminal Code should play. Let me back up a bit. This “what is a crime” document basically suggests society’s overall goal is encouraging good and discouraging bad behaviour. In coming up with a society that we are all mostly OK with living in, we have to find ways to gently nudge people in that direction and get them to play by our rules. Now, this is where some others cavalierly say, “so if you don’t want people to do something—pass a law.” As the commission people point out though, criminal law is only one of several ways to make people behave, and is often not the best. They talk about six other mechanisms: • Regulation - rules and standards generally enforced by professional bodies and industry regulators • Surveillance — cameras, videos and stuff like that • Therapeutic approaches — used for things like excessive alcohol consumption or gambling • Public education — “drinking and driving” • Community supports - things like anger management groups, exit programs for sex trade workers and restorative justice initiatives • Reward programs - tax incentives for conducting certain types of research and development or employing youth, for example What I found interesting about the list is that it never occurred to me to make it — or to put criminal law in the same category as some of these things. When you back up from the immediate issue and think more broadly though, it becomes apparent that the overall goal of all these things is the same—to create a society which encourages good and discourages undesirable behaviours, has general standards which we can all live with and makes us all happy campers. If you’ve raised a child, then you’ll know simply punishing bad behaviour doesn’t help mold them into a well behaved and prosocial member of the society (or your family!). It’s easy to think punishment is the answer, but it ain’t. I find it helps to think of criminal law in the same way—it’s one, and only one, of many tools available to help mold society. This seems perfectly obvious to me now —but it wasn’t quite so clear before I saw it written down. It’s easy to think ‘law and order’ but it sure isn’t that simple. The same person who gave me this paper also corrects me whenever I refer to the police business as ‘law enforcement’ and I’m beginning to see his point more clearly. Obviously police aren’t responsible for all of the behaviour modification strategies I’ve mentioned but if one really thinks about community policing, the list suddenly becomes a lot more relevant. In case you’re wondering, the law commission paper also talks about how one decides what should be a crime. It’s pretty interesting really — have a look; it’s at: http://www.lcc. gc.ca/en/themes/crime/crime_main.asp . Dr. Dorothy Cotton is Blue Line Magazine’s Psychology columnist and she can be reached at deepblue@blueline.ca.

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by Paul N. Tinsley, Ed.D. Craig S. MacMillan, LL.B., Ph.D. But if you ask what is the good of education in general, the answer is easy: that education makes good men, and that good men act nobly. (Plato, 428 - 348 BC) In the interests of policing and its quest for professional status, it’s time to consider whether ethics education has amounted to anything more than window dressing and clever marketing. Recognizing that without an ethical foundation, policing cannot help but come into conflict with those principles that underpin a liberal democracy, we accept that police officers and their agencies are, for the most part, dedicated to good practice. But that dedication has not been reflected in ethics education. After speaking with hundreds of police officers in ethics workshops, it is our conclusion that the commitment to ethics education in policing has been inadequate, if not almost entirely absent. Although some police agencies and training academies have provided ethics instruction, it is by and large a recent development, and even then it is usually limited to brief “training” sessions (more will be said on this later). For example, in delivering police ethics workshops as part of investigative, supervisory and managerial training for the last five years, our informal polling reveals that on average less than ten per cent of police officers have actu-

ally read their agency’s code of conduct/ethics. And more than 99 per cent state that they have not received any formal ethics education (or training) from their agency as part of professional in-service development. Given this as a backdrop, the purpose of this article is ﬁrst to demonstrate why there must be a commitment to ethics “education” (as distinguished from “training”), and second to identify and disprove three challenges to ethics education

that are often used to diminish its importance in improving police practice.[1] The “education” vs “training” distinction First, although “training” and “education” are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction that needs to be made between these terms, especially in the context of ethics education. Second, because the training-education dichotomy is somewhat arbitrary (and not mutually exclusive), the distinction is better understood on a continuum. On the one end there is training, which generally involves teaching a skill or systematic procedure for completing a specific and well-defined behavioural objective, such as accurately shooting a pistol or writing out the steps for obtaining a search warrant. On the other end of the continuum one finds education, which generally involves teaching and developing higher order thinking skills, such as critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation, as depicted in the figure below.[2]

By definition, then, training directs itself more to “knowing” something according to specified criteria and so indicates a minimal level of awareness, such as what the facts are or recognizing how to do something or the consequences of doing something. Taking our search and seizure example, in order to ensure good policing practice, one can see that training must go beyond reciting the steps in completing an “information” to understanding its application within the legal framework of a democracy. Once this step is taken, training begins to move along the continuum towards education, from “knowing” a procedure to “understanding” its rationale (e.g., being able to explain the legal and moral reasons for obtaining a search warrant as well as its practical applications). This movement from the simple to the complex is critical for ethics (discussed more in the next section), which goes beyond the “what” and the “how” (i.e., knowledge and comprehension) to matters of “judgment” (i.e., evaluation), where not only the “objective” is important but also the “means” by which the objective is achieved.[3] Challenges to ethics education Police officers see themselves as being “good” people (which is not in question) and so often either take offence to ethics education or dismiss it as irrelevant. This response commonly raises three challenges, addressed below, all of which cause a misunderstanding of the purpose of ethics education. The “simplicity” assumption A serious but deceptive issue often raised is that police ethics can be reduced to a simple moral injunction, such as “do the right thing”. Although there is no disagreement with the intent, the injunction is inadequate because

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it focuses on an undefined “end” and as such does not address the more demanding question of “what is the right thing?” Moreover, it is inadequate because it does not account for the “means” by which the end is attained, which is an essential feature of ethics and justice (i.e., in terms of equality and fairness). As a result, the injunction fails because it cannot address the complexities of the real world. While a simple dictum may work for straightforward ethical issues (e.g., whether it is wrong to steal a gold ring when investigating a break and enter at a jewelry store), it won’t work for the more difficult sociopolitical, operational and legal issues inherent in policing where the right decision is not always self-evident. If the simplicity assumption were true, policing would not be regularly embroiled in debates and controversies related to corporate sponsorship and conflicts of interest, “noble cause” corruption and “dirty hands”, misplaced loyalty and the “blue wall”, discrimination and racial profiling, deception and investigative practices, and the like.

ofﬁcers, where misplaced loyalty to colleagues and subculture is allowed to assume primacy over legitimate professional obligations. Related to the family and culture contention is that ethics does not really require separate study, an argument that fails for reasons of inconsistency. For example, the law also permeates police work, yet, not willing to take the chance that important legal knowledge will be acquired incidentally, we insist that it be given a separate and distinct focus. Just because ethics is essentially inter-disciplinary and cannot be meaningfully separated from practice, it does not necessarily follow that ethics does not deserve separate attention or that it need not be analysed on its own merits. We suggest, however, that the reluctance to include ethics

as a distinct subject in policing curriculum is often more the result of a failure to truly take ethics education seriously than the result of faulty reasoning. The “no right answer” objection Once you get over the ﬁrst two challenges, the next challenge to ethics education is the attempt to dismiss it on the grounds that it’s a matter of personal opinion and/or that it’s too ambiguous — that is, there are no right answers. First, to argue that ethics education is irrelevant on the grounds that morality is really a personal matter is to confuse personal opinion with good judgment. Personal opinions go to issues of taste and style, where unexplained and even irrational biases, not necessarily in a negative

The “I already know this stuff” mistake Many officers argue that ethics education (or training) is unnecessary because sufficient learning occurs in one’s family, childhood and/or culture. Moreover, they argue that demonstrated integrity of character is a prerequisite for employment by a police agency. These arguments fail, not because we do not learn morality through family and social institutions, but because the facts do not necessarily lead to the conclusion that further ethics education is of no particular value. The resolution of complex professional dilemmas and problems requires a corresponding level of ethical sophistication, which is necessary if good judgment is to prevail. One especially telling example in policing is that of police officers who are reluctant to report on the misconduct of other

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sense, often govern the decision-making process (e.g., arguing that one hairstyle looks better than another). On the other hand, ethical judgments are all about systematically evaluating how one’s behaviour objectively affects the welfare and dignity of another, where reasoned and informed arguments underpin the decision-making process (e.g., deciding that it is wrong to use one’s public office to benefit personally). For essentially the same reasons, the next objection — that ethics is too vague or ambiguous — cannot be sustained. Ethics education is all about making objective judgments (i.e., evaluations) that are well reasoned and informed by accepted principles and standards, and as such can be shown on some level to be right or wrong. There may be disagreement, but this does not invalidate the discipline and is no different than what is found in the study of law and its application to policing (e.g., consider judicial decisions interpreting constitutional law on the right to counsel or search warrants). Moreover, ambiguity is often a function of the complexity of the issue, which is not only true for questions of ethics and law, but also for accounting, statistics, medicine, etc. Complex issues that have significant consequences for others require deliberate and special consideration. However, the more one engages in a rigorous study of the relevant discipline, the more competent one becomes to address the issues and minimize apparent ambiguity. For example, how subjective intent can be objectively determined may be confusing to the lay person, but it is well understood by the professionally trained judge, lawyer and police officer. The situation is no different in applied ethics, where higher learning can provide one with the requisite knowledge, cognitive skills and theoretical models to resolve difficult problems and dilemmas both confidently and professionally.[4] Conclusions Although external rules (legislation and professional codes of conduct) and administrative controls (policies) are present in a profession to regulate behaviour, such strategies only identify minimum benchmarks, where the obligation is to avoid wrong actions. Alternatively, if the policing profession can achieve strong internalised accountability in its members, developed and reinforced through educational initiatives, there should be less dependence on external mechanisms and a greater personal commitment to the affirmative side of ethics, where the obligation

is to perform right actions. We are not suggesting that ethics education is some kind of magic bullet that will cure the profession of whatever it is that ails it. But if police really are serious about being a principled profession, then they will make ethics an educational priority, just as they do for law, investigative techniques, ofﬁcer safety, and so on. Given the role of police ofﬁcers in a democracy and the incredible power that society has entrusted to them, ethics education, in our view, is a moral imperative that requires substantive, not just rhetorical, commitment. 1.

See also Paul Tinsley and Craig MacMillan, “Police Ethics Education: A Waste of Time?” The Police Chief 69 (August 2002): 92-97; and Craig MacMillan and Paul Tinsley, “Challenges for Ethics in Policing: It’s Time to Walk the Talk,” RCMP Gazette 64 (2002): 34.

Adapted from Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals: Handbook I, Cognitive Domain (Toronto: Longmans, 1956).

For a good article on decision-making in the context of ethical leadership, see Katherine Owens and Jeffrey Pﬁefer, “Police Leadership and Ethics: Training and Policy Recommendations,” Canadian Journal of Police & Security Services 1 (Summer 2003): 124-135.

For example, see David Evans and Craig MacMillan, Ethical Reasoning in Policing, Corrections, and Security (2nd ed.) (Toronto: Emond Montgomery Publications Ltd., 2003), which is directed at providing ethics education for law enforcement and presents a police-based framework specifically developed for ethical decision-making.

Paul Tinsley, B.A., M.A. (Simon Fraser), Ed.D. (UBC). Currently the Deputy Chief of the Abbotsford Police Department (B.C.) and has over 25 years policing experience. He will retire this year to take up a faculty position in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University College of the Fraser Valley. Inspector Craig MacMillan, B.A. (Lethbridge), M.A. (Brock), LL.B. (Dalhousie), Ph.D. (UBC), British Columbia Bar (1994), has over 20 years experience in the justice system as an RCMP ofﬁcer, lawyer, researcher, academic, author, and teacher.

LONDON (AP) — Police in Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States are planning joint patrols of Internet chat rooms in search of pedophiles, a senior British officer said in June. Forces from the four countries hope to introduce a “24/7 police presence on the Internet,’’ said Assistant Chief Cst. Jim Gamble of the National Crime Squad. Speaking at the end of a three-day meeting involving the squad, the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Australian Federal Police, Gamble said officers in different countries would take turns to keep a round-the-clock watch on the Net. While the number of officers assigned to chat patrol is expected to be modest, the forces hope their program will have a deterrent effect. “We are not looking to occupy every chat room,’’ Gamble said. “We’re looking to put a police presence on the Internet in an overt way that reassures people.’’ He said forces were working on developing a “simple visible logo’’ to indicate police presence in a chat room. He would not give details about the cost of the program or the number of officers involved. “I don’t think we’re talking about devoting massive numbers to this,’’ he said. In December, police forces from several countries began a collaboration - the Virtual Global Task Force - to crack down on child abuse on the Internet. Gamble likened the chat room operation to police street patrols. “People feel safer when police are present, it’s as simple as that,’’ he said. “There is no Big Brother initiative here, this is about reassurance through visibility.’’ Although police could intervene if a child was asked for his or her address while in a chat room, Gamble said officers would not operate undercover to flush out criminals. The initiative follows on an FBIled operation which has tracked down thousands of people around the world suspected of accessing child pornography over the Internet. Forces in several countries also have collaborated to set up sites that appear to offer child pornography images but lead to warnings of jail and other penalties for accessing such material. Gamble said police were lobbying for more powers to seize assets of people convicted of running pay-per-view child porn web sites, and pressing credit cards firms to do more to stop customers using plastic to buy pornography. He said police were seeking legal advice about whether it would be possible to tell credit card companies when their customers were convicted of such offences.

Paul Tinsley and Craig MacMillan are the course authors and instructors for the new “Ethics for Police Leaders” course that is being offered this September in Dalhousie’s Police Leadership Program. For further details send an eMail to cpl@dal.ca or phone 902 494-6930.

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by Ryan Siegmund A cost-efﬁcient system to allow police, ﬁre and EMS services to communicate with each other during an incident is high on the agenda of Ontario’s commissioner of emergency management. Dr. James Young, who helped manage the province’s response to the SARS crisis, says fears of further terrorism highlight how important it is for emergency services to work together.

“We saw some movement and change after the ice storm in Ontario, but I think 9-11 worldwide caused everybody to say ‘are we prepared as we think?’… 9-11 was very much a watershed.” The priority now is to learn from past incidents and establish key organizational partnerships to help deal with crisis events such as a terrorist strike, pandemic or natural disaster, says Young. His department is working with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police to plan interoperability and come up with standards so all new equipment will be compatible. He can’t predict when that will happen

though because it takes time to research and select the best technology. Planners are looking more at set criteria rather than a speciﬁc radio system, he notes. “I think the fact that we are looking at it and starting to ask questions will hopefully drive some of that interoperability faster.” As with any other market, customer demand will spur manufacturers and vendors to pay attention and give interoperability a higher priority, he says.

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Global interoperability is a longer term goal. Young says the department is looking at the possibility of exchanging information with the US and other countries; talks are already underway with border states about the best methods of cooperation. In the meantime, Dr. James Young devices are being deOntario Commisioner veloped which will of Emergency allow incompatible Management systems to work together. “When you talk about communications, there are two barriers you have to overcome,” says Young. “One is the equipment compatibility – that’s an important one and it’s vital. “The other one – the one we actually do well in Ontario – is the communications at all levels. It’s really important, for example, that I communicate with police chiefs, the fire chiefs, EMS people and the emergency managers in the municipalities that have responsibilities for those areas in federal government.” Emergency management is going to happen at the municipal level and the provinces will follow suit, he notes, with the goal being a seamless service. “If the leaders are making this a priority, it becomes one throughout the organizations. We realize it’s a real priority, so that’s a level of communication besides the technical level.” Firefighters, police officers and EMS have to see themselves as one team, Young says. “It has to be the culture of the way we run things.” When something happens in a community, emergency management may hear it through police, fire, public health, EMS or emergency planners, he says, and that’s a good thing. “The police tend to look at things from a police point of view; fire departments tend to look at it from what they do. It gives us the full picture of what is happening and whether or not we have to play a role.” The type of emergency determines organizational roles; the key is bringing what you can to the table and handling situations locally whenever possible, he notes. As one of the first responders to any emergency, police are central, Young says. “Throughout the day in a municipality or in the province, the police are reacting to small emergencies on an ongoing basis and are available to do a wide range of things when something happens. Immediately when you think about a big emergency, you say okay, what roles are we going to have the police, fire, EMS and these days, public health, play.” During the ice storm, Young says police were very effective at making sure people were safe and relaying information on people’s needs, concerns and situation back to headquarters. Emergency service communication systems were one of the best ways to stay in touch because of their built in redundancies. June 2003

Young says he learned a lot from managing the ice storm, SARS and the power blackout. “The best way to learn is to be in the middle of it and I’ve had that experience a number of times.” His medical training and experience as chief coroner, where he was “used to making life and death decisions,” has also been helpful in his new position and helped him work well with police and other emergency services. Emergency management tactics are constantly evolving and improving, he says, noting it’s important never to become complacent.

“You never say, ‘well, I’m prepared’ cause you aren’t. What will come along will be different than you thought and you haven’t got unlimited resources to plan, so constant improvement is what you are aiming for... that’s the nature of an emergency – extraordinary things happen and it causes disorder and you have to set about getting order back.” Ryan Siegmund is a freelance writer and researcher working with Blue Line Magazine. You can contact Ryan at editor@blueline.ca.

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by Craig Best It was a hot humid July day. Constable Jeffries was wishing he had taken his vacation in July like his wife had been nagging him to do. Well, nothing could be done about that now. As he passed St. Lawrence and Dorchester, he noticed the small frame of a man he had chased two days prior for purse snatching. He had nothing in his hands but a pop can and he appeared to be alone. Jeffries decided to turn at the next corner and come back down the lane where he could approach unseen and make the collar. He parked his cruiser away from the corner and walked to the edge of the wall. The suspect was only two feet from him now and still relax-

ing in the shade of the building. The constable leaped out of his hiding place telling him he was under arrest. Just then the pain came. A terrible burning of his eyes and face was all he could remember and then he couldn’t see. The pop can had a squirting device which sent streams of acid into the constable’s face. A very good friend of mine once told me if you want to stay alive and safe while still being effective in crime fighting, you have to put yourself in the “bad guys” shoes. In other words think like him. Ask yourself how you would act if you were him. Normally police officers have had a very normal middle class upbringing and now more officers are coming straight out of colleges and

into police work. These officers have not been exposed to “street life” before being placed into an enforcement role on the street. These officers and veteran officers alike must be made aware of the weapons street wise offenders are using against officers. Unfortunately far too many departments and academies are ignorant of these weapons. The only exposure officers are receiving to this ever changing threat is by what is published in Blue Line Magazine or by surprise during a confrontation. There is a need to open the eyes of our officers to the threats which come from normal every day items such as the pop can officer Jeffries saw. While I was in Florida I picked up an item sold at K-mart as a toy water pistol shaped and labeled as a pop can. It cost me $2.95 and has a battery pack which sends a stream of liquid for a distance of approximately twenty feet. I have become very accurate with this device within fifteen feet. There is a warning on the carton it was wrapped in which read “Use Water Only”. Officers have been surprised by offenders using mild acids as well as other irritants in these cans. This is only one of the items officers need to know about. There are also many home made devices. Many items are prohibited in Canada so only the bad guys have them here. But some items are often very covert and sometimes smuggled across the border into Canada. Some, such as the polycarbonate plastic knives, go right through the metal detectors at airports and in AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

jails. Just because you don’t find metal this does not mean a person is unarmed. These plastic knives are made in a variety of shapes and sizes and some can be hammered through three quarter inch plywood. How often do you check a person’s keys to see if some are actually key blanks filed down to become an edged weapon? How often do you make a search of somebody and ignore the pen and pencil set in his pocket? Butterfly knives are made to resemble a pen and pencil set. There are a variety of knives made to look like a regular pen. Belt buckles often double as push daggers and some as brass knuckles or throwing stars. Key chains are often used to hide weapons or handcuff keys. Eye glasses sometimes have the frames altered so the stem area above a person’s ear has been sharpened to stab or slash officers. Some radical groups such as skin heads and bikers place fishing hooks or razor blades into the lining of their clothes to be used against officers during searches. Usually this is only used as a distraction so the subject can disarm the officer, use his own weapons against the officer or escape custody. There are a variety of necklaces and bracelets which conceal knives. Gold chains sometimes have thread attached to them and a weapon lowered down the chest or back in areas often missed during initial searches. Rings sometimes have movable parts which can be used as edged weapons. Razor blades are sometimes taped to I.D. cards or the cards can sometimes be sharpened down at the edges so they can be used to slash officers. There are beach bags, purses and valises which are manufactured for use by police. They have hidden compartments made to conceal firearms. These items can get into the wrong

hands and be used against officers. Law enforcement officers get lulled into a routine mode far too often. This is a dangerous state of mind while on the job. You should expect the unexpected during every encounter regardless of how minor the violation. Be polite, but business like. Don’t get distracted by excuses or caught up in arguments. Often these are used as distractions to use hidden weapons or other tactics against officers. Remember what a street fighter once told me, “Anything is a weapon if it can be used against my opponent.” The secondary reason officers can benefit by being aware of these types of covert weapons is related to the courts. Officers who have seen these types of weapons and the ways the weapons are hidden in different areas of the body can

refer to either their training or the document where the weapons and techniques were seen when defending the need for thorough searches upon arrest. I am by no means trying to encourage officers to treat everyone and everything as a high threat. Nor am I trying to encourage a “Rambo” response to dealing with suspects. I am trying to enhance the individual officer’s awareness of items which could be used against officers, thus allowing the officer to perceive the weapons before they can be used. Every time I teach an officer survival program, I spend part of the course on street weapon awareness. Everyone teaching survival programs should have a segment of the course on this topic. Be alert out there and stay safe.

