BL - August - September 2019

BLUE LINE CANADA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT MAGAZINE

www.BlueLine.ca AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

COVER STORY

Policing at the speed of social media

How the Calgary Police Service adapts to “new motives” and harnesses online reactions p.16

TRAINING

TECHNOLOGY

Brazilian jiu-jitsu expands toolbox p.18

Improving communication with healthcare p.28

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Contents

Aug/Sept 2019 Volume 31 Number 7

Features COVER STORY

Columns 4 10 12 14 24 28 34

Editor’s commentary Q&A Behavioural sciences Health & wellness Case law Technology Back of the book

Departments

16 Policing at the speed of social media

The Calgary Police Service, the host of this year’s CACP (Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) conference, shares how it is navigating “swatting,” amateur online sleuthing and more. By Patricia Ariss

18 Expanding the use of force toolbox with BJJ

The Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective has been encouraging officers to begin Brazilian jiu-jitsu training due to its many benefits—not only when it comes to handling pressure on the job but also for combating mental health challenges. By Landen Kruger

5 5 8 8 26 32 33 34

By the numbers News Dispatches Calendar Off the shelf Product showcase Marketplace Blue links

22 Tailoring critical incident response templates

COVER PHOTO: CALGARY POLICE SERVICE

The Niagara Regional Police Service is celebrating 10 years of its School Police Emergency Action Response (SPEAR) program, an endeavour that continues to be shared and celebrated internationally for its all-encompassing approach to critical infrastructure safety. By Robin Bleich

10 @Blue_LineMag

22 28 August/September 2019 | BLUE LINE

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EDITOR’S COMMENTARY

BY RENÉE FRANCOEUR

Showing up for our LGBTQ2S+ colleagues

I

was fortunate to hear Julie Cooke, deputy chief constable of the Cheshire Constabulary in the U.K., speak as part of a panel during the 2nd World LGBTQ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals in Toronto this past June. Cooke is the lead on LGBT+ issues for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and is a passionate advocate for inclusion and all things justice-related.

She, along with the other panelists, noted how crucial it is for allies to support everyone working in a police agency in feeling safe and comfortable enough to be themselves. We all deserve to live authentically in our places of work as well as in our homes and communities.

Much has improved since the horrific days of bath raids and enforcing anti-LGBTQ2S+ laws, thank goodness, and there are plenty of innovative undertakings to celebrate as the blue line continues to raise awareness and eradicate intolerance.

For example, many forces have LGBTQ liaison positions, Canada Border Services Agency is currently training “positive space ambassadors,” as you’ll hear in a recent Blue Line, The Podcast episode, and a Bi-Visibility Initiative was launched last year in the U.K. by a regional LGBT network on behalf of Cooke herself.

That being said, there is still a lot of healing to be done from the deep wounds of the past and there is a distance to go yet in terms of building trusting relationships and enacting workplace inclusivity. We can do this with education and visibility and the World LGBTQ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals is such an empowering place to start. The openness, the energy, the team encouragement and the beautiful vulnerability I saw just from a sliver of this event was truly inspiring.

I was shocked when Cooke pointed to a recent experience where she had to take a stand after being criticized by the chair of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel for wearing a rainbow-coloured lanyard. This chair claimed it was a “political” choice of neckwear.

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

www.BlueLine.ca

GROUP PUBLISHER | MARTIN MCANULTY mmcanulty@annexbusinessmedia.com EDITOR | RENÉE FRANCOEUR rfrancoeur@annexbusinessmedia.com ACCOUNT MANAGER | JANICE EATON janice@blueline.ca MEDIA DESIGNER | SVETLANA AVRUTIN savrutin@annexbusinessmedia.com

Deputy Chief Const. Julie Cooke, far left, discusses the importance of being visible as an ally during the World LGBTQ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals.

PHOTO: R. FRANCOEUR

As Cooke told the conference crowd this story, many of us shook our heads. Some of us were surprised; some of us were not.

When she told us wearing that lanyard is absolutely critical, we clapped.

The chair has since stepped down from his role and been voted off of the panel. We cannot accept anything less. That mindset is regressive, divisive and dangerous. And as homophobic and transphobic hate crimes “have more than doubled in England and Wales over five years,” according to The Guardian’s report earlier this summer, people like this chair have to be checked.

“I will champion all genders and all sexual orientations because I, as a straight ally, want to make policing a more attractive place to be for LGBT+ colleagues,” Cooke wrote in a post on her police force’s website. “I want my colleagues to understand that many of our colleagues will fall under the Trans umbrella and I want them to understand what that means; dispel myths, explore prejudices and make our workplaces more inclusive.”

