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Member
Smallwood made the following inquiries:
1)
ON-DUTY OFFICER
ATTIRE
Member
Smallwood inquired about how the attire of officers is determined. He
noticed that at a recent women’s march, officers were dressed all in black,
wore dark glasses, and were driving black ghost cars. He compared that
scenario to the St. Patrick’s Day event where officers were wearing very
visible uniforms and driving white cars. He also described a raid on a
retail store where an officer’s face was obscured by a mask and a visible
weapon was strapped to his front. He noted that in a media report, the
Toronto Police Service did a similar raid and officers wore bright reflective
vests. He felt that an aggressive approach to a situation could escalate the
matter, thereby increasing the risk for everyone involved.
Chief Bordeleau noted the number one priority for
members is their safety and security and to ensure that whatever type of
event they attend, they are protected and also able to respond to any
eventual event that may take place. There are policies and procedures with
respect to the type of uniforms that officers do wear; uniforms are dark blue
and bullet proof vests are worn outside uniforms. Part of the policies and
procedures is for officers to wear the lime green jackets for visibility and
safety purposes.
In response to the execution of drug warrants at
illegal marijuana dispensaries, the OPS policy dictates that any drug
warrants are executed by the Tactical Unit. The policy was put in place due
to previous incidents where the inexperience of officers executing warrants
has lead to tragedy. An execution of a warrant is a skill that tactical
officers train at regularly to ensure safety and security. Undercover drug
officers wear balaclavas to protect their identity. The wearing of the
firearm on the vest is how they carry their use of force equipment in the
type of work they do.
Member
Smallwood asked the Chief to report back to the Board with the following
information: Is there a policy relating to officers’ equipment and attire?
How are these decisions made? Who makes the decision as to the approach
being used? Chief
Bordeleau indicated that staff could undertake a review and present their
policies to the Board, including best practices and how officers are equipped
with the goal of de-escalation.
Chair El-Chantiry re-iterated that the Chief would
provide the existing policies and a report that outlines the equipment that
officers wear, as well as the risk assessment done prior to the execution of
any warrant and how decisions are made regarding officer attire.
2)
NIGHT VISION
GOGGLES
Member
Smallwood referred to a report requesting the Board to approve the purchase
of $400,000 worth of night vision goggles (28 September 2015). He asked the
Chief to report back to the Board about the number of times the goggles have
been used and in what scenarios.
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