OBITUARY Craig Best, a former CPR Police officer and contributor to Blue Line Magazine, passed away in Montreal on Tuesday, May 12th, 2004 at the age of 50, after a lengthy illness. Born in Sweetsburg, Quebec in the Eastern Townships, Craig joined the Canadian Pacific Rail Police as a constable in Montreal in August 1980. He completed all his service in Montreal and left in 1995, at which time he held the rank of Sergeant-Major. Craig was immensely qualified in a multitude of officer survival techniques, including certification by CASCO as Instructor and Instructor-Trainer for Monadnock Batons, Defensive Tactics Instructor - Kent State University, PPCT Management Systems and PPCT Defensive Tactics, Firearms Instructor, Sceptor Baton Instructor, Revolver to Pistol Transition Instructor and numerous Police Technology courses. Craig made his editorial debut in Blue Line Magazine in April 1989. The magazine was barely two months old when he contacted the publisher to become a regular columnist. Craig was also notable to Blue Line Magazine in that he was listed as paid subscriber number 00001 for many years until the database was converted. It was a credit to his enthusiasm toward advancing professionalism in Canadian Law Enforcement. “It is rare to find a person with physical talent and keen enthusiasm coupled with writing ability,” said Morley Lymburner, Publisher of Blue Line Magazine. “Craig had all of this and more. His willingness to share his knowledge with officers across the country is a testimony to his sense of pride in his profession.” He is survived by his daughter Jennifer, son Kristopher and his wife Dany. June 2003

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Fantino responds to Ferguson report by Kathryn Lymburner Toronto Police Service (TPS) chief Julian Fantino’s response to the Ferguson report on TPS misconduct followed the basic outline used by the former Superior Court judge. Ferguson submitted his report, which was commissioned by Fantino, and its 32 recommendations in January, 2003 but the lengthy document wasn’t made public until this year. It examines the practices and procedures of the service, its internal reports and the way it handles disclosure of proven or alleged police misconduct. Disclosure of police misconduct The process of supplying information about police misconduct to a Crown attorney upon written request has been incorporated into police policy, Fantino says and is under the direction of the professional standards (ps) risk management unit. He also notes that the force will contest and refuse to produce applications or subpoenas unless ordered to do so by a court. Information for the Crown shall be obtained through the TPS PS Information System; it currently doesn’t have all the data necessary to meet the criteria established in Ferguson’s recommendations and will be unable to operate as the sole information source for approximately another ﬁve years. Recruitment and employment The TPS employment unit must be substantially upgraded, given sufﬁciently skilled personnel and its budget increased, says Fantino. The unit works with the Recruiting Coalition Advisory Committee, which consists of community and service members and representatives of Toronto Residents in Partnership

(TRIP). This group discusses the progress of current initiatives, advises on strategies to meet organizational needs and forms part of the unit’s project plan. The service has recognized the need to maintain a high quality

recruitment program, recently hiring a commander for the unit and elevating the role to the equivalent of a uniformed superintendent. The unit manager will review the recruitment program and advise on enhancements to ensure that it remains focused on achieving results. Fantino notes that a targeted and focused recruiting plan has been developed and implemented -- an ongoing, ‘living document’ developed to meet

the organizational needs of the service which will be continually monitored and amended as necessary. Ferguson recommends the TPS conduct recruiting programs at all local high schools to reach potential candidates. In response, Fantino acknowledges the many benefits of this active recruitment but says budgetary and resource restraints prevent the unit from attending all area schools. Instead members of the divisional community response units have been trained in the constable selection system and provided with recruiting posters and mentoring information. Active recruitment at the university and college level is done through job fairs and advertisements, with special emphasis placed on students enrolled in police foundations programs. The recruitment team also currently delivers comprehensive bimonthly information sessions for applicants at police headquarters. Fantino disagrees with Ferguson’s recommendation to hire full-time psychologists on a permanent basis. Psychologists are currently hired under contract, in keeping with current budgetary limitations and the moratorium on hiring civilian staff. The service has long been aware of the value of psychological assessment of new recruits as part of the selection process, he notes, however having psychologists interview all promotional candidates wouldn’t be economically feasible. Fantino does agree with conducting psychological tests for potential transfers to sensitive or high-risk areas. The implementation committee is currently working to define the exact criteria associated with this recommendation. Ferguson recommends the unit hire a career development officer for uniformed members. Fantino agrees this new position is important but argues it should be under human resources and again notes that budget and staffing limitations will determine the timing. Transfers, promotions, supervision, training and continuing education Ferguson recommends candidates for promotion or transfer to high-risk or sensitive units also be required to provide information on their personal financial background. The service agrees with the intent of this recommendation but is concerned that it includes all management and supervisory positions. It’s established a sub committee to determine which units are sensitive or high-risk and other criteria. The Ferguson report proposes supervisors shouldn’t be promoted until they successfully complete a designated course on management skills, ethics and integrity. Currently, constables being promoted to sergeants are required to complete the management level one supervisory

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course. An executive development course for more senior positions is being created and candidates will have to attend the course before being promoted. In the meantime, staff sergeants, civilian supervisors and senior officers will continue to be trained following promotion. The training and education unit has added ethics and integrity training to all TPS courses and offers a dedicated course on the subject. Fantino notes that the management and evaluation of risks in investigations (MERI) course is specifically geared towards members attached to high-risk units. All front line officers are required to take a comprehensive five-day advanced patrol training course with an ethics component and a mandatory, one day, servicewide ethics training course is in the works. Professional standards investigative unit Ferguson’s report suggests that the PS investigative unit - criminal investigations be moved to a separate and independent location. The service agrees but notes a move would be costly and can’t be done until budgets permit. Fantino also agrees that the unit must ensure it has enough highly skilled and adequately trained investigators to promptly, thoroughly and professionally investigate all complaints and early warnings of serious police misconduct or corruption. He says the service established the PS risk management unit to oversee a behavioural early warning system. It’s essential that criminal investigators be able to conduct integrity testing of specific areas free from entrapment, Ferguson wrote. In response, the service recently established an investigative support section to provide intelligence lead integrity testing or surveillance operations directed at any allegation of serious or criminal misconduct. Informers and agents Ferguson suggests the force implement London’s source management system but Fantino says differences in English and Canadian legal processes prevent TPS from directly using the system. A working group has generated a draft plan to implement the system based on Canadian law. Currently, the handling of informants is regularly audited and that will continue with the new system. Ferguson suggests that a person with extensive law enforcement experience but totally independent of both the force and city conduct audits; the service currently employs auditors, accountants and individuals with police experience who report directly to the chief, so Fantino argues it’s unnecessary to take the audit outside the service. Most of Ferguson’s recommendations will take time to assess and implement, Fantino says. The chief will advise the police services board on the implementation process or revised status of any recommendation twice a year; the first report is to be submitted to the board’s October meeting. Persons wishing to get a complete copy of this report may do so by going to the web site of the Toronto Police Services Board at www.torontopoliceboard.on.ca. June 2003

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RCMP and First Nations agree to talk by Ryan Siegmund The RCMP and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) say an agreement to improve communications is the key to enhancing aboriginal community and police officer safety. Leading to the signing of a public safety and cooperation protocol, the national agreement is the first ever signed between the two organizations. Servicing aboriginal communities is one of the force’s strategic priorities, says RCMP Inspector Conrad Dilarand of National Aboriginal Policing Services, who notes the protocol is still very much a work in progress. “We thought the protocol would just formalize our relationship a little more,” he says. “The whole purpose is to establish a reciprocaltype relationship and to stave off and prevent potential conflict before it happens. You know if there was a dispute, we could resolve it as quickly as possible with all the key players involved.” Identifying those key players is the first item of business and Dilarand says the protocol will also work to recognize the roles and responsibilities of each. “It’s to ensure that you’re phoning the right people,” he says. “You’re not picking up the phone and going through ten to get to the right one. You want to know who’s the appointed one and, in his or her absence, the next point of contact.” Finding the proper person to talk to could take days, he notes. Now “the RCMP is compiling their list (contacts) and the AFN is compiling theirs” and each will be distributed to members. There are already good relationships in place -- “I can say that for BC, Saskatchewan,

Manitoba and out East, they know who their main point of contact is, but here in Ottawa, we don’t know who they are,” he says. Protocol developers are looking at how to remedy that. Dilarand says if it’s an issue that can be dealt with at a local level, then that should happen. “There’s no need for a national approach or a national strategy to bring about resolution.” Protocols will only be implemented with the consent of the community in areas where the RCMP has jurisdiction. “Nothing will be imposed on them; they will have a say in the matter.” An example of this could be a road block set up in the First Nation community of Peguis,

where intervention by the AFN and RCMP would have to be backed by the community that wants to talk to government. “They can invite AFN to negotiate for them and we’d have an identified divisional Aboriginal Policing Services section there in that province. It would ask them to go facilitate a meeting and/or try to avoid a conflict,” Dilarand says, stressing that “if the community doesn’t want the AFN involved, they wouldn’t even show up there.” While intervention by the joint response team is optional, Dilarand says both organizations are working to interpret what the issues are within the First Nation and aboriginal communities. “Every community has its own challenge, social issues and crime problems” -- suicide, for example, which can be addressed with social agencies and perhaps national programs that can be brought to the community. Another community may have a problem with illegal drugs or bootleggers in the community, he says, and could teach youth about the dangers in the school system. Other options could include a citizens on patrol campaign -- as long as the community approves. “No longer can we go and fix problems; we have to be in partnership with the community to address the problems together.” The AFN will help the RCMP develop culturally appropriate training, since “you have to understand the history of the aboriginal people” to deliver an appropriate cultural policing service. “We have a training course developed right now called ‘Aboriginal Perceptions Training’ and it goes through the history of the Aboriginal people in Canada. As time goes on, training needs to be updated and we need a sounding board to ensure we’re on the right track with it.” The training will be ‘tweaked’ to suit the different First Nations cultures and people in the area -- not an easy job considering the Mounties’ have 285 detachments serving 607 aboriginal communities across Canada. “To ensure that one group is not offended by a component of it, it has to be applicable at a national level. Maybe we have to look at some part of the course and allow opportunities for them to localize that particular aspect of training… maybe the community member will be part of the response team, to provide some advice, experience and knowledge of the area.” The RCMP and AFN will continue meeting to determine the next steps. “Perhaps we should have had something like this in place a long time ago because it is a real simple process,” Dilarand says. Such an approach wasn’t necessarily overlooked, he says, just not formalized. “There was no structure. There were these relationships developed, but when nothing is formalized, it has a tendency to get lost... “If we can stave off conflict in the earliest possible incidence -- well that’s our ultimate goal.” Ryan Siegmund is a freelance writer and researcher working with Blue Line Magazine. You can contact Ryan at editor@blueline.ca.

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Managing image through branding and positioning What does your police service stand for? by Mark Giles In today’s image-conscious business world, both private and public sector organizations devote considerable effort and resources to informing the public of their programs, policies, achievements and challenges. Getting information out to the public is commendable – police services today are expected to be transparent with the communities they serve – but mass information dissemination can be a double-edged sword. It provides details on public safety and police programs but can be confusing, resulting in information overload, if not distributed using a strategy that links the various communication efforts together along a common theme. A common theme leads to an image. To achieve a clear, consistent and distinct image, police organizations must ensure they are positioned and branded properly so their internal and external audiences understand what they represent. Public verses private sector branding Branding is traditionally associated with the private sector – McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Canadian Tire have mastered the branding process. For public sector organizations, including police services, the audience and geographical areas are more clearly deﬁned and marketing and organizational options more limited, but the branding process is still important. “A good brand can help a public sector organization stand out in government at any level,” said Josef Jurkovic, a director with Ottawa’s Centre for Excellence in Communications (CEC). “Police organizations with obvious

strengths can brand themselves accordingly and be known for their high-quality service and areas of expertise.” Brand image A strong brand is more than a logo, although a crest/logo and visuals are an important part of a good police brand. Brand image incorporates an organization’s overall package – what it represents and how its employees, stakeholders and external audiences perceive it. The CEC deﬁnes a brand as: • The perception of an organization by various audiences • Emotional image that is associated with the organization • A promise of service delivery • Visuals or symbols that represent the promise and/or organization to target audiences

Positioning Prior to branding, an organization must decide what position it wishes to occupy within the market (policing world). Police services usually have a monopoly within their communities, so positioning involves placement among other police organizations. A mission statement and vision can assist in developing a positioning statement, which tells the public what the organization does, how they will beneﬁt and why it is different from others. All services are positioned in the minds of the public with respect to a variety of criteria, including professionalism, integrity, available resources and services provided. It forms the basis for the brand, differentiating an organization by placing a psychological referral point in people’s minds. Part of the challenge in police branding is deciding what speciﬁc services and values

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your organization wishes to include. Once this position is established, the branding process can begin to support the desired position. Police branding The RCMP is perhaps the best-known policing brand in Canada and possibly the world. Known for its traditional red-serge dress uniform and the musical ride, the RCMP brand represents a national Canadian police organization with a proud history and ongoing reputation for competence – “the Mounties always get their man.” Municipal and provincial police agencies are Canadian too of course, but their brand is more closely linked to the provinces and communities they represent. Not unlike company or product branding, a police service must decide what it wishes to be known for and how it wishes to brand itself. The over-arching ‘To Serve and Protect’ label is used frequently to emphasize a commitment to service delivery for the public. This common branding works well, but police organizations can be further branded, or sub-branded, according to their strengths and communities they serve. The following actions can develop your position and strengthen your police service brand: 1. Develop or nurture a speciﬁc area (theme) where your service has the experience, resources and political will to demonstrate leadership. All communities expect basic police services, so the focus should be on support areas such as youth or aboriginal

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programs, professional standards, crime prevention or victim assistance. The area selected should link to a demonstrated community need or concern – one that the local public can relate to. 2. Ensure your brand and sub-brand(s) link to and are consistent with those established by the municipal, regional or provincial government you serve. This authority should concur with your brand and provide consistent marketing support. 3. Aggressively market this area (theme) using all available external publications and outreach opportunities to send specialized messages to support the brand. Website and print publications, such as newsletters, brochures or posters, should all link to the theme. 4. Ensure your branding objective(s) are communicated internally. Fully implementing and strengthening a brand image requires the buy-in of all employees – the internal audience. If strong youth programs are to be part of your brand, then all sworn members and civilian employees should be made aware of this objective. Well-informed employees are also better able to contribute to successful external communications. 5. Seek opportunities to promote your brand in directly related professional conferences and seminars. Providing speakers/instructors, or even hosting the event, further establishes your brand among the public and the policing community. 6. Once certain visuals, including a crest/logo, have been incorporated into your brand

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image, they should be used consistently to reinforce the link. Your police agency owns its brand and the crest/logo linked to it – use it as part of all your promotional material. Adjusting and rebuilding brand image Branding is a time-consuming process. Unlike crisis communications, which are usually short-term efforts to deal with a specific issue, the branding process incorporates numerous factors over a period of time. Police services should not, therefore, attempt to change their brand image too frequently. A new and negative brand image can sometimes be imposed on a police organization. The Rodney King incident in the early 1990s is an example where a well-established brand was severely damaged, literally overnight. The Los Angeles Police Department, for many years branded in movies as the elite of police agencies, suddenly became branded internationally as a corrupt organization linked to the excessive use of force. In Canada, recent allegations of corruption against the Toronto Police Service drug squad and complaints of poor treatment of aboriginal persons by Saskatoon police officers have weakened previously well-established brands. It will take time and considerable effort to rebuild, but the good news is that both organizations have a large amount of goodwill built up over the years to help carry them though this challenging period. With careful planning and efforts to re-focus on professional standards enforcement, their brand images can be reestablished. New developments sometimes create a requirement to adjust aspects of a brand image. The Canadian Forces (CF) Military Police recently introduced a more civilian-style uniform and new shoulder-flash for members assigned policing duties in Canada. This change will require adjustments to blend the new and old visual elements. “The new military police shoulder-flash is a civilian-style design to reinforce our domestic policing role and our cooperation with our civil-

ian counterparts,” said Col. Dorothy Cooper, CF Provost Marshal. “We need to ensure that this aspect of our brand image reflects the professional policing support our members provide the CF here in Canada.” Although, the traditional thunderbird image still represents the Military Police Branch, the challenge is to incorporate the new-look, and what it represents, into the brand without losing historical significance and creating confusion among the internal CF audience, civilian police counterparts and the public. Both the thunderbird and new shoulder-flash are strong images representing the CF Military Police. The role of each must be clarified, however, so that they are used effectively to strengthen rather than dilute the military police brand. Likewise, the establishment of the Halifax Regional Police in 1996, amalgamating several municipal services, required new visual branding for crest/logo, uniforms, vehicle colours, etc. It took several years for the public to fully connect with the new visual aspects of the brand, which demonstrates why a police service doesn’t want to change its brand or sub-brand(s) every time a new chief takes over or new mayor and city council are elected. Branding is a continuous process Branding is an ongoing process and police services must work continuously to maintain and strengthen the brand. Whether your brand includes a strong commitment to youth programs, race relations or crime prevention, decide what your service stands for, position it well, and establish and strengthen your brand through aggressive internal and external communications, consistent linkage of your logo/crest and other visual elements to promotional material, and professional development opportunities. Captain Mark Giles is the communications director for the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, Canadian Forces National Investigation Service and Canadian Military Police Association, based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He used material in this article, with permission, from the Centre for Excellence in Communications, Ottawa.

