Our Vision [Link]
"Safe Communities...A Secure Ontario"
Our Mission
"Policing Excellence through our People, our Work, and our Relationships"
Our Promise
As an organization, the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) commits to working continually to earn the confidence of the citizens of and visitors to Ontario—a confidence that will not be taken for granted. The O.P.P. fulfills this commitment by providing the best and most professional service, possible, and by striving to build a culture of trust, and open and honest dialogue, with the communities it serves and among the people it employs. The organization commits to creating and sustaining a positive working environment in which all employees have equal opportunity to fulfill their potential within the profession.
Each O.P.P. employee and volunteer appreciates the vital role he/she plays in protecting the fundamental rights of all people in Ontario. As such, each commits to always put the interests of the public and the O.P.P.'s Vision and Mission before any personal and private interests, and to demonstrate pride in his/her profession and the O.P.P. through personal conduct that reflects a belief in O.P.P. values and ethics.
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OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface and others described the initiatives which the OPP has undertaken, particularly in the post-Ipperwash era, to promote and enhance the relationship between First Nations communities and the OPP. The initiatives described include:
The Commissioners' Select Liaison Council on Aboriginal Affairs. This Council brings together respected First Nations people to advise on sensitive Aboriginal issues. The Council has been instrumental in many of the OPP initiatives now in place.
The OPP Youth Summer Camp. Over 400 children have attended this annual camp run by sworn OPP officers. The camp's goals are to create positive youth- police relations in the communities served. Many of these campers have been Aboriginal children from across Ontario.
The Police Ethnic and Cultural Exchange (PEACE). This program provides temporary employment, in partnership with the community, to youth from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. Band Councils fund participation in the program for Aboriginal youth. It provides youth and OPP officers with the opportunity to work with, and relate to, each other.
OPP Bound. This is an award-winning outreach recruitment program designed to attract people interested in a policing career from identified groups such as women, Aboriginal people and visible minorities. Candidates experience a week in the life of an OPP recruit, in an atmosphere in which their culture and diversity is supported.
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) Investigative Support Unit. The OPP strongly endorses self-directed First Nations police services in Ontario. This unique integrated initiative brings OPP and NAPS officers together to work on significant policing issues within the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation.
The Integrated Support Services Unit (ISSU). This concept was developed with Ontario's First Nations Chiefs of Police to enable the OPP, RCMP and First Nations police services in Ontario to develop crime prevention initiatives that target suicide prevention, youth empowerment and community wellness.
Native Awareness Training. Based on consultation with Elders, Aboriginal leaders, and Aboriginal officers, the OPP offers extensive training on First Nations issues, ranging from orientation for new recruits to an intensive, one- week award-winning course already taken by over 2000 officers.
Aboriginal Liaison - Operations. This office was created in 1996 to provide operational support to senior members of the OPP, by enhancing relationships with the Aboriginal community and ensuring an understanding of Aboriginal issues impacting upon policing decisions.
Regional Aboriginal Strategy Committees. These Committees, established in OPP regions across the province, assess the status of OPP relationships with Aboriginal communities and make ongoing recommendations as to how to improve relationships and service delivery.
Aboriginal Relations Team (ART). Selected Aboriginal police officers are trained in mediation and conflict resolution in support of an appropriate OPP emergency response. These officers also build relationships and trust proactively to prevent the escalation of issues.
Major Event Liaison Team (MELT). This new team is designed to specifically address major incidents/events, to support their successful resolution.
Framework for Police Preparedness for Aboriginal Critical Incidents. The OPP has developed a framework for responding to incidents involving Aboriginal protest or crisis. The framework emphasizes proactive measures to avoid the escalation of incidents, and resources to be accessed to assist in this goal.
Crisis Negotiator Program. The program has been enhanced to ensure that all crisis negotiators receive full Native Awareness training. As well, there are now six OPP Aboriginal officers trained and assigned as crisis negotiators.
Aboriginal Officers Leadership Forum. This annual forum enables OPP officers of Aboriginal descent to share experiences, and generate recommendations to the OPP Commissioner on issues of importance.
Traditional Aboriginal Drum. In 2002, a traditional Aboriginal Drum was gifted to the OPP Aboriginal officers. There are 11 officers who sit at the Drum. It is a rare honour for officers of a police service to be given the care of a traditional Drum. Zhowski Miingan (Blue Wolf) has drummed at over 110 events and has received 6 eagle feathers.
One simple reason - to influence their decision making process.
Whether good or bad, this training allows the officers to understand the reason behind why their decision making process should be different between Native and Non-Native.
We are told the reason for such training, "Aboriginal community and ensuring an understanding of Aboriginal issues impacting upon policing decisions."
The Police are to understand what impact their decisions, the same ones they would make when dealing with non-natives, would have on Native people and therefore... what??? they can make a different decision.
By the way these policing decisions are referring to operational support thereby leading us to believe it is happening at Caledonia right now.
The OPP has developed a framework for responding to incidents involving Aboriginal protest or crisis. The framework emphasizes proactive measures to avoid the escalation of incidents, and resources to be accessed to assist in this goal.
How foolish of us to think the above statement means the OPP have created procedures that address the needs of OPP to be aware of the uniqueness of the Native protestors. How foolish of us to think that Aboriginal groups have influence over Operational Policing Decisions when the rest of us are not allowed even to speak about Operational Issues.
The OPP either has or does not have Aboriginal people taking part in the Operational Decisions.
These Decisions are either neutral in nature or are meant to ensure OPP Officers do not make the same decisions they would in similar non-native situations.
You cannot have Aboriginal Awareness Training without believing that such training will influence the police officers' decisions at the moment of crises. That decision is the key to what you are trying to train. The same officer faced with the same situation with two groups - one Native and one Non-Native - is required to think through his decision differently between the two groups.