I challenge everyone—including myself—to champion this cause with that same empathy and understanding. * There are many acronyms in circulation regarding sexual diversity. I respect how the language is always transforming as we continue to learn. I want to acknowledge the LGBTTQQIAAP (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, ally, pansexual) acronym as well as the one I typically use in features: LGBTQ2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, and two-spirit).

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NEWS TORONTO

World LGBTQ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals talks visibility and more Element 3 Robotics’ Darren Keuhl, far left, shows attendees the ropes of getting started with UAVs during the Emergency Services Drone Symposium. PHOTO: R. FRANCOEUR HAMILTON

Fire, police test out systems for first Emergency Services Drone Symposium

Driving a drone into a wall or shutting it off while it was still in the air were all part of the educational fun for the 30 or so professionals from the fire, law enforcement and hazmat tech fields that gathered recently on campus at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont., for a day of flight talk and practice.

The Canadian Explosive Technician’s Association (CETA) and the Ontario Hazardous Materials Responder’s Association (OHMRA), in partnership with OmniviewTech and the newly established Element 3 Robotics, all joined forces to host this two-day Emergency Services Drone Symposium on June 11-12.

The goal was to give first responders an inside look at how UAVs (unassisted aerial vehicles), UASs (unassisted aerial systems), RPAS (remotely piloted aircraft systems) — aka drones — can be and are used in situations like a chemical spill with casualties.

Symposium participants saw how a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual located a mock “leaking tank” with thermal training, how another product mapped the scene out and how a streaming service worked in a “command centre.”

They also had the chance to be “hands-on” with various drones in Mohawk’s Tac House, a drill lab where they could fly the equipment — and crash while they got the hang of it — through a model house.

Classroom discussions touched on design overviews, legislation and training, application and real-world stories.

The symposium comes shortly after the first RPAS Operations for Emergency Responders course was hosted at the Ontario Police College.

Watch our drone video at bit.ly/2Y0Caah.

CANADA

Blue Line News Now launches

Blue Line’s latest digital project has hit the site! We now run a monthly news video: Blue Line News Now, bringing you the latest news headlines. Sit back and listen to our editor delve into what’s making waves in technology and security, new research and initiatives impacting law enforcement and coverage from the latest events.

Thank you to our first Blue Line News Now sponsor, Georgian College, for the support.

Visit our video page at blueline.ca/videos/ for more.

Blue Line stopped by the 2nd World LGBTQ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals in Toronto in June.

Danielle Bottineau, the LGBT Liaison Officer for Toronto Police Service and conference planning committee member, said 175 delegates from 14 countries attended the event to network, share stories and discuss crucial topics.

“I am inspired by the police attendance here and the amount of knowledge being shared,” said Const. Catlin Chiasson of the Edmonton Police Service. “So much information was shared from all the different countries on what is working and what is not.”

Visibility is a journey, said RCMP member Brendan Harkness, during a morning panel discussion.

“My job is policing, that’s what I joined this organization to do, and me showing up visibly as an openly-out LGBTQ member has shown my integrity in my job and in me wanting to show up for the people I work with,” he added. “It’s about holding the space… doing that confidently so others know they can do that too.”

See a video and more photos from the event at bit.ly/2S0LGb5.

Const. Catlin Chiasson of the Edmonton Police Service, right, says he was impressed with the attendance and information sharing at the World LGBTQ Conference. PHOTO: R. FRANCOEUR

BY THE NUMBERS

A new report from the C.D. Howe Institute, “Why We Fail to Catch Money Launderers 99.9 per cent of the Time,” by Kevin Comeau looks into what we need to do to crack down on dirty money in Canada. More from Comeau below:

99.9% of the time U.S. law enforcement agencies failed to apprehend money launderers, according to Raymond Baker, an authority on financial crimes, who used U.S. Treasury Department statistics of illicit money flows and money-laundering conviction rates in 2005 for background

@Blue_LineMag

2

tougher measures would be: the creation of a publicly accessible registry of beneficial ownership, and mandatory declarations of beneficial ownership with meaningful sanctions for false declarations

3

$100-130

advantages money launderers enjoy: the effective invisibility of the crime of money laundering, the anonymity of its perpetrators, and the legal obstacles to following their dirty money

billion

a “realistic estimate of the magnitude of dirty money laundered in Canada each year”

August/September 2019 | BLUE LINE

5

NEWS CANADA

RCMP freshens up dress policy

The RCMP introduced a new uniform and dress policy for regular members and reservists this past May, permitting certain ball caps, neatly-trimmed facial hair, nail polish and more.