September 20 – 24, 2004 Homicide Investigators Course Vancouver, BC Hosted by the Vancouver Police Homicide Squad, and will feature speakers on the Green River Killer and Picton Pig Farm among others. For information: Det Rick Akin, 604 717-2512 or Cathy Love, 604 717-2500. September 28 & 29, 2004 Property & Evidence Management Course Greater Sudbury Police Service This two day course by the International Association of Property and Evidence, provides a unique training opportunity for law enforcement personnel responsible for, or actively involved in, the operation, supervision or management of a Property and Evidence Unit. Contact: 818 846 2926 or www.iape.org. October 4 – 6, 2004 Protecting Thru Partnership Conference Prince Albert, SK The Prince Albert City Police, RCMP and Correctional Services is hosting a conference with the goal to broaden the horizons of enforcement officials through networking and training, and to assist in the future creation of diversity and equality within the area of law enforcement and corrections. Fee is $125.00 before Sept 1 and $150.00 after that date. There is also an $80.00 day pass. Contact: Rhonda Meakin 306-9534256; wpconference@citypa.com or www.papolice. ca/wpconference. October 13 -15, 2004 EDCON 2004 Explosives Disposal Conference Hosted by the Peel Regional Police Bomb Squad and featuring guest speakers on: EFE, CBRN, Advanced Disruption Techniques and Post Blast. Operational debriefs from the Oklahoma City bombing, Anthrax letters in NY, and EFE debriefings from Tucson Police. Specialist in these topics will be available through out the conference to answer questions and discuss all facets of bomb disposal. Contact: EDCON@peelpolice. on.ca or 905-453-3311 ext 3690. October 18 – 22, 2004 International Conf. on Sex Crimes Investigations Toronto, ON 11th annual conference hosted by the Toronto Police Sex Crimes Unit will be held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel. An intensive 5 day conference, with professional speakers and presenters, will focus on areas specific to the needs of a Sex Crimes Investigator including victim’s needs and the law. Registration is $375.00 ($325.00 if payment received before August 15). Registration and contact: www.torontopolice.on.ca/sexcrimes/seminar or email at sexcrimesseminar@torontopolice.on.ca or Nadine Lyle 416 808-7449.

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Warrantless entry lawful to investigate alarm by Mike Novakowski Police do not necessarily require a warrant to enter a building and investigate an alarm, British Columbia’s top court has found. In R. v. Johnston, 2004 BCCA 148, an officer responded to an alarm in a multiple unit commercial building around 8 PM. He arrived about three minutes after getting the call, not knowing dispatch had received it 45 minutes earlier, checked the doors to make sure they were locked and then knocked on a door. He was admitted by the tenant, Ghannadzadeh, who told him he suspected the alarm had been triggered by people upstairs doing tests but asked the officer to check other parts of the building anyway. The officer found a suite with an unlocked door, identified himself as a police officer and entered, tripping the alarm. He opened a door at the rear of the suite and found a 100 plant marihuana grow operation. Ghannadzadeh told the officer that Johnston was one of the tenants of the suite and that a vehicle they saw park at the rear of the building belonged to a tenant of that suite, but the driver was gone by the time he approached the vehicle. The officer went back to the suite and knocked on the door to determine if there was a connection with the initial alarm call. Johnston answered, identified himself when requested and admitted he was part owner of the business operating out of the suite. He was arrested, provided his s.10(b) Charter right

to counsel and asked if he wished to contact a lawyer. He replied “no, I’d like to call my wife” but was denied the opportunity. The officer went to the station to get a search warrant and Johnston was subsequently charged with producing marijuana and possessing it for the purpose of trafficking. At trial, the officer testified he detained Johnston to determine why he had gone into the building to turn off the alarm and didn’t advise him of his Charter rights before talking to him because he was trying to confirm information. He denied Johnston’s request to call his wife, the officer said, because he only had a right to call a lawyer and didn’t say he wanted to call his wife to retain counsel. The trial judge ruled the officer’s warrantless entry was lawful to ensure the security of the building and occupant safety. He acted in good faith, doing what was appropriate and going no further than was reasonable, the judge noted, attended the call promptly, and didn’t have time to ask about the immediacy of the alarm or the resources available. “The peace officer was granted entry into the building by another tenant of the building,” the judge wrote. “That tenant suggested a possible area of interest to search, and the peace officer gained access to premises of the accused through an unlocked door, which activated the alarm for a second time.” Johnston appealed to the BC Court of Appeal arguing, in part, that the officer’s initial entry into the suite was unlawful and that the accused’s s.10(b) Charter right was breached. The entry Johnston suggested that since there was no criminal activity taking place when the officer

arrived, his warrantless entry was a violation of s.8; in rejecting this view, Justice Oppal, writing for the unanimous court, held: In this case, the officer wasn’t acting unlawfully when he entered the premises without a warrant. Although the initial alarm had sounded some 45 minutes prior to his arrival, he was apparently under the impression that the alarm had sounded 10 minutes prior to his arrival. In any event, he was lawfully entitled to investigate what he reasonably believed to be a break and enter. Mr. Ghannadzadeh had told him that there were other persons in the building and asked him to check other parts of the building. The officer might have been subject to criticism had he left after his initial conversation with Mr. Ghannadzadeh, during which the latter advised him that the alarm had sounded some 45 minutes earlier. It should be noted as well that at that stage the officer had no reason to believe that there was a marihuana grow operation on the premises (para. 11). The right to counsel The appeal court also dismissed Johnston’s submission that the judge erred in failing to find a s.10(b) breach because he wasn’t allowed to call his wife. The court concluded: There is no doubt that immediately after the (accused) was detained the officer apprised him of his right to retain and instruct counsel without delay under s. 10(b). The (accused) advised the officer that he did not wish to contact a lawyer, but rather that he wished to contact his wife. There would be some validity to the (accused’s) argument on this issue had he told the officer that he wished to contact his wife so that she might be able to arrange counsel for him. However, he did not do that. The law is that a person who is arrested or detained and has been advised of his right to counsel under s.10(b) must assert that right. (The Supreme Court of Canada has) held that s.10(b) imposes two duties on the police in addition to the duty to inform an arrested or detained person of his or her rights. The first duty is to give the person a reasonable opportunity to exercise the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay. The second duty is to refrain from attempting to elicit further evidence from the detainee until he or she has had a reasonable opportunity to retain and instruct counsel. However, there is a caveat attached to the police obligations: the detained person must be reasonably diligent in attempting to obtain counsel. If the detained person is not reasonably diligent, then the correlative duties imposed upon the police to refrain from questioning him or her are suspended. In this case the (accused) did not tell the police that he wished to speak to a lawyer (para. 25-26, references omitted). Visit www.courts.gov.bc.ca for the complete case.

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Pocket safety search reasonable A safety search of a suspect’s pockets was recently held lawful by the Manitoba Court of Appeal. In R. v. Bercier, 2004 MBCA 51, a reliable, confidential informant told a police officer that two white male teens driving a white Honda Accord would buy Crystal Meth from another male outside the Club Regent Hotel and Casino. The transaction would occur between 4 and 5 pm, the informant said. Police saw a white Accord, with a young white male in the drivers seat and another standing alongside talking on a cell phone, parked in front of the hotel after 5 pm and concluded the information was good. An officer approached and began to inform Bercier, who was on the phone, that police had information he was involved in a drug transaction. Bercier started backing away and the officer, thinking he may flee or resist, took his forearm. Bercier tried to further pull away and was handcuffed for safety reasons and pat frisked for weapons. Feeling something in the front pouch of his ‘kangaroo’ pullover sweatshirt, the officer looked inside and saw a clear plastic baggie containing marijuana. He was arrested and a further search turned up a variety of drugs and cash. Bercier was charged with possession of marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and proceeds of

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crime. The trial judge found the officer acted properly in detaining and searching him, since police were not acting on a hunch and had real information. The search was also ruled reasonable and the evidence discovered was admitted. Not satisfied with the outcome, Bercier appealed to the Manitoba Court of Appeal, arguing the officer lacked an articulable cause for the detention, thereby rendering it arbitrary. He also contended that the safety search exceeded its permissible scope. In dismissing the appeal, Justice Monin found the detention and search lawful. Writing for the appeal court, he held: By acting on the information made available to them by the informant, there is no question that (the police) were acting within the general scope of the duties of a police officer to prevent crime and to protect life and property when (the officer) temporarily detained the accused to further the investigation. Further, the interference of the liberty of the accused was necessary for the carrying out of the police duty and, in my view, was reasonable having regard to the nature of the liberty interfered with and the importance of the public purpose served by the interference. When analyzing the words spoken by (the officer) and his judgment call to handcuff the accused, it is

important to keep in mind the brief time frame and the circumstances of the encounter. The police were investigating a drug transaction. It is therefore not surprising that (the officer) was concerned about the possibility of weapons and was uncertain about what the accused was going to do. The reasonableness of (the officer’s) actions must be assessed in that context and it is for these reasons that the pat down search for safety reasons met the two branches of the Waterfield test as well. (para. 20) Monin continued: I am satisfied on the facts of this case that there existed the basis to have an articulable cause, if one is in fact required. The conduct of the police wasn’t an indiscriminate and discretionary exercise of the police power. The actions of the police were not as a result of a hunch. This wasn’t a subjectively based assessment made by police based on irrelevant factors such as the accused’s sex, colour, age or ethnic origin. The tip received wasn’t from an unknown source and the details provided were sufficient for one to conclude that there existed compelling current information that could reasonably lead the officers to suspect that the accused was or was about to be involved in criminal activity. (para. 22) Visit www.canlii.org for the complete case.

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Fleeing from police increases reasonable suspicion Flight from police, when taken in combination with other factors, can add to an officer’s grounds for detention, Ontario’s highest court has ruled. In R. v. Jackson, (2004) Docket: C40604 (Ont.C.A.), two plainclothes police officers were patrolling an area known for drug trafficking and gun related incidents around midnight when they saw two black males walking along the street. They were the only pedestrians in the area and not doing anything suspicious. About 25 minutes later an officer radioed that he heard a gunshot in the area. The officers drove back, verbally identified themselves as police to the two men and told them they wanted to talk. The suspects ran and the officers gave chase; one escaped but they apprehended the other as he tried to scale a fence. As they pulled Jackson from the fence, an object fell from his jacket — a silver handgun, found on the ground near his feet. After a struggle, Jackson was pepper sprayed and handcuffed. He was searched and found to have $330 cash and a baggie of crack cocaine and marijuana. Jackson made a motion in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ((2002) O.J. No. 4005) to exclude the evidence, submitting it was obtained as a result of an arbitrary detention, violating s.9 of the Charter, and an unreasonable

search (s.8 of the Charter). Superior Court Justice Nordheimer concluded police were justified in approaching the men in light of the circumstances that evening. This, along with their flight, provided sufficient cause for officers to pursue and detain them. Thus, everything that flowed from the efforts to detain Jackson -- finding the gun, the arrest and the search — was admissible. Nordheimer stated: The officers were patrolling in an area of their division which was known for problems, including gun related incidents; it was early in the morning; they had received a report of a gun shot; and the defendant and the other male were the only two individuals who the officers had seen in the area. In those circumstances, it was entirely reasonable for the officers to wish to question the two men in relation to the gun report. In this regard, it is important to remember that police officers do have the right to question people in furtherance of an investigation… The officers were therefore acting within their rights to question the defendant and the other male. Had the defendant simply refused to answer the officers’ questions, then any attempt by the officers to detain or arrest the defendant would have been problematic… However, that is not what happened. Rather than refusing to answer the officers’

questions, the defendant and the other male fled. In doing so, in my view, the defendant provided the reasonable suspicion to the officers necessary for the officers to pursue and detain the defendant. The defence strongly asserted that the questions raised by these evidentiary issues had to primarily be determined through the use of common sense. The defence then asserted that if the defendant had the right to simply refuse to answer questions and walk away, then he had the right to run. I would say that common sense does not allow for the conclusion that individuals in this situation who attempt to flee from police officers are to be treated as equivalent to individuals who simply refuse to answer questions (references omitted, paras. 12, 13). He continued: The result of the defence position in these circumstances is that the officers would have had no alternative in the face of these two men fleeing but to simply return to their police car and continue on patrol. That is a result that does not accord either with common sense or with the requirements of the Charter. Instead, I believe that the “constellation of objectively discernible facts” gave the officers articulable cause to detain the defendant. That, in turn, gave the officers the right to pursue the defendant to effect the detention. In the course of detaining the defendant, the firearm was revealed and that, in turn, gave the officers the right to arrest the defendant. The arrest being valid, then the warrantless search which gave rise to the finding of the drugs is also justified (para. 16). Jackson was convicted by a jury of possessing a firearm, assault with intent to resist arrest and failing to comply with a recognizance, but appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal. He contended, among other grounds, that the trial judge erred in concluding the detention was justified. In dismissing Jackson’s appeal, the unanimous court agreed “with the trial judge that the constellation of objectively discernible facts including the (accused’s) attempt to flee from the police, provided reasonable grounds for the officers to pursue and detain him.” It must be remembered that it wasn’t the flight from police, by itself, that provided the reasonable suspicion (articulable cause) for the pursuit and detention of Jackson. There were other circumstances, including the reputation of the area, the gunshot and the fact Jackson was in the area at the time. As well, the officers had identified themselves and told Jackson and his companion they wished to speak to them, at which time they ran away. It was the totality of the circumstances — not taking each in isolation — that provided sufficient cause for the police to pursue in this case. Visit www.ontariocourts.on.ca for the complete case.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

It’s what an officer knows that counts In assessing articulable cause, an officer should focus on the known rather than the unknown, the Newfoundland Court of Appeal has ruled. In R. v. Decker, 2004 NLCA 36, one police officer phoned another to advise he had seen a person in a dark coloured pickup parked at a ferry terminal drinking liquor. The officer went to the terminal and stopped a pickup with two occupants. There was only one road into and out of the terminal area and traffic was light. He administered a roadside test, which the driver (Decker) failed; two breath samples were also in excess of the legal limit. Decker was convicted of care and control with a blood alcohol level over 80mg% in Newfoundland Provincial Court. The judge concluded his rights under s.9 of the Charter, which protects against arbitrary detention, had not been breached and there was no reason to exclude the certificate of analysis. Decker appealed to the Newfoundland Supreme Court, which overturned the conviction. Justice Dymond found Decker had been arbitrarily detained because police lacked an articulable cause for the stop, since the detaining officer had no objective observation of an offence or erratic driving. Rather, he only had minimal information provided by another officer and didn’t know the vehicle’s licence plate number, make, model or colour, have a description of the occupants or even know whether it was parked or moving. As a result of the unlawful detention, which the judge described as random and arbitrary, the breathalyzer readings were excluded under s.24(2) of the Charter. The Crown appealed to the Newfoundland Court of Appeal, arguing the description of the vehicle was sufficiently detailed to provide articulable cause--the yardstick used to measure an arbitrary detention under s.9. The court had previously described articulable cause as “a demonstrable rationale… which is sufficiently reasonable to have justified the detention” R. v. Burke, 1997, 153 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 91 (NLCA). Justice Welsh, authoring the unanimous judgment, noted that in assessing articulable cause, the particular context of the situation must be considered. Also, “the focus must be on the evidence that is before the court, not the factors that, had they been present, may have facilitated proving articulable cause.” In this case, the lower appeal court judge erred when he focused on what factors the officer did not have. In holding there was sufficient cause to justify the stop, Justice Burke of Newfoundland’s top court stated: In this case, the vehicle matched the description of the vehicle (the officer) was looking June 2003

for, a dark pickup with two occupants. There was just one road on which the vehicle could be traveling and only one possible direction since the driver was leaving the ferry terminal, Further, (the officer) stopped the Decker vehicle at a time when there was very little traffic… The testimony as to the volume of traffic is important in light of the limited description of the vehicle provided… In the particular circumstances of this case, it cannot be said that (the officer) stopped the Decker vehicle randomly or

arbitrarily. He used objective criteria to identify the vehicle. He had reasonable grounds, which he could articulate, for stopping the particular vehicle. While the amount of information was minimal, it was sufﬁcient to satisfy the requirements of section 9 of the Charter. (paras. 12 and 13) The appeal was allowed and the conviction was restored. Visit www.canlii.org for the complete case.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

House search warrant doesn’t include vehicle A warrant restricted to the search of a house does not include vehicles parked on the property, the BC Court of Appeal has concluded. In R. v. Vu, 2004 BCCA 230, police received a tip about a marijuana grow operation at a residence, investigated, obtained a search warrant and conducted a search. They found 127 plants, an elaborate ventilation system, lights, a tampered hydro meter and other evidence, including keys. One set fit the door locks and a car parked in the backyard. Officers opened it and found documents in the accused’s name, including vehicle registration papers and two passport photographs bearing his likeness. Vu was convicted of producing marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking. An officer who searched the car testified he usually examined search warrants but didn’t this time. Police also admitted they had previously searched vehicles found at grow operations for offence-related material in similar circumstances when they weren’t mentioned in the warrants. The trial judge found that Vu’s s.8 Charter right had not been breached and, even if it had, the evidence was admissible under s.24(2). In her view, the officers acted in good faith, having had reasonable grounds to search the vehicle. Vu appealed to the BC Court of Appeal arguing, among other grounds, that searching the vehicle was unreasonable under s.8, which would make the evidence inadmissible.

The search All three appeal court justices agreed that the warrant authorizing the residence search didn’t give police the right to search the vehicle, thus violating Vu’s right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure. Justice Donald held: On the face of the warrant I do not, with respect, see how it is possible to find that it authorized the search of a motor vehicle. The warrant recites that there are reasonable grounds to believe that evidence of an offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act are “in a place, namely the dwelling house.” The authority is “to enter the said place.” The antecedent of place is clearly the dwelling house. That language cannot be stretched to include a vehicle. Neither can it be said that the information to obtain provides a context for giving an expansive reading to the warrants such that it can include the Honda… thus the search wasn’t authorized by law: either by the warrant or by reason of exigent circumstances or a search incidental to an arrest. The (accused) wasn’t arrested at the time of the searches. It must follow in my judgment that the search of the vehicle violated s. 8 (paras. 20-22). Good faith Section 24(2) allows a court to consider evidence obtained as a result of a Charter violation, provided admitting it doesn’t bring the

administration of justice into disrepute. One factor courts examine is whether police were acting in good faith when they obtained the evidence in question. In this case, the trial judge felt police had reasonable grounds to believe vehicles should be searched because evidence might be found in them. Donald (with Justice Rowles concurring) disagreed. In the majority’s opinion, reasonable grounds to believe a vehicle may provide evidence would only offer a basis to obtain another warrant, not allow for a warrantless search without exigent circumstances or some other power. Donald criticized police conduct in this case: I have said that reasonable grounds to search do not provide a basis for a finding of good faith. A warrant is required and every police officer should know that. The thinking that reasonable grounds constitutes good faith must be discouraged, otherwise police will shortcut the warrant process in the expectation that the evidence obtained in a warrantless search will be admitted notwithstanding a s. 8 breach. Not only is the trial judge’s finding of good faith based on an erroneous ground, but the behaviour of the police manifested the opposite of good faith. The officer who searched the vehicle did not read the warrant to see whether it authorized the search. This shows a casual indifference to the privacy interests protected by s. 8. Both that officer and the detective in charge indicated a practice of searching vehicles on property covered by a warrant, despite the absence of any specific authority relating to vehicles. An occasional lapse is one thing; a practice is quite another and engages the good faith criterion in the (s.24(2)) analysis. In my view, the reputation of justice will suffer much more from tolerating a practice of unauthorized searches than setting aside the convictions. The exclusion of the evidence taken in the vehicle search would not end the matter. On a new trial, the Crown may have other means of proving the (accused’s) identity as a person with knowledge and control of the grow operation (paras. 40-42). Justice Braidwood took a different position on the good faith issue, concluding that admitting the evidence wouldn’t bring the administration of justice into disrepute. The fact the officer who searched it usually examines the search warrant, but failed in this case, was evidence of carelessness rather than bad faith. Braidwood maintained: This is not a case of the police running roughshod over an accused’s rights... While the cultivation of a narcotic is a very serious offence, the breach of the (accused’s) rights wasn’t serious. There is no need in this case to acquit the guilty in order to ensure that in the future the public’s right to privacy is protected; to do so in this case would bring the administration of justice into disrepute (para. 74). The accused’s convictions were set aside and a new trial was ordered. Visit www.courts.gov.bc.ca for the complete case. Contact Mike Novakowski at caselaw@blueline.ca.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

New Brunswick police fitness rules relaxed Fitness rules for police officers in New Brunswick are being relaxed. Provincial officers will no longer have to take physical fitness tests every two years, according to newly released standards. The changes are due to concerns expressed by the police unions, according to provincial public safety officials; however, several police groups said they had no problems with the previous fitness rules. Earlier in May, the province released a second edition of a set of policing standards it first issued in 1997. Among the items amended was a clause requiring all new police officers to pass a physical fitness and medical examination every two years. In the new edition, police services are only “encouraged to implement policies’’ requiring the test. Another clause in the first edition requires officers assigned to emergency response teams to take psychological and physical-fitness tests at least annually. The version released in May demands only that they take the tests “at appropriate intervals,’’ although it recommends annual testing. Public Safety Minister Wayne Steeves denied the new standards have been watered down, although he said some wording in the earlier standards booklet had to be changed to fit in with police forces’ union contracts. Mike Quigley, a Public Safety official who has handled policing standards in the province since 1992, said the 1997 requirement for physical fitness tests was “a significant raising of the bar’’ that posed some “significant challenges’’ for police services. The contracts that unionized police forces now have in New Brunswick do not include requirements for the tests, he said, and union resistance made it very difficult to fit them in.