“While a number of amendments had been introduced over time to address emerging needs, it was time to refresh and review the policies using a modern lens,” said RCMP Corp.-Sgt.-Maj. Al McCambridge in an email to Blue Line.

He went on to say many of the changes align with feedback received from employees during the Commissioner’s consultations on modernization and culture change.

“The updated policy promotes a culture of respect, reflecting the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce, while maintaining high professional and safety standards.”

The policy has been streamlined and updated to remove outdated terminology and gender-specific language. Changes include: • Headdress: Permission to wear RCMPissued ball caps with approval • Facial hair: Neatly-trimmed within approved lengths • Hair: More relaxed policy to hair length and styles • Personal grooming: Regulations allow makeup, nail polish, sunglasses and tattoos as long as they are respectful So far, the feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive,” McCambridge added.

“We feel the policy is a modern and refreshed take on how our members present themselves, while continuing the tradition of being proud to wear the uniform.”

CANADA

Corrections Canada allocates $6 million for drone project

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will be spending $6 million over the next three years to install radar-based drone detection equipment at six facilities after several recent incidents of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) dropping contraband into institutions or being used for illicit surveillance.

CSC says it has partnered with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) for this “collaborative investigation” and posted a request for proposals on Buy and Sell Canada earlier this summer.

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

Donnacona Institution in Quebec is one of the six facilities slated for the drone detection pilot project. PHOTO: CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF CANADA It is expected that approximately one million dollars will be invested this year to deploy drone detection systems to the initial institutions, CSC told Blue Line in an email.

The pilot project will deploy drone detection systems in Mission, Collins Bay, Cowansville, Donnacona, Dorchester and Stony Mountain institutions over the next four years. At the end of the pilot project (March 2023), CSC said a report will be completed and will provide recommendations on the next steps with respect to deploying a national solution.

SURREY

RCMP piloting new Online Crime Reporting tool

The Surrey RCMP is launching a new online crime reporting tool to assist residents in reporting select non-emergency crimes. This is part of a pilot project for the B.C. RCMP that also includes detachments in Kelowna, Richmond and Ridge Meadows.

Online Crime Reporting provides an alternate way for citizens to report less serious crimes directly at www.surreyrcmp.ca/report and through the Surrey RCMP mobile app.

Citizens with a valid email address can report crimes, such as theft under $5,000 or a hit-and-run to an unoccupied vehicle or property, that occurred where there is no suspect or witness and follow-up by a police officer is not required.

“Crime reports from the public are an essential part of determining how our

policing resources are deployed in the city,” says Supt. Ed Boettcher, Surrey RCMP Operations Officer. “This additional reporting tool will enhance our service delivery to residents of Surrey by making it more convenient to report less serious crimes, while allowing police to focus on emergency calls for service.”

CANADA

CBSA can now seize chemicals used to make illegal opioids

As of May 15, Canada’s border officials and other law enforcement officers now have new powers to seize chemicals used to make illegal opioids.

The Government of Canada announced new regulatory amendments to help tackle the illegal trafficking and production of controlled substances. The amendments under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) came into force immediately and control specific chemicals—known as precursors—from being imported and used in the illegal production of fentanyls and amphetamines, such as methamphetamine and MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy).

In recent years, law enforcement identified novel chemicals not controlled under the CDSA that were making their way across the border and being used in the illegal production of fentanyls and amphetamines.

Before these regulatory changes, law enforcement could act only once illegal substances were produced using these chemicals, or if there was evidence that the chemicals were intended to be used to produce an illegal substance.

With the new changes last month, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other law enforcement officers can now detain and seize precursor chemicals, such as benzylfentanyl, derivatives and analogues of 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP) and norfentanyl. www.BlueLine.ca

The opioid crisis has killed more than 10,330 Canadians between January 2016 and September 2018, according to Health Canada. Since 2017, nearly three quarters of opioid-related deaths in Canada involved fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances.

TORONTO

OACP 2019 meeting explores opioid crisis, lessons from Humboldt & more

The new Law Enforcement First Aid (LEFA) course from St. John Ambulance takes what you learn in standard first aid training and elevates it to address active threat situations.

PHOTO: ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews, left, enjoys coffee time during the OACP 2019 General Meeting.

PHOTO: R. FRANCOEUR

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) hosted its annual general meeting downtown Toronto earlier this summer and presented education sessions on the opioids crisis, lessons from the Humboldt major incident, organizational wellness and more, as well as announced a new executive.

Chief Paul Pedersen of the Greater Sudbury Police Service has now been sworn-in as president of the OACP, succeeding Chief Kimberley Greenwood of the Barrie Police Service. Chief Greenwood remains on the board as past-resident and CACP (Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) director.

As for the rest of the annual general meeting, former NHL player Jay Harrison, now of Game Change Athlete Development Services, stopped by to chat with the group about executing a behavioural analytics strategy for police organizations and the steps to recruiting for resilience.

Tom Blake, the chair of Sprout, noted how the wellness market is continuing to grow.

Individuals are now demanding wellness, he said, and the traditional wellbeing offerings are not working because they are not tailored, not prevention-focused and/or not providing insights. Including technology in wellness is absolutely critical, according to Blake.

“You have an opportunity to do this together as an association for all the agencies,” he said.

“Gamification is big, so have the departments, agencies compete against each other. Make it meaningful gamification.” @Blue_LineMag

Sgt. Dan Donison and Staff Sgt. Murray Chamberlin, both of the Saskatchewan RCMP, had the room completely gripped with their presentation on “Humboldt: Leadership Lessons from a Major Crisis.”

They thoroughly and honestly covered their process through the complex investigation of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that happened on April 6, 2018, killing 16 people and injuring 13 after the hockey bus and a semi-trailer truck collided. They noted the intense media pressure and areas where they could have done better, as well as where they achieved positive results, such as booking the entire sole hotel in the small town where the court proceedings occurred so the media could not pester the families of the victims.

Recently retired Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis from British Columbia, North Bay Police Service Chief Scott Tod and Dr. Dirk Huyer, the chief coroner for Ontario, all presented their thoughts and research on the opioid crisis and the new challenges it presents for policing organizations.

Garis explained how Surrey Fire Service developed a business intelligence crowdsourcing tool to identify the time, location and details of overdose incidents happening in clusters within close proximity of each other.

Tod detailed his background handling the OxyContin healthcare crisis, saying the difference is today we have analytics to help.

“I think we have to start redefining how we are going to look for these drugs,” Tod said.

“I think we have to start leveraging a human-centered design approach, developing a national task force.”

For more photos and video from the conference, visit bit.ly/2L1K2FB.

CANADA

St. John Ambulance reveals new Law Enforcement First Aid course

You’ve been shot. You’ve grounded a subject during an arrest and they are bleeding. Your partner has been stabbed. Do you know what to do?

The new Law Enforcement First Aid (LEFA) course from St. John Ambulance (SJA) takes what you learn in standard first aid training and elevates it to address active threat situations.

“Our goal with this program is to help police officers save lives in intense situations,” said Shawn McLaren, chief learning officer of St. John Ambulance Canada.

The course teaches officers to control bleeding with tourniquets, apply chest seals and to evacuate casualties using tactical rescue moves. There are over four hours of practical scenarios designed to take officers from initial call, to engaging with a subject, to providing first aid based on their decisions.

“We ran one scenario where the subject approached the officers with a knife. They made their use-of-force decision and then gave first aid for the bullet wounds,” says Dave Rakobowchuk, a Smiths Falls police officer and SJA instructor.

The course design drew from police officers at the local, provincial and federal levels—as well as input from CBSA officers, Canadian Forces members, pre-hospital responders, and first aid experts—to develop a course that can be described as accurate and relevant.

The course will be available nationally in September 2019. Want a sneak peek? Email training@nhq.sja.ca.

- Kevin McGowan August/September 2019 | BLUE LINE

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NEWS DISPATCHES At the annual Ontario Provincial Police Veteran’s Association (OPPVA) general meeting in May, Comm. Thomas Carrique presented the 2018 Commissioner’s Award for Veteran of the Year to retired Insp. Andrew “Maks” Maksymchuk. Maks has done considerable research on the OPP and authored three books. He also initiated and advocated for the creation of the OPP Silent Partner Award, a recognition that was created to honour the wives of OPP officers who served in years past at remote detachments and contributed countless unpaid hours to supporting their husbands in their policing roles.

Abbotsford Police Staff Sgt. Graham Shantz has retired after 27 years with the department.

Marie-France Stubbs has retired from Correctional Services Canada after 31 years. She was awarded the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal in 2015 and worked in maximum security, medium security, minimum security and women’s multi-level institutions. She also served as a correctional adviser for the United Nations mission in Jereme, Haiti, mentoring the Haiti National Police (PNH) after the 2010 earthquake.