June 2003

Thousands of motorists driving illegally Thousands of Ontario’s most dangerous motorists are choosing to drive illegally and without insurance rather than go through the trouble of getting their suspended licences reactivated, a study released in May indicates. The situation has dramatically worsened since the province implemented tougher laws in 1998 aimed at curbing the carnage caused by drunk drivers, the study found, which was commissioned by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Among other requirements, the law made it mandatory to attend a special $475 program for licence reinstatement. The study by Synectics Transportation Consultants of St. Catharines, Ont., indicates more than half the 16,000 drivers in Ontario who lose their licences for alcohol-related infractions each year simply opt out of the system. Before 1998, only about 16 per cent of drunk drivers had not reactivated their licences within six months

following the end of their one-year suspensions. After implementation of the tougher rules in 1998, the study found that ratio increased to 54 per cent - more than 8,500 drivers a year - and the trend is upward. Previous research in both Canada and the United States has shown as many as three-quarters of suspended drivers continue to get behind the wheel. One Transport Canada survey in Moncton, N.B., a few years ago indicated close to 60 per cent of those with suspended licences drive anyway. Research has also shown suspended drivers are disproportionately involved in deadly and other serious crashes. Mothers Against Drunk Driving say police should be given the power to set up organized spot checks - such as the now-familiar RIDE program - in which they could stop all drivers and demand documentation, something Canadian ofﬁcers can’t now do.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Surviving a knife attack by Richard Perry Police! Drop the knife -- drop the knife now! The assailant lunges at the officer, who’s laying on his back on the ground, knees bent to fend off his attacker. The officer’s eyes focus intently on the eight-inch blade being waved threateningly toward his face. “C’mon bad guy, be more aggressive, more like the real thing,” shouts Roy Kennedy, policing consultant and training specialist with the Nova Scotia Department of Justice’s Police and Victim Services. “Get right in there and make it tough for him!” Kennedy and Cape Breton Regional Police Cst. Terry Humber are putting 18 trainees through an intensive morning of mock confrontations. The provincial justice department sponsors the officer safety instructor course, offered this year to members of the RCMP, defence department, provincial natural resources department and municipal police officers in Cape Breton, Springhill, New Glasgow and Truro. As camera crews from ATV News and CBC Canada Now and a Halifax Daily News photographer click and whir away, trainees are timed as they attempt to land three strategic blows to ward off their attackers. Every now and then safety monitor Lisa Jackson yells ‘break!’ as

18 students were put through their paces at the Windsor Park DND base in Halifax. Here, referees watch another successful takedown.

someone gets winded or twists a knee during their brief but physical encounter. Kennedy looks like a boxing referee as he approaches the next two ﬁghters, looking right into their eyes. “Good guy, ready? Bad guy, ready? Let’s go!”

RCMP Constable Shelley Doncaster lands one of three strategic blows to ward off an attacker.

“It’s very intensive training,” says Kennedy, an ex-police officer who puts the safety of his students ahead of everything else. “We’ve had broken bones before, so we carefully manage the role-playing. These people will go back to their own organizations and pass on what they’ve learned to their colleagues. “It’s all about keeping them safe and making sure they have the necessary defensive skills to protect themselves, a fellow officer or a member of the public from potential harm.” The mock combatants are advised to fight with about 20 per cent of their full power to make sure no one leaves on a stretcher. “Remember, we’re all on the same team,” reminds a military trainer. After two weeks of classroom study and hands-on training, the officers received certificates and the praise of Nova Scotia Justice Minister Michael Baker, who introduced a resolution in the legislature congratulating all 18 participants and thanking them for their public service. Richard Perry, communications director with the NS Department of Justice, can be reached at perryrg@gov. ns.ca or 902-424-6811.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

I just found out it must pay to advertise in Blue Line Magazine!!! Thanks for the article about our operations at OPP Offender Transport (May 2004 edition). I get from two to ten unsolicited applications weekly (even though we have no openings) as well as questions from other police departments. Your magazine is a success... this response shows it. S/Sgt. Alan Zunder OPP Prisoner Transport Milton, Ontario ***** I thought I would simply drop a line to express my gratitude for your views on the current state of affairs in Toronto(June/July 2004, p.5). I agree with you, particularly on three points. Firstly, the chief is dealing with matters in a professional and appropriate manner. Secondly, 99.9 per cent of the members of the police service are performing their duties in a professional manner. Thirdly, as you stated, the solicitor general needs to take a hard look at the role of the policing services division in this situation. As you may recall, I was seconded to the ministry in 1994 and remained there until my appointment as deputy chief of the Owen Sound Police Service in 1998. During my tenure with the ministry, I participated in numerous comprehensive audits of police services, including York Regional, Niagara Regional, Owen Sound, Amherstburg, Lindsay and LaSalle. The inspections were conducted on-site by (with exception) experienced personnel, none of whom had any particular allegiance to, or grievance with, the chief, board or associations. The audits were based on a carefully thought out and articulated plan. What were considered to be “high risk” issues — property/exhibits management, firearms, drugs and alcohol, prisoner care and control, human resource and ﬁnancial management, etc — were the focus of these inspections. My recollection is that we occasionally

June 2003

spent several weeks on site in order to ensure all the salient issues were addressed. In every inspection I was a participant, the audits was conducted in a professional manner and resulted in positive change for all stakeholders. During the time I spent with the ministry we were understaffed, poorly resourced and constantly subjected to “sanitization” of all reports. Since my departure, they have reverted to a “self audit” mentality that, in my opinion, is meaningless. On-site, face to face, show and tell compliance auditing is by far a more effective approach. The government and those hired to write policy, few of who had any police experience or knowledge, see it differently. Hence the only real demand on police services is to do a great job at “writing what they do” with no fear of

detection for “not doing what they write.” Thanks for doing what you do and doing it right. Dennis W. Player Chief (Retired) Cape Breton, NS ***** Staff here always look forward to Blue Line Magazine and the many excellent articles, as well as Blue Line News Week. It is amazing the number of major situations that occur each week. Your reporting and portrayal is superb. Morley, I also very much enjoyed your “Publisher’s Commentary” (June 2004, page 5) and think it is right on track. Elgin Austen OIC University of Western Ontario

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Police get new manual to respond to mental health incidents Police services across Ontario are getting a new tool that will help front-line officers better respond to incidents involving persons with serious mental illness. The manual, Not Just Another Call — Police Response to Persons with Mental Illnesses, complements other policy, education and training efforts by police services in Ontario and is a result of various coroner’s inquests recommendations and extensive consultation with those who have first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by police officers when dealing with mentally ill persons. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police had called for a practical set of guidelines for police when responding to people with mental illness. “Although most people who have a mental illness or addiction problem never come in contact with the police, we know that those who do are most often in crisis,” Dr. Paul Garfinkel,

President and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health was quoted as saying. “We know that the way someone is approached, the way they are spoken to or the use of certain body language can make a big 44

difference in the outcome of the situation. We are pleased to be making a difference for police officers dealing with these situations.” “As mental health care providers, we strongly believe these guidelines will make a unique contribution to police efforts and will ensure that police officers have the knowledge and skills to better identify and meet the unique needs of a person with mental illness in crisis,” Sandy Whittall, Integrated Vice-President of Mental Health Programs at St. Joseph’s Health Care London was quoted as saying. Ron Hoffman of the Ontario Police College (OPC) and Laurel Putnam of St. Joseph’s Health Care London co-authored the manual. It was a joint effort among the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, OPC and St. Joseph’s Health Care London. To get your copy use this link www.oacp.on.ca/uploads/news/CAMH_final.pdf&

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Edmonton paramedics serve with tactical unit by Robert Main A suicidal man enters an Edmonton office building and barricades himself on the 5th floor. Hours later, he shoots himself in the head and is found, unconscious, by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) tactical unit. Paramedics and a patrol officer are staged in the basement, but treatment is delayed until the area is deemed safe — the patrol officer doesn’t have a direct radio link with tactical and paramedics have to be shown how to put on gas masks, since the area is contaminated with OC spray. They then have to walk up five flights of stairs to reach the gunman. This 1994 incident led to the creation of Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS), a partnership between Edmonton’s emergency medical and police services. It was clear a better system was needed — ambulances were being staged outside police perimeters, which could be several blocks away from incidents, in tactical situations. The faster a trauma patient can receive medical care, the better their chances of survival. Both sides began looking at the concept of having a paramedic as part of a tactical unit. Although many people were involved, paramedic Randy Mrochuk and tactical officer Sgt. John Finlay worked out the logistics, including standard operating guidelines, uniform design and training. Mrochuk even spent several weeks auditing a new tactical class — he was treated like a new recruit — so he could decide what training a TEMS member would require. Their program was approved and, in 1997, Mrochuk became the first TEMS paramedic in a three month trial. He drove an EMS Jeep, without a partner, and carried out regular EMS duties, assisting crews on medical or trauma calls. When EPS tactical needed TEMS, he was assigned to the tactical unit. The pilot project was successful for both sides; three more paramedics were trained and one was assigned to each of the four EMS platoons. TEMS was expanded to eight full-time members in 1998 — EMS put two in the same ambulance and expanded coverage to 24/7. Each member has to be paramedic qualified. Selecting members TEMS positions are posted two to three weeks prior to physical testing. Applicants don’t have much time to get in shape, ensuring physical fitness is an ongoing part of their life style. Fitness is important to the unit; members have to carry a 40 pound backpack filled with medical supplies on all call-outs. The two day physical testing (police standards) consists of a body fat (BMI) test, chin-ups, sit-ups and bar dips, sub-maximum V/O2, flexibility test and an obstacle course, which must be run while wearing a IIIA vest. An applicant

runs through several stations to demonstrate their strength and endurance and has to stop at each to receive verbal instructions and perform a task. Near the end, they read a scenario about a tactical event, drop to their knees and intubate a mannequin after ﬁrst relieving an airway obstruction, successfully start and secure an IV and then sprint to the ﬁnish line. The sprint is done after about two minutes of anaerobic power at 100% and one minute of IV’s/intubating and is followed by a 10 question exam about the scenario, given after a one-minute rest. This is a timed event, with a skills review upon completion. On day two, candidates must run 1.5 miles in 12 minutes or less, in running attire. Applicants apply by writing a letter to the EMS special operations supervisor indicating why they want to be a member and explaining the qualities and experiences that make them a good candidate. All must be approved by the EMS medical director. Since they have to work in a non-patched environment, members must have a good working knowledge of EMS protocols and be able to work in a different environment than a non-tactical paramedic. A TEMS member works alone 90 per cent of the time and has only EPS tactical members to assist in treating an injured person, so all must be paramedics with at least two years experience. Applicants who successfully complete physical testing are interviewed by an EMS special operations superintendent and EPS tactical staff sergeant. The agencies jointly decide on who to accept and put those applicants through a two day tactical training and TEMS standard operating guidelines course. They are then partnered with a senior TEMS medic or put on a reserve list. 46

All TEMS members, full-time and reserve, have to complete annual physical testing to maintain their active status within the unit. If a member fails, they’re given three months to retake the test. If they fail again, their position with the unit is re-evaluated by EMS and EPS management. Training To become a paramedic, a person has to complete a 40-hour emergency medical responder course, a six month emergency medical technician course and a two year paramedicine program. All practicing paramedics must register with the Alberta College of Paramedics and are able to provide advanced life support skills, including: • Advanced airway procedures (surgical AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

cricothortomy, endotracheal entubation) • Administering medication • Cardiac deﬁbrillation and pacing • Chest decompression • Inserting nasal/oral gastric tubes • IV therapy (intraosious and external jugular infusions) • Deep airway suction Edmonton requires medics to complete mandatory training annually to remain qualified. The Edmonton EMS Clinical Education Department is responsible for all new training, skill refreshers and courses and ensures all members are aware of lectures given by doctors on health related matters. This doesn’t include on duty training with the simulation mannequin, which allows the department to critique crews on advanced treatment procedures like performing a chest decompression. TEMS members also must complete 32 hours of tactical training a year, which is set up by the tactical training ofﬁcer. The mandatory spring and fall training program includes: • Explosive entry • Stealth and dynamic entries • Vehicle assaults • Hostage rescue • High angle rappelling • Team tactics • Firearms training • Less than lethal weapons • Wilderness tactics The unit also conducts monthly training for each tactical squad, which TEMS members try to attend.

ing a bomb suit, for example, ensuring the temperature inside doesn’t rise enough to present a health risk. In this case, they would be at the command post, far enough back so they don’t get hurt but close enough to treat an injured party. The public order unit has included TEMS members so they can have immediate access to a downed officer. One medic covers the injured officer and his partner while the other quickly decides on a method of egress to a safe area to treat the wounds. TEMS members are not armed and that’s never been an issue; they do receive weapons training though, to ensure they feel comfortable handling firearms that may have to be removed from an injured officer. They’re dressed in full tactical gear and a paramedic crest on their load bearing vest identifies them as a tactical medic. Another officer provides them with armed coverage. The member’s primary mission is to render emergency care to the injured and nothing should distract them from that. EPS tactical prefers TEMS members be in an active EMS service and used for police callouts when deemed necessary. This allows the tactical medic to keep his or her training up to date and have the experience necessary to treat the injured. Having an armed police officer as a medic was deemed unfavourable due to the issue of trying to be proficient in both fields. The TEMS unit receives training, tactical

equipment and other support from EPS, while EMS contributes medical equipment, paid training and wages for call-outs. Each tactical medic has their own personal items that are exclusive to them and purchased individually. For example, several have bought their own rappelling harness and gloves. The team is issued two sets of each and on a training day, time is wasted with changing gear. Tactical medics volunteer many hours monthly to promote TEMS and train far in excess of the 32-hours they’re paid for. Their goal is to make the unit a success for the departments and the city. TEMS members are professional, outgoing and very knowledgeable in their field since the first day of the program and are often invited to observe or take part in field training in other cities. Other agencies also regularly inquire about how to develop their own TEMS programs. TEMS has come along way since the first member put on his uniform and entered the tactical inner-perimeter. It has crossed several bridges and jumped over many hurdles to gain respect from colleges, tactical members and EMS and EPS management. Robert Main has been in EMS for 14 years, the last six as a full-time Edmonton paramedic. He joined TEMS in 2001, became team leader in 2004 and is also a part-time instructor for the emergency medical technician course at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He previously served with the Canadian Forces, including two years with the Canadian Airborne Regiment, 2 Commando. Main can be contacted at TEMS@edmonton.ca.

TEMS today The TEMS unit’s eight full-time and three reserve members serve with the team for a maximum of seven years and have the option of leaving at anytime. The program has always attracted highly motivated individuals that work as a team. Each member who wears the unique TEMS uniform knows they’re perceived as different than regular street paramedics and held to a higher standard by co-workers and management. They’re tasked with working in an unsupervised environment and are expected to comply at all times with EMS policies and procedures. When not assigned to the police, they all answer 911 calls and work within the realms of EMS. The TEMS unit has responded to 504 callouts since the program began. That number has increased each year due to a very positive working relationship with tactical. Members have treated suspects who are in cardiac arrest, overdosed on drugs or sustained bullet wounds. Tactical medics can help police by advising whether the drugs suspects have taken will act as a stimulant, sedative or hallucinogenic. A tactical medic is also an excellent resource for a situation involving hostages by giving the negotiator information about hostages with medical conditions. Tactical medics are also called out by other units. A member will monitor a technician wearJune 2003

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Fired cop loses court appeal The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld the firing of a Calgary police officer who used a police computer to track down a woman for a date. Cst. David Plimmer was fired from the service for misconduct in 2001. He had appealed his dismissal to the province’s highest court. In a written ruling, released in June, two of the three appeal court justices agreed that both the police chief and Alberta’s Law Enforcement Review Board acted within their powers in the firing. The board had heard

that after spotting a woman on a Calgary street in July, 2000, Plimmer ran her plate through the Canadian Police Information Computer. He used the information to get a telephone number for the woman, who later lodged a complaint. The board was also told that Plimmer, who was a 10-year veteran, had several previous misconducts on his ﬁle, including grabbing a female colleague’s buttocks. His lawyer had argued he should have been demoted and not ﬁred.

The eastern Ontario village of Havelock came to a solemn standstill in May to mourn the death of provincial police Cst. Tyler Boutilier who was killed on duty during a cruiser collision. The funeral service, complete with the highest police honours, was attended by about 1,500 officers, 200 more than the village’s population of 1,300. OPP, RCMP and municipal police officers from across Canada lined the entire block, eight rows deep, outside the church and listened to the service over loudspeakers. Boutilier, 32, died while attending an emergency call at a campground. His cruiser was struck on Highway 15, near Seeley’s Bay, by a northbound vehicle in his lane. Justice Minister Frank Quennell announced in May that Saskatchewan would introduce an Amber Alert program to help recover kidnapped children. Under the Amber Alert program, police are to quickly provide information about a missing child to radio and television stations in the hope the child will be found before being harmed. About 2,300 children go missing in Saskatchewan annually. Almost all are runaways. In 2003 there were nine cases of child abduction in the province, with parents involved in all cases. Saskatchewan’s program officially began in July. Paul Fontaine, a trusted confidant of jailed Hells Angels Kingpin Maurice (Mom) Boucher, was arrested in May for the killing of two prison guards in 1997. Police said Fontaine, 36, offered no resistance when Montreal and provincial police officers arrested him in a vehicle in the city. He faces first-degree murder charges. Fontaine disappeared following the separate killings of Pierre Rondeau and Diane Lavigne. Boucher’s trial was told Fontaine allegedly helped a biker hitman kill Rondeau. The Halifax port authority has reached a deal with its former police chief. Bruce Brine, who was fired nine years ago, received a cash settlement, an apology and a letter of reference from the authority in May. Brine fought his dismissal, taking his case to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. He claimed he was fired because of his investigation into Hells Angels ties to the port. Port authority spokeswoman Michele Peveril says reaching an agreement that restores Brine’s credibility is not an admission that he was fired to block his investigations. She says it simply acknowledges that he was released while under great stress and should have been given treatment instead. Brine says he believes his name has been cleared. An off-duty Toronto police officer who chased down a suspect shooting at OPP officers on Highway 401 while his wife and children waited in the car was honoured as Officer of the Year by the Toronto Board of Trade. Cst. Douglas Barnard was driving his family to Quebec for a week of snowboarding on March 10, 2001, when he saw a shootout on the highway between OPP officers and two people they had pulled over. Barnard ran after one of the men, who had fired at Ontario Provincial Police officers. He then administered first aid to the officer caught in the exchange of bullets. Investigation later revealed that both the driver and passenger were members of a biker gang with extensive criminal records. Barnard was honoured by 130 of his peers and family for his bravery and dedication to duty at a Toronto Board of Trade tribute dinner in June.