The Kiwanis Club of Edmonton - Oil Capital named Edmonton Police Staff Sgt. Duane Hunter as their Top Cop for 2018.

Hunter, now acting inspector in the human resources division, was selected for going “above and beyond the call of duty in his community,” specifically to revitalize the city’s Candy Cane Lane event, over the last eight years.

Steve Williams (photo) is London Police Service’s next chief of police, following Chief John Pare’s retirement.

Williams is a 27-year member of the London Police Service (LPS). He has received several commendations for drug and homicide investigations and in 2010 received the Award of Merit from the Ontario Homicide Investigators Associ8

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

CALENDAR ation. He is currently completing his Master’s Degree in Applied Criminology and Police Management from Cambridge University. He is also the Chair of Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing.

Vancouver Police Sgt.-Maj. James Pearson (photo) has retired. He started with VPD in 1992. Ray Gardner now takes over as departmental sergeant major.

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale, announced the Government of Canada would be establishing an interim management advisory board to provide the RCMP commissioner with expert external advice on the management and administration of the RCMP. Thirteen members have now been appointed, including Leanne Fitch (photo), the recently retired chief of police in Fredericton, N.B., as vice-chairperson, and John Domm, a former chief of police for the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, as well as for the Rama Police Service.

Supt. Stuart Betts of the York Regional Police Service (YRP) has been named London Police Service’s next Deputy Chief of Police. Most recently, he has served as the commander-in-charge of policing in the City of Vaughan.

He is a trained public order commander and an active critical incident commander.

The two British Columbia police officers who founded HerTime Vancouver, an anti-gang initiative, are the recipients of the 2019 Community Service Award from IAWP (International Association of Women Police).

HerTime has also been nominated for the RBC Women of Influence Canadian Women Award for Social Change. Congratulations to Det. Anisha Parhar, left, and Det. Sandy Avelar.

CACP 2019 Aug. 11-14, 2019 Calgary, Alta. cacp.ca/conferences-events.html Annual IAI International Forensic Educational Conference Aug. 11-17, 2019 Reno, Nev. theiai.org/2019_iai_conference_reno.php IPA Canada Training Week -Region 9 Aug. 12-17, 2019 Chilliwack, B.C. www.ipa-canada.org/region-9-training International Law Enforcement Forum (ILEF) Aug. 15-17, 2019 Calgary, Alta. www.ileforum.org 22nd International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Aug. 18-21, 2019 Edmonton, Alta. t2019.org International Association of Crime Analysts Conference Aug. 19-23, 2019 Fort Washington, MD iaca.net World Association of Detectives 94th Annual Conference Aug. 27-31, 2019 Stockholm, Sweden www.wad.net TACCOM Canada Sept. 6-8, 2019 Mississauga, Ont. taccomcanada.com North American Police Soccer Tournament (NAPST) Sept. 11-13, 2019 Mississauga, Ont. napst.ca Ontario Special Constables Association Summit Sept. 12-13, 2019 Concord, Ont. www.specialconstables.ca

www.BlueLine.ca

Infrastructure, Mobility and Managed Services for Law Enforcement.

Desktop as a Service (DaaS) Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) Digital Evidence Management (DEM) Unified Communications (UC) NCACR Policy & Compliance CALEA Accreditation

www.fset.ca 833.321.FSET

info@fset.ca

Q&A Terri Miller, the president of the Alberta Association of Community Peace Officers (AACPO), is a manager/sergeant at the Clearwater County Highway Patrol in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. She is also a dangerous goods inspector, licensed investigator and has extensive training in commercial vehicle compliance. She tells Blue Line more about the importance of the community peace officer program.

Q: What changes have you witnessed in law enforcement at the municipal level?

Q: How have you found your own partnerships with police?

During the past 24 years as a community peace officer, I have had the opportunity to work with many different law enforcement agencies and police departments. In the earlier days police agencies were reluctant to utilize or even work with CPOs because they were unsure of our roles and authorities. Since those early years, we have strengthened these relationships and now have a better understanding of each other’s roles. I believe policing agencies now view the Peace Officer Program as a valuable component to the law enforcement framework within the province.

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

Q: What is your biggest concern with the CPO program as it stands today?

One of the biggest concerns is the recent change to radio communications between peace officers and the RCMP. This inability to communicate with the police is a safety concern for all levels of law enforcement. I would like to see the RCMP work with CPOs to ensure critical information affecting officer safety is shared in a timely manner.