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June 2003

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The Alberta government’s fleet of executive vehicles has a bad record for photo-radar and red-light camera tickets. A major Edmonton newspaper said it obtained records under the Freedom of Information Act showing that while there are only 70 cars in the executive fleet, half of them received such tickets in 2002 and 2003. The records attached to the 2002 Ford Explorer assigned to Economic Development Minister Mark Norris showed nine separate violations over the two-year span. That drew concern from his cabinet colleague Ed Stelmach, minister of transportation. “We should have a look at the history of the individual,’’ Stelmach was quoted as saying when informed of the violations - without being told who the person was. Norris admitted the vehicle, and tickets, are his. He said he has paid the tickets, but didn’t notice how many tickets he had. “With the amount of driving and racing around from meeting to meeting, I am driving too fast,” Norris was quoted as saying. “I don’t have any excuse for it, nor am I going to make up an excuse. It’s bad driving.’’ Provincial government staff are required to pay their own tickets. Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said he would like to see proof of that. “If they are paying, then they are incredibly slow learners,’’ Taft was quoted as saying. “If they aren’t paying, then that’s part of why they keep getting these tickets. Either way, this is dangerous behaviour.’’ *** A man who tried to sneak on to a plane at Halifax International Airport in June wanted to leave the country but couldn’t afford a ticket. Vlad Sandulescu, 29, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Aeronautics Act and to violating a probation order. The freelance graphic designer was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Sandulescu climbed over a barbed-wire fence at the airport, walked through an unlocked back door and hid above the ceiling tiles in a washroom overnight. The next day, he tried to board flights bound for New York and Frankfurt, Germany, with no ticket and no identification. When he tried to

board a third ﬂight, a Boston-bound Air Canada Jazz plane, airport authorities moved in. After he was searched, authorities discovered he’d been carrying an X-Acto knife. It’s not clear why Sandulescu wanted to leave the country. The landed immigrant from Romania, who moved to Canada in 1991 and has lived in Hamilton and Montreal, came to Halifax after troubles with family and school, said defence lawyer Luke Craggs. After his release from jail, Sandulescu will be on probation for 60 days and is banned from any airport property in Canada without a valid ticket.

number of things, but he would not specify whether a faulty process was to blame or if it was human error. Thomas, 26, is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting on April 6, 2003, of Troy Cowley. Cowley, a bouncer, was shot in the head in the early hours just inside the rear entrance of a Winnipeg nightclub. Cowley’s brother is a Winnipeg Police Service ofﬁcer. Thomas was set free after remand centre staff told him that because the murder charge against him had been dropped by the Crown, he was to collect his possessions and be discharged.

*** A handcuffed car theft suspect pulled a Houdini in an attempt to get away from his arresting officer. The Edmonton police officer who left him alone briefly with his hands cuffed behind his back had to explain where his suspect and his patrol car went. Police say the suspect performed “a bizarre yoga move’’ to slip the cuffs in front of him and drive off with the arresting officer’s car. The suspect made his escape when the police officer got out of the patrol car to sign some paperwork in order to have a stolen car towed. The suspect lunged into the front seat and drove the car about a block before running on foot. Police managed to track him down an hour later in a residential neighbourhood.

*** While police hosted a seminar for businesses on how to deal with a recent rash of thefts, two banks just blocks away were being robbed. Police said the June robberies were only eight minutes apart and they believe one man might be responsible for both crimes. A Lethbridge man wanted in connection with the earlier robbery at First Choice was arrested in Ontario. Sean Michael Clark, 34, was arrested in Hamilton and police say he may also have been involved in robberies in Oakville and Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and Langley, Surrey and Victoria, B.C. Police said a lone male handed a note demanding cash to a teller at a Bank of Montreal branch. He indicated he had a weapon and the teller complied with the note. The suspect ﬂed the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. A nearly identical scenario occurred at First Choice minutes later, but without the note. Two blocks away and unaware of the robberies, Cst. Randy Ward told business owners it’s crucial to stay calm during a robbery and always give the culprits what they want.

*** Ofﬁcials at the Winnipeg Remand Centre struggled to explain how a man charged with shooting a bar bouncer in the head was accidentally released from custody in June. Russel Thomas, 26, vanished after staff at the jail released him on the belief that murder charges against him had been dropped. In reality, the charges had simply been stayed in a lower court so his case could proceed directly to trial in a higher court without a preliminary hearing. Greg Graceffo, assistant deputy minister of corrections, said an internal investigation was underway to pinpoint where communication between the courts and the remand centre broke down, and why. Graceffo said ofﬁcials were looking at a

*** A judge threw out the punishment handed out to several prisoners in an Alberta jail, potentially changing the way prison ofﬁcials police their inmates. “We’re talking here about harsh penalties - solitary conﬁnement, no books, TV, radio or exercise,’’ lawyer Tom Engel was quoted as

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

saying, who represented the prisoners. “They don’t lose all of their human rights just because they’re in jail.’’ Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Doreen Sulyma overturned the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre’s disciplinary board decision in June to punish inmates Chester Libo-on and Yen Ly. The pair were cited for possession of contraband after a syringe was found in the heating vent of the cell they shared. Sulyma said the board should have looked into the prisoners’ claim that they knew nothing about the hidden syringe. She also ruled in favour of James Grant, who was ordered to spend 10 days in segregation and had visitations cancelled after guards found a bag of morphine on him during a strip search. Grant had claimed he was holding it for another prisoner, who backed up his story. Engel said he believes Sulyma’s ruling will force disciplinary boards in provincial jails to establish whether accused inmates actually knew about contraband found in their cells. *** British police say someone took the equivalent of more than $280,000 Canadian from an ATM, then apparently returned most of it a week later. The money was stolen from the machine in June inside Barclays Bank in east London. Several days later, staff discovered a large garbage bag ﬁlled with bank notes inside the bank. Police did not conﬁrm the amount stolen but news reports indicate about $284,000 was stolen and $257,000 was returned. Police

June 2003

said the thief smashed a window inside the bank to get into the room where the automatic teller machine stood. However, there were no signs of forced entry at the main door. *** A Quebec man who has been convicted of impaired driving 14 times was sentenced in June to 30 months in prison. Included in the sentence was six months for violating terms of an earlier suspended sentence for drunk driving. Carmond Levesque, 65, pleaded guilty to two charges laid after his May 19 arrest in Laval that surprised many when it was revealed he had 13 previous convictions for impaired driving. He was also serving a suspended sentence when he was arrested. On the day news of Levesque’s arrest became public, Quebec Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis asked his ofﬁcials to analyse cases over the past 10 years involving repeat drunk-driving offenders. Crown prosecutor Jean Pierre Boyer said he would not have accepted anything less than the 30-month sentence in exchange for Levesque’s guilty plea. Levesque was sentenced in 1999 to four months in prison for impaired driving. According to a report published in November by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, the average Canadian jail sentence in 2001 and 2002 for simple impaired driving was just under three months. Only 10 per cent of the impaired-driving convictions in Quebec resulted in jail terms.

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Forty new members of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces received their membership insignias from Governor General Adrienne Clarkson in a ceremony in Ottawa in April. The order was approved by the Queen in October 2000; appointments recognize conspicuous merit and exceptional service by police force members and employees whose contributions extend beyond protecting the community. All candidates for admission should be of irreproachable character, exemplified by good conduct, industry and efficiency that serves as a model for others. Nominations can be submitted to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (582 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, ON K1R 5K2) by Sept. 15, 2004. More information and nomination forms are available at www.cacp.ca. —Commanders— Dep. Chief Michael J. Boyd, C.O.M. Toronto Police Service, ON Boyd exemplifies the highest qualities of citizenship and service to Canada by having led the policing community in Canada in developing intelligence-led policing initiatives and combating organized crime.

Dep. Comm. Beverley Ann Busson, C.O.M. RCMP, Vancouver, BC Throughout her 29-year career, Busson has distinguished herself as being the epitome of a police officer and leader, and a role model for all. Strong, yet compassionate, she has made a significant contribution to the provision of police services wherever she has served. Asst. Comm. William A. Lenton, C.O.M. RCMP, Ottawa, ON Throughout a distinguished career of 35 years, Lenton has significantly influenced investigative techniques, strategies and legislation and has built integrated approaches with the law enforcement community at the national and international levels.

—Ofﬁcers— Chief Ean Algar, O.O.M. Halton Regional Police Service, ON Algar has shown great dedication and steadfast commitment to public safety and has demonstrated excellence in policing. He has provided exemplary leadership in the furtherance of community policing and race relations. Chief Frank A. Beazley, O.O.M. Halifax Regional Police, NS Beazley is recognized for his exemplary leadership in the areas of organized crime, race relations and victims’ rights, as well as his commitment to community development through sustained community and police partnerships.

Chief Clarence E. ‘Butch’ Cogswell, O.O.M. Saint John Police Force, NB Cogswell has been a tireless worker in the community for over 38 years of his policing career. He is known as a devoted champion for the less fortunate youth in Saint John.

Dep. Comm. William Howard Currie, O.O.M. OPP, Orillia, ON Through his personal and professional commitment, Currie has displayed exceptional leadership and creativity in improving the safety and quality of the lives of citizens and communities in Ontario, Canada and internationally. Director Jean-Pierre Gariépy, O.O.M. Laval Police Service, PQ Gariépy has had an exceptional 35-year career. He has held several important positions with the Sûreté du Québec. His depth, vision and passion for serving the public make him one of Quebec’s greatest police chiefs. He has always been involved in several areas of police, social and community activity. Chief Barry V. King, O.O.M. Brockville Police Service, Brockville, ON King is recognized for his exemplary leadership role in policing throughout a 42-year career. A consummate volunteer to numerous organizations in the communities he has served, he has also distinguished himself on an international basis in both substance abuse prevention and community safety as chair of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Canada’s first World Health Organization, “Designated Safe Community,” Brockville. Dep. Comm. Pierre Lange, O.O.M. RCMP, Ottawa, ON Lange distinguishes himself through his exemplary leadership and unshakable perseverance in establishing and maintaining strong and close connections among police services, federal and provincial departments and public and private organizations in Quebec, Canada and elsewhere. Asst. Comm. Dwight W. McCallum, O.O.M. RCMP, Ottawa, ON Throughout an extensive and diverse career, McCallum has made outstanding contributions to leadership development within the policing community. He has been a role model to youth in the communities where he has lived and has demonstrated the highest standards of ethics and integrity. Cst. Grant Robert Obst, O.O.M. Saskatoon Police Service, SK Obst’s ability to foster relationships among police services in Canada is unparalleled. He led the Canadian Police Association to merge with the National Association of Professional Police to create one, new and united national association representing all police association members in Canada. Chief Supt. Everett William Summerfield, O.O.M. RCMP, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Summerfield is recognized for his lifelong commitment to an integrated vision of policing, his dedication to innovative community-focused problem-solving and his unwavering support of Canada’s Aboriginal communities.

—Members— Sgt. Marc J. Alain, M.O.M. Brandon Police Service, MB Alain has worked throughout his 24year career as a police officer to build a stronger, safer community for the citizens of Brandon. He is dedicated to working with the community to build positive policecommunity partnerships. Sgt. David R. Ashbaugh, M.O.M. RCMP, Black Creek, BC Ashbaugh has served the RCMP for more that 34 years, 28 of those years as a certified forensic identification specialist. He is seen by the world forensic identification community as a modern pioneer in the area of friction ridge identification. He is a highly respected researcher, lecturer and author and a fine representative of the RCMP. Cst. Robert R. Baltin, M.O.M. Peel Regional Police Service, ON Baltin has shown outstanding leadership as president of the Police Association of Ontario. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Canadian Professional Police Association and has worked tirelessly for safer communities and the welfare of police personnel across the country. S/Sgt. Ritchie G. Barlow, M.O.M. RCMP, London, ON Barlow has been a member of the RCMP for 35 years. His work in the London community with organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Bethany’s Hope Foundation, the 2001 Canada Summer Games and the London Prostate Cancer Committee, shows his true dedication to his family, career and region. Over the years, he has continued to be involved with programs and services that have a positive effect in the community in which he lives. Supt. Gordon Arthur Barnett, M.O.M. RCMP, Halifax, NS Barnett has demonstrated professionalism and dedication throughout his policing career. He has made exemplary and lasting contributions to policing in the province of Nova Scotia through his work with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and the Halifax Regional Municipality Policing Review. Cst. Melvin Keith Beaver, M.O.M. RCMP, Truro, NS Beaver has made a significant contribution to Canadian society through his dedication and commitment to people who have been disenfranchised because of a disability. His tireless effort has empowered many citizens to set goals and achieve them. Chief Supt. Stuart Robert Cameron, M.O.M. RCMP, Vancouver, BC Cameron is the epitome of a leader and mentor who empowers subordinates to achieve their full potential. Wherever he served throughout his distinguished 35year career, he ensured that the citizens of Canada received the highest quality police services. Det. Chief Supt. S. David Crane, M.O.M. OPP, Orillia, ON Crane has had a career-long commitment to the safety of the public and communities in Ontario, through his exemplary leadership in the fight against organized crime. In particular, he has dedicated much effort as chairperson of the tier one national strategy on outlaw motorcycle gangs, and has been involved with the Criminal Justice Advisory Council for Niagara University.

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Supt. Charles John Darwin (Jack) Cronkhite, M.O.M. RCMP, Regina, SK Cronkhite is an enthusiastic proponent of science and technology in the management and delivery of police services. He has conceived, led or contributed to a wide array of police and community endeavours throughout his career. Cst. Howard J. Dunbar, M.O.M., C.D. Westville Policing Service, NS Throughout his career, Dunbar has demonstrated a devoted commitment towards his community, in particular in guiding youth during their years of development. He has always been there to help his community in times of need. For this he has earned the respect, admiration and gratitude of the citizens he serves. Insp. Robert Felix Dymock, M.O.M. St. Thomas Police Service, ON Dymock is an extraordinary individual and dedicated police officer who has devoted his life and career to the service of his hometown community of St. Thomas. Through his activities, both on and off duty, he demonstrates his commitment to the concept of police cooperation in public service. It is not one single activity, but the total contribution he has made throughout his career and his life that has distinguished him among his colleagues and within his community. Chief Raymond T. Fitzpatrick, M.O.M. Brantford Police Service, ON Fitzpatrick has shown continued dedication and given loyal support to the citizens of Brantford by his determination to enhance the quality of life for victims of crime and to understand the cultural mosaic that makes up his community. Sgt. Leon F. Flannigan, M.O.M. Brandon Police Service, MB Flannigan has been an outstanding, dedicated police officer for 28 years. Throughout his career, he has made an exceptional contribution to policing through leadership in the development and delivery of programs, and has created a safer, more secure community. Asst. Comm. Gary Alexander Forbes, M.O.M. RCMP, Surrey, BC Over the course of his career with the RCMP, Forbes has exemplified the ideals of integrated community policing and, through his leadership, has inspired a vision for the future among police officers, civic officials and the community. Chief Rodney B. Freeman, M.O.M. Orangeville Police Service, ON Freeman’s dedication to community policing and police accountability has resulted in significant improvements to the safety, security and quality of life in the communities in which he has lived. His leadership and creativity have earned him

June 2003

the respect of those within the police profession and of the citizens he serves. Dep. Chief Richard H. Hanson, M.O.M. Calgary Police Service, AB Hanson has devoted his life to the betterment of his community. He has served the broader community of Albertans and Canadians by developing cooperative relationships between policing agencies in overseeing numerous successful high-level security operations and investigations. Chief Thomas James Kaye, M.O.M. Owen Sound Police Service, ON Kaye has served the people of Canada with distinction for the past 26 years as a police officer and police leader and is recognized internationally for his work to promote understanding and harmonious working relationships between police services. He continues to hold administrative positions in a number of provincial and national policing leadership organizations. He is past president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. Cst. John T. Kennedy, M.O.M. RCMP, Stellarton, NS Kennedy is a caring, community-minded police officer who evaluates his areas and builds partnerships to eliminate crime through a long-term sustainable approach. He is deeply devoted to providing Canadian citizens the safest communities possible.

Cpl. Philip Anthony McKerry, M.O.M. RCMP, Edson, AB McKerry is recognized for his continued dedication to the youth of Canada, and for his international commitment in the ﬁelds of both search and rescue and dive rescue.

S/Sgt. Raymond J.L. Munro, M.O.M. RCMP, Edmonton, AB Munro is an outstanding leader who is well known by colleagues locally, nationally and internationally, and respected by his employees in the Complaints and Administrative Investigative Support Services (CAISS). His exceptional investigational and organizational abilities, Aboriginal community policing experience, peacekeeping volunteer duties, along with his drive, leadership, integrity and dedication to the RCMP are beyond compare. Asst. Comm. Richard Y. Proulx, L.V.O., M.O.M. RCMP, Ottawa, ON Throughout an outstanding career, Proulx has distinguished himself as an innovative person of action. Through leadership and vision, he has been instrumental in developing an intelligence-led approach to police operations, both at the national and international levels.

Chief Supt. Christopher D. Lewis, M.O.M. OPP, Orillia, ON Throughout his career, Lewis has demonstrated leadership, dedication, exemplary service and loyalty to the OPP and to the citizens of Ontario. Through leadership and vision he is committed to furthering policing by fostering and maintaining relationships with other police forces, government and with community agencies.

Dep. Chief Fred J. Rayner, M.O.M. Edmonton Police Service, AB Rayner has made significant, ongoing contributions to the development and implementation of activities to improve community policing. He has fostered positive relationships between police agencies at the local, regional and national levels.

Chief Supt. Ernest Harold Malone, M.O.M. RCMP, Vancouver, BC Malone has served the citizens of Canada with distinction as a police ofﬁcer for 31 years. Whether serving in an operational or administrative capacity, he has consistently taken a leadership role and has been an agent for change, adapting to ensure that the RCMP meets the challenges it faces.

S/Sgt. Llewellyn John Robinson, M.O.M. RCMP, Summerside, PEI Robinson has provided the highest quality of police service, through his compassion and dedication to many communities. In particular, the citizens of PEI have greatly appreciated his efforts towards building healthy relationships between youth and adults.

Cpl. Bryon Gary Massie, M.O.M. RCMP, Chilliwack, BC Massie has, throughout his career, steadfastly performed his responsibilities in an exemplary manner, dedicated to the policing needs of the community, for which he has been nationally and internationally recognized. He has epitomized the true spirit of community partnerships of “safe homes, safe communities”.

Asst. Comm. John Robert Franklin Spice, M.O.M. RCMP, Ottawa, ON Throughout a 35-year career, Spice has distinguished himself as a person with the utmost professionalism and integrity. Through his leadership, vision and compassion, he has had a significant impact on the national and international police communities.

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Assaults on police a growing problem by Ryan Siegmund Stiffer penalties, increased awareness and changes to the law are among measures needed to combat a growing number of assaults on police officers, says Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Vice-President Jack Ewatski. Ewatski, who is also chief of the Winnipeg Police Service, has led a CACP petition to convince the federal government to introduce a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for anyone who injures or assaults a police officer with a weapon. “I realize there are issues surrounding minimal sentencing, however I think that it is important that a strong message is sent to people who are bent on assaulting a police officer,” says Ewatski. He’s trying to get that message across to elected officials who have the power to change the law and notes Manitoba justice department offi cials have raised the issue with their federal counterparts. “We have to ensure that there are appropriate levels of accountability for people who assault a police officer in the course of their duty. It has to be taken very seriously by the criminal justice system and by the courts.” The current ‘assault police officer’ (APO) charge is overly broad, covering everything from spitting to an act resulting in death, he says. Assaulting police “can’t be seen in the same light as an assault on somebody who isn’t a police officer,” says Ewatski. “That’s why there is a special category in the criminal code for it.” He’d like legislation that would take away the court’s discretion in cases where “a police officer incurs grievous bodily harm — obviously there would have to be a sort of a level, some sort of criteria to determine that. “That’s why I think mandatory sentencing is the way to go. We’ve seen that with drinking and driving offences, we’ve done that with the use of firearms offences — assaults on police officers should be viewed in that same manner.” Some agencies attribute the increase in assault on police to more pro active policing and population growth. Calls for service increased more than 20 per cent – from 40,000 in 2002 to 49,000 in 2003 - in Barrie, Ontario, Canada’s fastest growing city. Police Chief Wayne Frechette says there’s now an assault virtually every weekend. “I think there may be a view with some people that ‘hey policemen get roughed up, that’s the nature of the beast,’” Frechette says, “that it sort of goes with the job – I don’t ascribe to that view. I don’t think our people should be targets for anybody.” The number of assaults on police has increased in each of the last five years, accord-

ing to Statistics Canada. Ewatski says they’ve gone up for the last 10 years in Winnipeg, where there were 221 incidents and 216 APO charges in 2003, up from 49 incidents and charges in 1994. “That is very disturbing and it’s very disturbing for our ofﬁcers who are out there on the front lines. We track the dispositions of those charges very closely. I think that’s important, that all police do that too to ensure the courts are viewing those types of offences in a serious manner.” While thankful that most of the assaults didn’t result in serious injury, he points out that each had that potential. Ewatski says the statistics are sometimes hard to understand because they don’t show severity, just numbers of incidents. That also makes it hard for courts to grasp the nature of the trend. StatsCan ﬁgures show APO clearance rates average over 90 per cent — in other words, the charge is often withdrawn in plea bargains. “Quite often with good Crown Counsel they won’t enter a plea bargain that is imminently opposed by the police,” notes Frechette. “Does it happen where plea bargains are arranged and we read about it the next day in the paper - oh yeah.” Crowns are likely to deal away the APO charge when the offender is up on a summary offence and the sentence outcome wouldn’t be affected. “If the end result is going to be the same, what difference does it make whether he’s convicted three times or once, you’re still going to get 30 days, or whatever,” Frechette says. “The plea bargaining, as distasteful as it is in some cases, is here to stay.” Winnipeg police have worked out a protocol with the justice department requiring that they be consulted before a plea bargain is arranged. “We’ve pressed very hard for that,” Ewatski says, and Crowns now rarely reduce an APO charge to simple assault. “I don’t know if that’s a practice in other provinces but I know here 54

in Manitoba, they’re very cognizant of how we feel about those types of charges.” Ewatski acknowledges he was disturbed by plea bargains, especially when a victim officer wasn’t informed and read about it in the paper. Now police are consulted or at least notified, he says. “We’ve also had our officers submit victim impact statements from time to time on some of the more serious offences. I think it’s important that the police officer has the same rights as any other victim — to be able to petition court relative to the impact the act had on them, their family, their work-life and their home-life.” Ewatski concedes the deterrence, or lack of, has probably played a role in the national increase. “Like I say, the majority of assaults that occur against a police officer are of the mild nature. However if someone is bent on committing an assault that does inflict a serious injury, or they use a weapon where the potential for that serious injury is there, then to me that’s a deliberate, intentional act that should be dealt with in a very serious manner… you don’t see people going to jail very often for assaulting a police officer. “Most people in society support the police and they want to ensure that the people who are protecting them are protected themselves. An attack against a police officer is an attack against society.” Ewatski realizes that amending the Criminal Code isn’t an easy process, but he’s not letting up on an issue he feels needs to be studied more extensively. “I’m personally committed to this and am pushing this very hard. Recently we just had a board meeting of the CACP and I questioned the head of the law amendments committee in terms of where it’s at... it isn’t something we’re going to give up and quit talking about.” Ryan Siegmund is a freelance writer and researcher working with Blue Line Magazine. You can contact Ryan at editor@blueline.ca. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

RCMP helping to sell Toronto by Ryan Siegmund

Canadian street. “The interaction starts the conversation about what we do, how we normally do it and why we are doing this,” she says. “They don’t normally do this and it’s been a conversation starter. It’s a long walk on a lot of the routes, which are pre-determined, but something definitely our officers are asking to do again... “Our members now have the opportunity to say ‘yes, I would like to be able to walk down the entertainment district and stop and have my picture taken and meet people who are really happy to meet a Mountie,’” Parabis notes. “I think it’s beneficial for both.” Lawbreakers beware though — just be-

cause Mounties are posing for Kodak moments doesn’t mean they won’t arrest people. “They will and they are,” Parabis says. “They are first and foremost police officers. They see something occur, yes they will definitely act upon it.” RCMP officers have also been doing promo work in the US and were in Rochester, New York to launch the campaign. “I think with the advent of the new (Rochester-Toronto) ferry (and) the (hotel, entertainment and restaurant) package deals, it definitely opened up a new avenue for people to say ‘let’s go on up — lets look at Toronto for the first time.’”

Officers from Canada’s national police force have been pressed into service to attract tourists to the country’s largest city. The RCMP approached Toronto last year with an offer to help out during a difficult time. One summer later, the city took it up on its offer. “Together we came up with ‘how do we market this city,’” recalls Michelle Parabis of RCMP communications. “Very much the RCMP is a symbol that is well known all around the world but not seen in the largest city in Canada. I think it was a natural fit.” The Mounties and Toronto Tourism teamed up to put together a campaign called ‘Do Toronto’ and dispatched six officers to do foot patrols, in pairs, through various locations in the city. Another officer on horseback and accompanied by a mounted Toronto Police Service officer patrol downtown. “With the SARS Crisis (and) mad cow, we were really seeing a decrease in the tourists coming to Toronto and we wanted to kind of revamp and bring people in, who normally come,” Parabis says. One of the biggest complaints the RCMP receives is that people don’t get a chance to see a Mountie in Red Serge, she notes. “A lot of our officers also only work in plain clothes and have never had a real opportunity to get out and interact with the public and with people who are coming to the city... “Canada is the only country in the world that has its police service as one of its national symbols, so we’re in a unique position. This is a history that has gone back almost over 130 years and we’d like to continue to be looked on positively. If we can do that in conjunction with the city of Toronto to assist, it is a natural fit and will serve us both.” The campaign began July 1, running through Labour Day and is conducted on a volunteer basis. RCMP officers roam the streets Friday nights from 3-11 and 9-5 Saturdays and Sundays. The force hopes the patrols will further enhance its image. One officer Parabis talked to said patrolling Toronto on the weekend was an incredible experience and especially enjoyed talking to tourists who think there’s a Mountie on every June 2003

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

TORONTO — The Ontario Provincial Police unit that fights child pornography will get a $1 million funding boost, Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter said in June. The money will be used to hire five new detectives for Project P, a special unit of the Ontario Provincial Police, bringing the total number of officers to 19, Kwinter said. The funding will also be spent on updating computers and other equipment used to track down producers and distributors of child pornography. The increase brings the project’s total annual budget to $2.4 million. *** TORONTO — Ontario will become the first province to require hospitals to notify police whenever a patient comes in with a gunshot wound, Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter announced in June. “We’re fixing the current imbalance in which hospitals and medical staff are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to report patients treated for gunshot wounds,” Kwinter was quoted as saying. Kwinter said legislation will protect health care facilities so they can give authorized information to the police without worrying about their exposure to liability. He said the bill will standardize the reporting procedures for hospitals across Ontario and insisted something left out of the legislation is equally important. “It would not make it mandatory for family physicians, to name one group, to report gunshot patients to police,’’ Kwinter was quoted

as saying. “Keeping intact the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship.’’ Kwinter said the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ontario Association of Police Service Boards and the Toronto Police Service all asked the government to force hospitals to report the name of patients that come in with gunshot wounds. Dr. Howard Ovens, chief of emergency services at Mount Sinai Hospital, said he saw the need for mandatory reporting four years ago after “an incident in which our staff found themselves on opposite sides of the law with police.’’ “There were no rules. There was a lot of confusion,’’ Ovens was quoted as saying. “Neither police nor doctors had a common understanding of how they should interact.’’ If the bill is passed, hospitals and other health care facilities would be required to verbally report the names of people who are treated for gunshot wounds to their local police service as soon as practicable. Private facilities, such as walk-in clinics and family physicians would be exempt from the proposed legislation. No other province has legislation speciﬁcally requiring the reporting of gunshot wounds, but 45 American states have some form of mandatory reporting law. *** TORONTO — Toronto’s police service is taking steps to restore public faith after a series of corruption scandals. Ofﬁcials say they plan to start an anonymous telephone tip line within the next few months. The tip line will allow the

public and officers to report suspicious police behaviour. The Toronto Police Service also publicly acknowledged it formed a “covert’’ squad of officers dedicated to surveillance of colleagues. The measures were recommended in a review of the agency by retired Justice George Ferguson. He called for the service to become more proactive in dealing with serious police misconduct. *** BRAMPTON, Ont. — A dangerous offender was given a life sentence in May for the murder of a woman more than a decade ago, a crime linked to him through a national DNA database. Richard Mark Eastman, 48, showed no emotion and said a quick “thank you’’ to Justice Fletcher Dawson after the judge ordered him to serve his sentence with no parole for 25 years, following a guilty verdict for the first-degree murder in the 1991 slaying of Muriel Holland. Eastman is already serving an indefinite prison term as a dangerous offender. The jury returned its verdict Wednesday morning after being sequestered overnight following seven hours of deliberations. Eastman was in prison in May 2001 serving an indefinite sentence for the rape and choking of a Toronto hooker when DNA analysis of sperm found in Holland’s body was matched with a blood sample from Eastman. Holland was murdered in the living room of her groundfloor Mississauga, Ont., apartment in August 1991 as her infirm 93-year-old dad slept in the only bedroom. Police found a fingerprint on the door that was later matched with the tip of Eastman’s left thumb. The sperm found in Holland and the blood sample from Eastman were finally matched in 2001. Experts said the sperm either came from Eastman or from another man who had a onein-1.5 trillion chance of having the same DNA profile as Eastman.

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New Taser now available for public sale in U.S. by Mark Reesor You will no longer have to be a police officer to have a taser, at least in the United States. Taser International says it’s selling a civilian model to anyone with $1,000 (US) to spare. The company said it would begin selling the X26C, which comes with an instructional DVD and a coupon for a lesson with a police instruction, in July. The X26C works just like the law enforcement version, firing two barbs attached by wires to the gun, which generates 50,000 volts to immobilize an attacker. The company says it’s requiring X26C owners to register with the police and has designed the model to spray small, confetti-like tags imprinted with the weapon’s serial number every time it’s used. The law enforcement version of the X26 discharges 19 shaped pulse discharges per second for five seconds; the civilian model delivers 15 pulses per second for up to 60 seconds, the company says. “The new citizen’s defense version is designed for maximum time of incapacitation — using slightly less energy, but delivered for a significantly longer time period, allowing the user to get away to safety,” says Taser CEO Rick Smith. The company will sell consumers only

the 15 foot air cartridge, reserving the 21 foot cartridge for law enforcement use. The gun is classed as a non-firearm and can be carried without a permit in 43 states, Smith says. “It is not a mass-market item but rather a high performance, non-lethal, selfdefense system designed for private citizens who want to defend themselves with the same core technology used by over 4,000 law enforcement agencies,” Smith adds. US police officers and their families will get the first chance to buy the civilian taser, at a discounted price, Smith says. Reaction from US police officers has been mixed, with some arguing civilians need the weapon to protect themselves and others seeing the move as a betrayal. “I feel it would be the biggest mistake ever if this tool was released to the public,” wrote a poster to the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police message board. “If you want to help law enforcement, come up with a way we can afford tasers instead of pedalling this product to the public. There is no way taser will keep this product from violent users if it's sold to the public. Thanks for giving us a small edge of safety

— now don’t turn it on us.” “Criminals already have access to every kind of modern military weapon made, thanks to lots of cash,” countered another, “so if they want the taser, restricted to cops or not, they’ll get it. Whereas if citizens can only defend themselves with pepper spray and guns, then when the pepper spray doesn’t work, they’ll have to kill — and, given the ambitions of most DA’s, that means expensive lawyers, trials, jail in the meantime and prison if they lose. “ S o r e a l l y, who benefits most by keeping tasers from the public? Criminals.” US human rights groups say they’re alarmed by the number of suspects who died after they were tased but Smith says most of those deaths were actually from drug overdoses. He does agree with their call for more studies though and believes his product will be vindicated. “It always comes back to the autopsy and the taser has never been listed as a contributing factor to the cause of death.”

Inmate chisels out of jail to get longer sentence An inmate who chiseled his way out of the Regina Correctional Centre told a judge he did it because he wanted a longer sentence. Louie Peepeetch, 19, argued with a provincial court judge for a longer sentence so he wouldn’t have to go back to the same jail. Three men escaped from the jail in May by chiseling a hole in a wall that was 45 centimetres long by 45 centimetres wide. Two of the men, including Peepeetch, were in jail for property crimes and were captured a short time later. Peepeetch told Snell he was sick of the Regina jail and wanted a one-year term, which combined with the time he was already serving would give him a long enough sentence to send him to a federal penitentiary. Snell, however, only gave him an additional six-month sentence. Minutes before, Snell ruled that the second captured escapee, 26-year-old Daniel Humphreys, should receive a one-year sentence. She said Humphreys had a longer criminal record and had been involved in a previous jailbreak in Ontario. “If I don’t get eight months or more I will try (to escape) again,’’ Humphreys was quoted as saying. Crown prosecutor Connie Hottinger said the escape caused extensive damage to the prison’s wall and appeared to be well planned. However, Humphreys said the escape was committed on short notice, and it only took about 10 minutes to chisel the hole through the wall of the aging facility. Bill Derby, a spokesman for Saskatchewan Corrections and Public Safety, said the escape was similar to a July 2003 incident in which two inmates knocked a hole in a shower wall. He said there’s money in this year’s budget to ﬁx the problem. Jason Rattray, shop steward with the union representing the jail staff, said workers are equally frustrated by the state of the jail. June 2003

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Understanding suicide by cop Written by: Mark Lindsay & David Lester Publisher: Baywood Publishing Company Amityville, NY Reviewed by Antoon A. Leenaars Suicide by cop is multidimensional – a traumatic event for the officer, complex inquiry for investigators from criminal justice to suicidologist, certification problem for the coroner (or medical examiner) and illegacy for the family. The complex event was recently outlined in detail in Mark Lindsay & David Lester’s book Suicide by cop: Committing suicide by provoking police to shoot you. Such incidents are not simply suicide – and surely more than justifiable homicide. Found around the world, this type of violence is sometimes called (and/or similar to) ‘crazy-dog-wishing to die,’ victim-precipitated murder, suicide at the hand of the state, running amok, ‘juramendtado’ and ‘(Ojibway) wiitiko psychosis.’ Some suicides by cop are homicide; a US Supreme Court ruling mandated that all officers receive training to better handle the event, and that would be useful for police worldwide. The coroner, investigating psychiatrist/psychologist, profiler and so on also need to learn more about them. We could take any classical suicide by cop example but let me present Moe Pergament, Lindsay and Lester’s opening case (their book presents evidence about many unique incidents). Officer Anthony Sica shot and killed Pergament and then had to cope with the trauma (this is one good reason why these deaths should be classified as suicide by coroners, not homicide). Here is Pergament’s suicide note: Officer, it was a plan. I’m sorry to get you involved. I just needed to die. Please send my letters and break the news slowly to my family and let them know I had to do this and that I love them very much. I’m sorry for getting you involved. Please remember that this was all my

doing. You had no way of knowing. — Moe Pergament. I have read thousands of suicide notes from around the world, having testified in numerous cases of suicide, homicide and wrongful death, and have developed an empirical way of studying them. Suicide notes are critical in classifying a mode of death but also in understanding a particular suicide and suicide in general. Pergament’s note illustrates how the following aspects appear to be key in understanding a suicidal state. Unbearable psychological pain The common trigger for suicide is unbearable pain – a deep anguish in which the person feels especially hopeless and helpless. Pergament was in unbearable pain and wanted to stop it (“I just needed to die”). Narrow thinking Tunnel vision (rigid thinking) is common and one of the deadliest aspects of the suicidal state. The individual sees suicide as the one and only solution for their current difficulties, thinking everything is hopeless and things will never get better. Pergament had to die but we don’t know the history. He says “I’m sorry” twice, but we ask “why?” He is mentally narrow minded and this constriction is the most dangerous aspect of suicide by cop scenarios – not only for the suicide but also for the officer and hostages, in those cases where they’re present. There is no room for negotiations. Ambivalence The suicidal person is deeply ambivalent – he or she wants both to live and to die. Pergament was masochistic (“I just want to die”), but also sadistic; he was aggressive and violent to the officer, but why the family reference? There is much more to this death than Pergament’s statement (the book is full of unexpected findings). Mental illness About 90 per cent of suicidal people have a psychiatric disorder, the most common being depression or psychosis. Suicidality is not a mental illness, but suicidal people often suffer from a mental illness. Pergament likely had a mental disorder since his note is not rational, but it’s difficult to specify the type from the note alone. Pathology is critical in suicides-by-cop.

Sense of vulnerability The suicidal person often feels very vulnerable, even fragile, and lacks a positive view of themselves and sense of personal strength. Pergament lacked ego strength (i.e. the ability to cope); he says he’s sorry to the officer but still gets him involved. A common component of the profile is the perpetrator’s mental weakness; some are quite harsh, critical, antagonistic and homicidal. They have not and do not cope with life, not even with their suicidal intent, so the cop is their method. Problem relationships The suicidal person often feels alone and cut off from others and may have experienced conflict and rejection. They may think they have been dishonourable or failed family, friends, society, etc. Often there is a disturbed or troubled relationship, but I have seen the phenomenon due to the loss of other ideals; in one case, the suicide had AIDS. Pergament says in his note that “I love them (family) very much” but then, narcissistically, kills himself. He had problems in attachments and didn’t care sufficiently for Sica, never mind his family. Loss An experience of loss or concern about anticipated loss (for example, spouse leaving, fired from a job, ill health, social embarrassment or humiliation) is often a suicide trigger. Research suggests that those who react with anger or aggression may be more at risk for suicide. The note is clear; the suicide was an act of aggression to the officer and Pergament knew it, but he stated “you had no way of knowing” (there is a fallacy in that logic). There’s no doubt that Pergament’s suicide was intended to hurt. The officer was simply a tool, a very good gun. The note is even addressed “officer.” Escape Suicide is seen as an escape from what feels hopeless and unbearable. Pergament wanted to escape; the officer and his gun was the method (“it was a plan”). For people like Pergament, suicide by cop is the only method and a most lethal one (most officers are good shots). Of course there is much more to the note – and suicide in general. The suicide note, in this case and others, gives us some facts but one needs to know more. The book meets that need. Suicide by cop provides many snapshots; not

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only the general profile but the unique. Many of us in the field will find the book helpful practically. Not all incidents are the same and the book helps readers get to know the subject better, learning details that may save your life. One will learn, for example, what ‘crazydog wishing to die’ is. It’s the peculiar facts, not simply the ‘typical’ profile, which we also need to know to help prevent such incidents. Pergament’s first line to Sica is that “it was a plan.” He was intent on violence, like most suicides. As in homicides, aggression is common and suicide by cop is no exception. Some are dangerous and will even kill hostages so they also will be shot. Pergament had a plan, initiated an aggressive confrontation, drew a gun, refused to drop the weapon and threatened Sica. Could someone have intervened to diffuse the incident, and if so, what techniques would have worked? Much more needs to be known about suicide by cop and how best to respond, both before and after the incident. This book has many implications for the reader and for coroners; they need to closely examine deaths like the above and learn when they should be classified as suicides instead of homicides. The officer is only the method for death, not the doer. This book is not a cookbook (nor can there be one), but it offers many legal and practical applications and I highly recommend it, and not just for police officers. The readers of Blue Line Magazine will not be disappointed. Antoon A. Leenaars, Ph.D., C.Psych., CPQ, is a noted author on suicide and can be contacted at draalee@wincom.net.

June 2003

M c D o n a l d ’s Restaurants has partnered with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to support the Kid’s Comfort Kit program, which supplies OPP ofﬁcers with child-safe teddy bears that they can offer to traumatized children. The kit is designed to console children who have been involved in traumatic situations such as collisions, personal injury, domestic disturbances, violence or abuse. The teddy bear sports a navy blue bow tie and holds

a coupon in its paw, valid for a free meal at participating McDonald’s. “The need for this program is reinforced every time one of our ofﬁcers encounters a child at a traumatic scene,” explained OPP Commissioner Gwen M. Boniface. “We have heard time and time again that the bears are successful at providing comfort to young children. Thanks to partners like McDonald’s, we can continue to offer this extremely important initiative across the province.” Some 200 kits have been handed out since the program, which is coordinated by Det/Sgt Donnie MacDonald of the OPP Crime Prevention Section, began in June, 2003. For more information, contact Det/Sgt MacDonald at Donald.MacDonald@jus.gov.on.ca.

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The Mounties The first fifty years in Newfoundland and Labrador Edited by: Gerald Leahy Publisher: Creative Book Publishing St John’s, Newfoundland Reviewed by Danette Dooley ‘Billy’ was back home in rural Newfoundland after working in Alberta’s oil industry -- but the 20-year-old got into the beer and was becoming a nuisance so his parents called the RCMP for help. Cst. Kevin Jackson and his partner found a drunk Billy, who had “talked back to his parents.” He didn’t have a criminal record and was a decent guy when not on the sauce, but his parents didn’t want him to stay in the home that evening — and didn’t want him to spend the night in jail either. As a solution, the officers suggested Billy ‘go to the motel and stay there.’ “I figured by morning he would be sober and ready to apologize to his parents,” Jackson recalls. About a week or so later, Billy’s mother called and wanted to speak about the incident. “Constable, can Billy come out of the motel now? He’s running out of money,” the mother pleaded. This lighthearted but true yarn is a splendid example of how communication can quickly turn to miscommunication. It’s one of many stories in The Mounties: The first fifty years in Newfoundland and Labrador, a recently released book (Creative Book Publishing, 2004) chronicling the force’s profound impact in the province.

Gerald Leahy

Not all the stories are lighthearted; the book also includes stories about the police ofﬁcers murdered in three rural Newfoundland communities, for example, illustrating the dangers of policing one of Canada’s least-populated provinces. Edited by retired RCMP assistant commissioner Gerald Leahy, the book is an initiative of the provincial RCMP Veterans’ Association. When the force began policing the province Aug. 1, 1950, its ranks included members of the Newfoundland Rangers and the oldest police force in North America, the Newfoundland Constabulary – today known as the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Both forces had a sterling record of service, making it an easy transition for the federal police force.

“The first contingent of the force was supplemented by 56 members of the Ranger Force and 37 members of the Constabulary,” Leahy says. “These members provided much of the leadership for the division in the province for the next 25 years. I attribute much of the success of the RCMP to the quality of these men, who acquired a reputation of having a close relationship with the communities in which they served.” Accounts from original members and inside glimpses of police work through the voices of those who served on the front lines are included in the book, which traces how policing in the province has grown and changed over the years. Though some of the most horrendous crimes ever committed in Newfoundland and Labrador are outlined in detail, the reader also learns that policing in the province 50 years ago meant much more than walking a beat. “Members were called upon to perform duties that would seem strange to personnel today,” Leahy says. “Some examples were inspection of buses, drivers‚ examinations, audits of liquor stock and outlets and selling game licenses.” Leahy also includes a discussion he had with the late Staff Sgt. Pat Noonan during events of the 1950s. “He was still chuckling when he told me how he avoided the prying eyes of the media when taking two Russian seamen seeking Canadian asylum into custody… in the locked trunk of the police car,” Leahy laughs. “Today I think we would have a parliamentary hearing of some sort into that particular method that was effective in that day.” Broken down into decades, each chapter includes an account of the major sporting, social and community events that occurred in the province during the time frame. Presented in bullet form, the notations are a quick and enjoyable read on their own or a great sum up of the chapter. RCMP assistant commissioner Gerry Lynch, officer in command of Division B in Newfoundland and Labrador, applauds Leahy’s effort. “This book chronicles the 50 years of legacy and we look forward to the next 50 years with the same enthusiasm, determination and commitment,” Lynch says. Leahy’s extensive experience with the RCMP made him an ideal choice to edit the book. Following recruit training, he was posted to Newfoundland and Labrador, performing general policing duties in Grand Bank, Whitbourne, St. John’s, Goose Bay and Bonavista. He was transferred out of the province in 1970 but returned in 1978 and served as ofﬁcer in charge of criminal operations and

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Women in law enforcement awards

From left: Division B O/C, Gerry Lynch and retired Assistant Commissioner Gerald Leahy

commanding officer of Nova Scotia RCMP before achieving the rank of assistant commissioner. He retired in 1994 after 37 years with the force. The submitted stories that made the final cut reflect the uniqueness of Newfoundland and Labrador and the people that populate it, he says, adding that it was a lot of work, but well worth it. “There were times,” Leahy says, “when I thought this day would never come.” Thanks to the RCMP Veterans’ Association, all proceeds from the book go to the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society. Denniston was a former RCMP officer who died of leukemia in 1989. For more information, contact the publisher at dfrancis@printatlantic.com or call 1-877-722-1722.

June 2003

T h e O n t a r i o Wo m e n in Law Enforcement (OWLE) held its first annual conference and sixth annual awards banquet recently in Niagara Falls. The 100 delegates were welcomed by Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci and Niagara Regional Police Service Chief Gary Nicholls. The three-day training session was a tremendous success, organizers say, with keynote speakers, workshops and plenary sessions on a variety of policing topics of interest. Presenters included well known female leaders Marion Boyd, OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface and NFPS Deputy Chief Donna Moody. The conference concluded with the awards banquet, which was appropriately entitled ‘A Celebration of Success.’ It recognized current and retired police ofﬁcers and civilians employees who have demonstrated excellence. The winners were: Valour Cst. Rebecca Vanderwater Ottawa Police Service Excellence in Performance Doris Rumsby Senior Forensic Analyst Ontario Provincial Police

Cst. Lynn Hamilton Royal Canadian Mounted Police Marg Eve Award for Leadership Midge Ravensdale Regional Director Ministry of Public Safety & Correctional Services Laura Ellis Award for Community Service Louise Logue Youth Services Co-ordinator Ottawa Police Service Team Endeavours Award Sgt. Ron Gignac Sgt. Alison Jevons Cst. Tracy Adams Senior Cst. Dave Service Cst. Linda Kennedy Det. Cst. Gary Wright Mentoring Staff Sgt. Karen Moffatt Ontario Provincial Police Law Enforcement Professional of the Year Cst. Robyn MacEachern Ontario Provincial Police OWLE has dedicated itself to training and recognition of its members since its inception in 1996. Nextyears conference is scheduled for May in Toronto.

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Intelligence crucial in fight against drugs by Danette Dooley Drug smugglers will go to any length to hide their stash, says RCMP Staff Sergeant Greg Smith. Human drug mules such as swallowers and suitcasers use condoms to stash dope in their body cavities — lubricated condoms are preferred. Smith has also seen drugs hidden in false-sided suitcases, spare tires, door panels of vehicles, ceramic dishes, wooden statutes and body casts. “I saw a guy going through the airport one time in Gander with skis and everything going on a holiday. The next day he comes back with a cast on his arm. It seemed out of place. We checked him and he had seven pounds of hash under the cast.” Smith is in charge of the RCMP drug section in Newfoundland and Labrador and spent six months recently on the ground level working Operation Bullwinkle, a national drug investigation that saw 32 people arrested. The RCMP/Royal Newfoundland Constabulary joint force undercover operation employed up to 130 officers from 20 forces in Canada and the US. The sting netted more than $300,000 in cash, 11 stolen high-end SUVs, more than 400 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $3.3 million, plus other sought after drugs headed for the streets. Police encountered people determined to evade arrest. In one takedown, Smith says, “when I was going through the front door, buddy was going out through the back. We had sent two officers to cover the back door and he ran into them with 20 pounds of pot in his hands — and that happens quite often. “They’re just trying to get away with it and they’re not really confrontational.” Most of them anyway — Smith nods when asked if anyone has threatened his life, but is quick to add he’s an “easy going person” and that all officers are well aware of the risks that come with the badge. “In the RCMP, you’ve got 9,000 other members across the country that will back you. If you take on one, you’ve got to take on them all. When somebody does threaten me, that’s the approach I take. You can threaten me all you want. You can do what you want to me. I can’t stop you from shooting me. If you want to shoot me, shoot me. I’ll try to prevent it if I can — but if you do, you’re going to go to jail for the rest of your life because they’re not going to stop until they find you.” Having such a mindset is the only way to operate in the business, Smith says. If you fear what will happen, you’ll become too stressed

to do the job. “If a criminal organization wants to do something to you, they’ll find somebody crazy enough to do it and pay them enough to do it.” The weekend is just beginning for the majority of RCMP officers working out of headquarters but Smith’s phone is still busy late Friday afternoon. Before the tape recorder is turned on, he sets the ground rules for the interview. He may not answer some questions and his wife and children are off limits. “I’m a tough old bird, it doesn’t matter what’s out there about me, but my family is a different matter,” he says. A native of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, Smith joined the RCMP in 1971. With $2 in his pocket, he’d yet to reach his 22nd birthday. He rose through the ranks and took over the 13 member drug section, which includes two RNC officers for joint force operations, in 2000. It’s responsible for inter-provincial, national and international drug investigations that affect the province. Early in the interview, Smith’s phone rings. Pin-like creases form in his brow as he listens; though it has been an exhaustive week and it’s now heading for 5 p.m., he’s both patient and understanding with the caller; it’s all part of the job, he says, after jotting down a number and hanging up. The major organized crime ring dismantled in Operation Bullwinkle is just one of many operating in Newfoundland and Labrador, Smith says. Several new groups, all competing with each other, were identified. As new discoveries are made, the section puts together intelligence packages which outline which group it plans to target next. It’s all about planning and forecasting what’s likely to happen as far as a year in advance. “This group that we just did, we picked them out over a year ago. We put in our budget

what it was going to cost to target them. We told them (RCMP heads) who we were going to catch and how we were going to catch them and how long it would take,” Smith says. The costing and time period on Operation Bullwinkle was right on the money, he says. “I’d say we underestimated ourselves with respect to the numbers. We thought we’d get about five or six good targets out of it and we ended up getting 32.” Working drug files is a unique form of police work. There are no footprints or fingerprints to lead you to the offender; drug investigators respond to what they believe is going to happen based on intelligence gathering. “You have to get ahead of them and you got to outsmart them. You’ve got to go out and catch them doing the trafficking, actually carrying the drugs on their person.” Smith says that, in many cases, including the latest sting, criminal organizations are set up whereby some of the people eventually charged never touch the drugs; “that’s where your wire taps and your undercover comes in.” Running from the east coast to the west, Operation Bullwinkle was much more than a normal drug project. Wire taps alone intercepted more than 150,000 calls. “In a normal drug project, you take 12 or 13 of your guys plus your specialized people, but in this one we had 25 (officers) on the project full-time for six months, plus other groups that backed them.” In addition to wire taps, surveillance, statements from suspects and other means of information gathering, target operations also involve using informers. If the information they provide is entered into a search warrant, the person is well paid, Smith says, though he declines to say just how much they can make. “Well, Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,000 for a tip, OK? And that’s an anonymous tip. So, you can appreciate what we would pay for people who want to put their necks on the line — so they make a few dollars.” Smith answers another call and listens intently. “What time? Where? How much? Can’t do it tonight.” He thanks the caller and hangs up. “That was a reliable informant. We could have gotten several pounds of marijuana and a truck tonight, but we just don’t have the resources.” Smith is on the downside of his colourful career and looks forward to the day, less than two years away, when he’ll hand in his badge. He will have many memorable operations to look back on. Over the last three decades, he’s been the main man behind numerous drug busts, includAUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

ing the Ireland’s Eye takedown that stopped $294 million worth of hashish from hitting the streets in the late 1980s. Then there was Operation Batman out of Nova Scotia, which resulted in $450 million in hashish confiscated. Another rewarding file was the Marilyn Ann Newman murder case. A much younger, longhaired, bushy bearded Smith, who “looked like a biker,” recorded admissions from Robert Durnford and Malcolm Cuff in the 1983 murder of the 20-year-old woman. Her body was found in a wooded area east of Corner Brook. She had been stabbed repeatedly with a screwdriver and struck in the head with a hammer. “It was gratifying to be able to put the truth in the court,” he says. Over the next year-and-a-half, Smith will continue to target groups living off the proceeds of crime. It’s work he finds both rewarding and necessary. While there are no Hells Angels chapters or other such organized crime groups like the Sicilian Mafia based out of Newfoundland, Smith says all these groups have associates who set up criminal organizations and work on their behalf. “Basically what we find is that the majority of these criminal organizations are very well organized, they have people looking after stashes, they have people looking after transporting stuff back and forth. These criminal organizations are very sophisticated and some of them are making big dollars... “Some of them are smaller and they’re looking at putting money away to live on and a lot of these legitimate businesses have been set up with illegal money. Once they get a business going, they’ll try and legitimize it. We see that a lot.” Smith realizes police forces are often criticized for putting resources into multi-million marijuana seizures, as has been the case with Operation Bullwinkle. While he agrees that possession of 15 grams of marijuana or less may be decriminalized, he doesn’t think the drug will ever be legalized in this country — and because of the increased potency, he disagrees with decriminalization. “Years ago, you had Colombian and Mexican marijuana analyzed at four or five per cent THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the most potent you could get. “Hash was coming from Afghanistan, analyzed at seven or eight per cent THC, almost double the marijuana. Now pot coming out of BC bud is all analyzed at 18 and 20 per cent THC — two or three times more potent that hash was ever thought to be, and still they’re talking about decriminalizing it. I think they’re making a big mistake. “This new crop coming out, one joint will knock your socks off. I’ve talked to dozens of sources. They can’t even smoke it, it’s so potent it makes them sick.” Smith notes two people died recently from a marijuana overdose (THC toxicity). “That’s going to be a reality now and people got to understand that this is not three or four per cent THC that we’re dealing with anymore.”

Jails post inmate info on Net Some US counties have begun listing their jail populations on the Internet. Dakota County, Minnesota began listing inmates on the Sheriff Department’s web page in March. Visitors can not only see who’s in the county jail but also access information about each inmate, including a mug shot, charges, the arresting and charging agencies, date of the next court appearance, bail amount and other arrest conditions. The entries include a link to Minnesota state statutes so users can read a full description of the charges the inmate faces. The site is updated in real time so an inmate’s name and information appears or is removed minutes after they’re booked or released from jail. Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson says he considered beginning the service several years ago and decided to go ahead when he read about another county doing so. He says the inmate page, which receives about 6,000 hits a month, was created in-house by the county’s IT staff. The beneﬁts are numerous, he says. Residents no longer have to call the county, reducing the number of calls from people seeking inmate information by about 50 percent, and people in the criminal justice system now have another way to keep track of those arrested.

Additionally, residents who observe a neighbour being carted off to jail can find out what the person has been charged with, Gudmundson says. Some local defense attorneys are concerned the site further humiliates inmates but Gudmundson dismisses those claims by noting that the information on the site is already available to the public. In fact, he says many criminal defense attorneys have told him the page comes in handy when they want to keep track of clients. King County, Wash., launched a similar service in April. Its page also was created in-house and is part of a larger county-wide effort to increase information-sharing among criminal justice agencies. The site doesn’t include a mug shot of the inmate but does have a searchable database of every person jailed during the preceding year. Toni Rezab, a senior policy analyst for King County, says it’s too early to gauge the site’s impact but notes the country has received positive feedback from residents. People used to have to go to a jail to get inmate information, he notes, and the site tells them where to go. Other jurisdictions that feature similar web sites include Pierce County, Washington; Benton County, Arkansas and San Diego County, California.

Danette Dooley can be contacted at dooley@blueline.ca. June 2003

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

The home of the Crown Victoria by Tom Rataj Ford’s St. Thomas, Ontario assembly plant is the exclusive source for the Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis. Having logged thousands of hours and tens of thousands of kilometres behind the wheel of various generations of Crown Vic cruisers, I jumped at the chance to tour the plant. The tour gave me a much better understanding and respect for the vehicle which has consistently captured about 85 per cent of the North American police vehicle market. From the noisy, dirty, raw sheet-metal confines of the body assembly area to the almost clinical paint shop and final assembly areas, the plant offers a fascinating mix of manufacturing processes. History Construction on the St. Thomas Assembly Plant (STAP), which sits on a 64-acre parcel of land just north of the city, began in May, 1966 with a budget of $65 million. (St. Thomas is just north of Lake Erie, about half-way between Toronto and Windsor). The plant has a floor space of 243,000 m2 (2.6 million square feet), a 19 km (12 miles) long assembly line and currently employs 2,700 people on two shifts. The first model it produced was the Ford Falcon, which began rolling off the line in December 1967, followed by such famous (and infamous) cars as the Maverick, Pinto/Bobcat, Fairmont/Zephyr, Escort/Lynx, and EXP/LN7. Assembly of the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis models began in October 1983. The first generation of the current body style rolled off the line in 1991; current annual production now runs at about 174,000 vehicles. In addition to the standard models, a stretched wheelbase Crown Vic, which is sixinches longer, is also produced which is popular with New York City cabbies. Assembly The assembly process starts in the noisy and

relatively dark confines of the body area, where numerous robots assemble body shells from sheet metal stampings which arrive by rail almost daily from a plant near Buffalo, New York. Each vehicle body is transported through the assembly process on a skid that holds the body in a precise manner and is moved by a system of chains in the floor. In order to accommodate the variety of standard and specialised models that are assembled along the same line, each vehicle’s skid is equipped with a radio-frequency identification tag (RFID), which is about the size of a typical smoke detector. The tag contains the details of every feature to be included on that vehicle and communicates wirelessly with various computerised systems along the assembly line. While all the vehicles assembled run along the same main line, there are a number of specialty areas that add custom features. One of the first is for long wheelbase models. The completed floor-pan is actually cut in half just behind the B-pillar and an extension module is welded into place to extend the rear passenger section of the vehicle. Longer side panels and roof are also welded into place and, once completed, the vehicle returns to the main line. Side panels and roofs are attached to regular length vehicles on the main line. The cars then move on to the door installation area, where doors are attached by pairs of robots that carefully manoeuvre around one another. One robot very accurately places the door into position, while the second reaches into the body through the windshield opening and carefully fastens it to the vehicle body. This crucial process is 64

done by robots because they can attach the doors with much greater speed and accuracy than people. Further down the line, vehicles destined for taxi and law enforcement duty are separated from the line again so a robotic drilling machine can precisely drill spot lamp holes (one or two) in the correct locations on the A-pillar. A second machine then drills an optional wiring hole in the roof for taxi signs and police roof lights. Paint After the body shell is completed, it heads off to the relatively clean and bright paint shop, where the body shells are cleaned and dipped in a special rust proofing solution. In addition to the regular civilian paint colours, Ford also offers three standard, twotone, police paint colour option packages and complete custom police paint jobs. Additionally, large fleet buyers such as the New York taxi fleet, which uses yellow paint, can have their vehicles custom painted right at the plant. Two-tone and custom painted police vehicles first receive their base paint colour before being carefully taped and masked by a crew of workers in the custom paint section. The bodies then head off to the final assembly area, where most of the manual labour is done. Final assembly In the final assembly area, the painted body shells and frames are joined together before the interior and exterior components are installed. The power train and most of the running gear is already installed on the frame, so the body-shell AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

just needs to be fixed into place on top. This is also where all the police-specific options are installed — wiring harnesses for emergency equipment and lights, heavy duty running gear for police interceptor models and the optional new TrunkPack, for example. Manufactured from high-density polyethylene and reinforced with a Kevlar lining along the forward side, it’s designed to protect the fuel tank from puncture by equipment in the trunk during a high-speed rear collision. The new rear suspension axle-guards are also installed in all police vehicles, again to mitigate fuel system damage in high-speed rear collisions. Quality controls Various quality control processes ensure that the vehicles are assembled with a high degree of precision. Three body-shells are pulled at random from the assembly line in the body area and subjected to a rigorous inspection of 300 reference points. A coordinate measurement machine is used to precisely measure all the reference points on the body-shell to within one-thousandth of a millimetre. If any are outside of the specified tolerances, the technicians can determine where in the assembly process the problem originated. The line is then stopped while maintenance workers adjust the appropriate pieces of equipment on the assembly line. Various other dimensional checks are done at random in the assembly process to ensure that the bodies are assembled correctly and within

June 2003

very tight tolerances. While the efforts of most of the plant’s employees are put towards building top quality vehicles, there are a few that actually spend their days and evenings wrecking them. In the weld destruction booth, several employees randomly separate various subassemblies from the line and carefully pull apart every weld in order to determine its size, shape and placement. Faults such as size or placement point toward problems with the welding robots and the potential for future problems with the vehicle. Once a week an entire unpainted bodyshell is removed from the line and every weld is pried apart and thoroughly inspected. Numerous teams of specialists are employed to keep the robots and other machines in top operating condition to ensure precision and a top quality ﬁnal product. The plant meets both the ISO 9001 standard for quality and the ISO 14001 standard for environmental efﬁciency and has won numerous

quality and environmental awards. Touring a modern production facility helps you better understand and appreciate the ﬁnal product and the amount of work and effort that goes into producing it. You can reach Tom Rataj at technews@blueline.ca.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Collision reporting software Advanced CAD software

Dome cameras

VS Visual Statement introduces ReportBeam, a web-based collision reporting system focused on collecting, managing, distributing and analyzing collision information. Police can complete collision reports electronically and include state-of-the-art diagrams (2D, 3D or realtime animation) if desired using VS Investigator, and then submit the report to a centralized database, the company says, where the public, insurance companies and lawyers can buy or search them online and administrators can review them to make informed trafﬁc management decisions.

Northrup Grumman’s CommandPoint Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) is a mission critical command and control system enabling communications center personnel to more appropriately manage calls for service and resources, the company says. The system is designed to allow the operation of multiple classes of public safety agencies and multiple agencies of the same class. CommandPoint also has mapping, messaging and radio support and can interface with third party CAD products.

Infinova, a leading manufacturer of CCTV, fiber optics, access control and integration software products, has introduced pan-tiltzoom (PTZ) dome cameras featuring a built-in video server. The NetDome cameras, part of Infinova’s InfiNet™ Series of IP and Ethernet capable products, also includes video matrix switchers. Available in high res color with 22X optical zoom or day/night color with 23X optical zoom, they can be viewed and PTZ controlled from anywhere via the Internet using a standard web browser.

Tactical deﬁbrillator

Unisex boxer/briefs

Transaction surveillance

Medtronic of Canada Ltd. announces the launch of its toughest defibrillator to date, the LIFEPAK 500 DPS (Defibrillator - Public Safety) designed for the officer responding to a sudden cardiac arrest. With a charcoal black finish and no reflective surfaces, the 500 DPS is the AED with the officer’s safety in mind, the company says.

Tac Wear introduces their new line of unisex boxer/briefs. A 100% Coolmax® Extreme Jersey underwear for superior moisture management and comfort year round. Reduces chafﬁng, and skin irritation in hot, humid weather conditions and dries quickly, the company says.

Xtract: Secondhand Transactions Surveillance and Intelligence software by Syscon Justice Systems is a police tool that replaces paper based pawnbroker and secondhand transaction reporting, the company says. Currently used by Vancouver Police Department and Kelowna RCMP, this program electronically receives, monitors and tracks pawn and secondhand dealer transactions.

ThermaShape orthotic

Cell phone analyzer

Asset vault

New to Canada, the Sole Defense™ orthotic uses innovative materials and provides unparalleled cushioning, support and protection, the company says. It’s heat moldable and comes in three distinct arch types - flat, standard or high. With a knitted X-Static® silver top cover, it fights odour and has thermodynamic and antimicrobial properties. Not just an insole, it uses a unique ThermaShape system to identify and fit each foot and arch type.

PhoneBase 2, Envisage Systems’s new, low cost cell phone analyzer, produces full reports on SIM cards and phone memory contents within minutes, the company says. It updated the original PhoneBase system to include a memory module, allowing handset memory data to be downloaded by infra red link or cable directly to a PC. It can read but not write, maintaining the integrity of the evidence.

The Asset Vault from KEYper® Systems lets you control, track & store your valuable assets, the company says. Users can access the Asset Vault via a biometric ﬁnger print reader; this security feature ensures that the asset removal can be traced with 100% accuracy. The Asset Vault software provides 5 access control levels & full reporting ability with a screen display, print out or email.

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Police are saving lives with defibrillators by Les Linder Taking note of the changing standards in medical care, some Canadian police services have begun equipping their officers with Automated External Defibrillators (AED) or reexamining their response systems to findways to include them. The Fredericton Police Service is one of the more recent to use automatic defibrillators. When the city’s fire department upgraded, it donated three AED units to the police service. “That enabled us to start up our project much earlier than we had anticipated,” explains Cpl. Martin Gaudet, who is also in charge of training. When Gaudet heard several other police services were using AEDs and that lives were being saved, he was convinced. “We knew that Miramichi Police was using them as well and that it was going well for them. This was something we had to get on board with as well because they’re also being deployed in so many other places, such as airports and large parks.” The biggest obstacle was cost. “At about $6,000 each, the fire department made a rather generous donation to us with those three units. Without that, it would have taken us significantly longer to be able to purchase our own.” There’s also ongoing maintenance expenses, such as replacing batteries, pads and other accessories. The service’s 97 officers, which police the city’s 50,000 residents, were trained how to use the device by May and they’re currently deployed with officers in three of the city’s five zones. The AED determines if a shock is needed for a patient and then delivers it at the push of a button, removing any guesswork. “This made training quite simple really,” Gaudet says. “They’re extremely easy to use and it took only a few hours to train our members how to use them. We now just include the AED training with our regular first aid training.” Rather than beginning with CPR on someone found not breathing or with no pulse, officers are now instructed to first deploy the AED, as it can potentially make a more significant difference if a person’s heart has stopped. Gaudet says the catalyst which drove the service to seriously consider getting an AED program was that officers are often the first to arrive at calls. “Fire and ambulance crews are driving heavier vehicles with a lot more equipment, so it’s not surprising our officers arrived on scenes earlier. Now with the AED, when our officers arrive first they can give a sick person an extra fighting chance for several minutes until the EMS people get there.” They haven’t had a chance to use the devices yet (as of late June) but Gaudet says the service will be ready when they’re needed. Seeing the potential value in the AED in late 2003, the BNPP Police Service (Berestford, June 2003

Nigadoo, Petit Rocher, Point Vert, New Brunswick) performed a small study on how many calls the service responded to and noticed an increase in medical related calls. Chief Gerald Rancoeur says that with an aging population, he felt the defibrillators would prove invaluable for helping the public. “ W e received a lot of support from the community for the project,” Rancoeur says. The service managed to get three AED units on loan from a Canadian manufacturer in June for six months until the service receives the funding to purchase them. Rancoeur said they will cost $15,000 and plans to buy three more for the service’s 16 officers when funding permits. Although officers haven’t had a chance to use the devices yet — they were deployed in July — Rancoeur says he can recall at least six incidents within the last year where they may

have made a difference. Not all services are enthused about AEDs. The Saskatoon Police Service has only seen limited success in a one-year trial it began in April 2003. It put devices at its headquarters — one in the detention centre and one at the front desk — and three in patrol cars. “We took a look at (AED) with ambulance and fire services to see the feasibility of police using this and to learn what kind of help it could give to cardiac patients, which our officers occasionally come across,” says Sgt. Brian Shalovelo. Officers only used the defibrillators on two calls during the trial, and “in both cases, the person died and the AED was of no value whatsoever because the person was either too ill or wounded,” Shalovelo says. “In theory the idea is very good,” he explains, “but in our year of testing, we just didn’t see significant successes to convince us it is vital for police.” Shalovelo says part of the reason the de-

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

vices were so rarely used is because all fire and ambulance vehicles in the city carry them. In many instances, ambulance or fire crews arrived on medical assistance calls before police. “It just made sense to let them handle the calls with their defibrillators since they were getting there first quite often. They perform a great job so we don’t feel the need right now to purchase more.” The service has plans to buy three units to keep at headquarters and a substation. The Ottawa Police Service - the largest police user of automatic defibrillators in Canada - also experienced unimpressive results in 2001, the first year they were deployed. However, officers have used the devices on numerous occasions since then to save lives and the program has been expanded. Despite several VSA (vital signs absent) calls, no lives were saved the first year, but one person was saved in 2002 and seven last year. “We have about 70 VSA calls per month,” Cst. Rick Giroux, manager of the services’ defibrillator program, explains. “Out of those, our officers arrived first on scene about 40 times, so there’s obviously several chances for us to make a real difference for sick people.” The service has about 160 AED units avail-

able for its officers, including tactical units, marine patrol, frontline, supervisors and inspectors, and every cell block has an AED available. “Basically, anyone who can respond to a call has immediate access to a defibrillator,” Giroux says. About 800 officers are trained to use the devices, which cost about $3,500 each. The service expanded its system to dispatch calls for people short of breath or experiencing chest pains because ambulance response time was about 14 minutes, compared to seven or eight minutes for police. Giroux says the defibrillators are particularly useful in rural areas. “Many rural areas could benefit greatly from police services that have AED’s because there it often takes longer to transport a sick person from their home to the hospital than it does within urban areas,” he says. “If an officer arrives at the scene of a person in cardiac arrest, he might be able to save precious time by using a defibrillator right on the location. Time is a huge factor when someone’s heart has stopped. The (AED) buys that person precious minutes until full treatment can be given.” Giroux admits that police use of defibrillators is often hit and miss. “This year we haven’t had any saves yet

but that’s because the response time of fire and ambulance services has improved enough that they get to medical calls first more regularly now,” he says. “This is obviously a great thing as the standards of care are clearly improving, even if it does make our own success stats look a bit lower,” he chuckles. The service is pleased with the value and durability of its AEDS. “They’re a pretty good bang for the buck,” Giroux says, adding that the units last many years before needing replacement, and functioned even when subjected to extreme cold. “We haven’t had any reports of the units failing or being defective at a scene, so they’re certainly reliable. It would be a lot better though if we didn’t have to replace the batteries after only two years.” The manufacturer had promised they’d last five years, he notes. Giroux says many police services, agencies and even private corporations are looking at the cost versus risk analysis of not using defibrillators and are beginning to include them in their response system due to potential legal liability. “With so many different groups using the defibrillators now, such as airlines, parks, recreation centres and bylaw officers to name a few, there really isn’t any reason that police shouldn’t be using them,” he says. “Anyone that is a first responder in any capacity, no matter where they are, should have an AED accessible to them.” Giroux strongly encourages police services to take a serious look at the devices. “Standards of care are changing everywhere in society and we need to keep up - police need to work closely with EMS units,” he emphasizes. “With an aging population, calls of cardiac arrest are only going to increase over time and it is our responsibility to help look after the community.”

Hamilton sexual assualt victims can report anonymously

Calgary police Sergeant Dave Harty, above, started the Calgary Police Service Cops for Kids program in 2002 with the idea of promoting a sense of trust between Calgary’s police officers and the City’s children and teenagers. The desired effect was the hope that the kids would see ofﬁcers in a more positive light. The program has established mentoring events throughout the year which takes kids from the boys and girls clubs, Big Sister and Big Brothers, youth and church groups to sporting events and educational events throughout the city. Harty also started their Junior Police Academy which occurs twice a year. This program permits kids to wear a special designed police uniform and become recruits for a full week which ends in a graduation ceremony. Another

initiative is a new youth diversion program called “ About Face” which is held every month and is a character development workshop for troubled teens. The Calgary Police Service has 80 ofﬁcers signed up for the Cops for Kids program. The Mazda RX8 2004 shown above was donated by Sunridge Mazda in Calgary and was done up with special illuminating police graphics and state of the art light bar. Needless to say that it draws the attention of tons of young people. The kids look at the car and it becomes an ice-breaker and they see the ofﬁcers as the good guys. It’s a great tool for reaching kids as everyone loves a cool car and it is a blast to drive. For more information you may contact Dave Harty by eMail at dharty@calgarypolice.ca.

Sexual assault victims in Hamilton can now anonymously report the details of their attack to police. However, no charges can be laid against the accused and police will not conduct an investigation because there is no official complainant. “The primary reason for this is to try to identify trends and determine if we have a serial predator in our community,’’ Chief Brian Mullan was quoted as saying. The information given will be entered in the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System, also known as ViCLAS, a national database that tracks serial offenders. A sexual assault victim can visit one of the centres and ﬁll out an anonymous report that asks for the accused attacker’s name, if known, and address. This system is already in place in other Ontario municipalities including Niagara. Mullan said he wasn’t worried that anonymous reporting could lead to bogus allegations - because the reports will be made in person. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

Legal theory meets reality on the street corner by Morley Lymburner The idea of sitting in a classroom again studying and cramming for exams after working in “the free world” did not sit well with me, so the police training process was somewhat torturous — and living with 30 men in a barracks held up by divine intervention was another experience to be forgotten. Any idea what nocturnal sounds emanating from 30 sleeping people can do to the study habits of a marginally challenged scholar? Despite this I retained quite a bit, although I often didn’t realize it until I needed the information. Here’s one example. One afternoon I was watching pedestrian trafﬁc at a major intersection. The light changes were being scrupulously obeyed to the letter by the hundreds of people on all four corners, thanks to my presence. But one young man, about my age, walked against the red light directly toward me. I was puzzled and certain this person was probably in need of a white coat with pinned-up mittens. He stopped in front of me, turning his back just in time to show off the ‘Law’ on the back of his university jacket. When I pointed out his errant behaviour he simply invited me to do whatever I thought I had to do since he was running late. I asked for his name and address and he refused, pointing out that, as a pedestrian, he wasn’t required to identify himself. As I resisted the temptation to see if his

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head would fit between the cracks in the sidewalk, I recalled learning about a ‘warrant in the first instance.’ This little gem can be used if an officer, or anyone else for that matter, can point out a person who committed a violation but for whom no other identification is available. I was also abundantly aware that this was my beat for the foreseeable future and time was on my side. Okay, I’ll admit it; I also enjoyed the challenge. I advised the person that I will be taking further action and cautioned him to obey the lights in the future. I returned to the station, cracked open a couple of books on the matter and verified that it was possible for me to begin a summons process under the Provincial Offences Act for a person who could be pointed out. I had made a detailed description of the violator and wrote out a summons application. In the days when your records checks relied upon your proximity to a telephone, it was necessary to pay particular attention as it wound its way through the judicial process. About a month later I was delighted to find that a warrant was issued for a “person who can be pointed out by Constable Lymburner” for a pedestrian disobeying a red light. The warrant instructed that I was authorized to take this person into custody and have him brought before a justice

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of the peace within the next six months. I was simply elated. I specifically asked the patrol sergeant to give me this walking beat for the next week and explained my intentions. He gave me a very reserved smile. “Having a little fun are we?” I had to admit that I was. I spent two days watching that particular corner more than was usual, likely causing many to wonder why I needed to be there. There were more than a few grim looks my way as pedestrians filled the corners while buses escaped unhindered by ‘bumper stoppers’ trying to catch them. I stoically stood there, lurking and waiting for my prize. Finally he arrived, stepped off the curb opposite me and stopped. I gazed at him intently. He stepped back onto the curb, perhaps seeing the little smile that turned the corners of my mouth. The light turned green and others began to pass him as he stood staring at me. I stood my ground and waited patiently as he slowly looked down and walked across the street toward me. I advised him that I had to talk to him; his initial objections stopped in mid sentence when told he was under arrest. A warrant was outstanding and I was required to take him into custody, I said. His mouth opened and then shut as I explained the red light violation from several weeks back. I walked him back to the phone booth in handcuffs and, as usual, asked someone if they had a dime so I could call the station. In short order the patrol sergeant arrived. A full smile crossed his face as I pointed to the young man who was my quarry for so many weeks. My grin was a wonder to behold. The desk sergeant was less impressed. Lodging a university law student protesting his innocence wasn’t his idea of an easy shift and he became more apprehensive when the actual warrant could not be located at headquarters records bureau. I contacted the supervisor in charge, explaining my dilemma and the importance of finding the warrant. The supervisor was amused and impressed enough to look for it and, after a tense half hour of listening to a prisoner broadcasting all that was going to befall us, I received a response. “We found it. I can’t believe it. We found it. I have never seen one of these things before,” he exclaimed jubilantly. The station sergeant happily tossed me his patrol car keys when I told him the news, winked and said, “take your time. He’ll keep pretty good until Monday morning.” I triumphantly drove to HQ, where the supervisor and two clerks thanked me for making their day; I resolved never to work in the records bureau if something like this made their day — but then again, it certainly made mine. The Friday afternoon arrest meant two days of free room and board for the law student. He was taken before a justice, plead guilty and received an $8 fine — and a new appreciation for the legal training we had both received. AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004

June 2003

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2004