Q: Judge Bruce Fraser, who oversaw the fatality inquiry into the death of Calgary-area peace officer Rod Lazenby, made recommendations last year regarding the safety of CPOs in high-risk calls, etc.

Where do you stand on this?

I was pleased to see the recommendations from Judge Fraser regarding increased training, communication and mandatory access to tools and equipment for all CPOs.

Q: Why do you think CPOs should have access to more officer safety equipment?

CPOs engage in a variety of enforcement situations that can be at times quite complex in nature. You add in the remote areas our CPOs are working, the communication gaps and the fact that they frequently work alone... as employers we have a duty to protect our employers and currently the province restricts tools that provincial employees of the same class have access to. Employers need to be able to provide the necessary tools based on hazard and risk

Snapshot of AACPO

415

community peace officers represented

114

municipalities represented

8

special constable agencies first formed the association in 1989

Find the full, unabridged version of this Q&A on blueline.ca/ topic/qa/.

Q: What do you want to see happen for peace officers in the future?

My goal is to see the role of CPOs evolve and become more integrated into the policing continuum within the province. By having trained CPOs deal with traffic enforcement, commercial vehicle safety, school resource positions, bylaws and emergency management, the police would be able to deal with the high-priority concerns within the community. We need to recognize and utilize the CPOs for their knowledge and expertise within the community.

Q: Advice for other law enforcement partners when it comes to supporting CPOs and similar programs?

My advice is to get to know your peace officers, become familiar with their skill sets and qualifications, encourage your officers to work with them and draw on their expertise to assist your department. Maintaining and building these partnerships between law enforcement agencies assists in reducing crime and provides safer communities overall. www.BlueLine.ca

PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRI MILLER

Municipal enforcement has evolved over the past 15 years with one of the biggest changes in 2006 with the implementation of the Peace Officer Act. I have seen the Community Peace Officer (CPO) program grow in both scope and use by employers across the province, along with the recognition of this program by our policing agencies, some of which even employ peace officers of their own.

Tiered policing is not a new concept, but few jurisdictions have implemented it to this extent. We recognize that no officer can be an expert in or even know every piece of legislation. The Peace Officer Program has changed things significantly as it has allowed specialized enforcement units to be created with a focus on specific elements of compliance; this change has allowed a greater level of service delivery to Albertans and has freed up policing resources to deal with Criminal Code matters.

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BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

BY DR. PETER COLLINS

The Werther Effect: suicide reports in the media

S

ince opening in Toronto on Oct. 18, 1918, the Prince Edward Viaduct (commonly referred to as the Bloor Viaduct) has been a suicide magnet. A barrier was erected in 2003 to prevent individuals from dying from suicide off the viaduct but someone occasionally manages to slip through and threaten to jump. That is why I found myself back on the viaduct on a cold and rainy day in mid-March, with the Emergency Task Force of the Toronto Police Service, to speak to a young man who wanted to jump to his death.

As a result of that incident, the busy north-south Don Valley Expressway that runs under a portion of the viaduct, and the east-west subway that runs under the length of the viaduct were closed for three hours, essentially paralyzing much of the city. Thankfully there was a successful resolution.

The Toronto Police Service media release stated officers were on the bridge in response to a “medical emergency.” This was the right statement to release. My colleague at the University of Toronto, Dr. Mark Sinyor, agreed. He has studied the influence of media accounts of suicide and his research supports that avoiding news stories focusing on suicide methods can prevent copy-cat behaviour—the Werther Effect.

The Werther Effect

In Goethe’s 1774 novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, the main character, a young man named Werther, takes his own life because of unrequited love. Shortly after its publication the book was banned in a number of countries because of what was then described as “Werther Fever”—it was believed young individuals, who identified with Werther, were killing themselves.

Suicide is complex, influenced by many factors. Now, in the 21st century, it has become apparent that certain elements of media re12

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

ports are associated with increased suicide deaths.

Suicide incidents are the most susceptible to copy-cat behaviours, followed by extensively-covered workplace violence and school shootings. If a well-known individual dies by suicide, and it is widely covered in the media, an increase in suicide rates has been reported.

Celebrity suicide effects led the World Health Organization to establish media guidelines for reporting a high-profile celebrity death, including sensitivity and the non-sensationalism in the reporting of the means of suicide, the precipitating factors, and the risk factors for suicide apparent or experienced by the celebrity.1 Suicide in the United States increased disproportionately after the suicide of Robin Williams in August 2014. Males over 30 had the greatest number of suicides, in response to William’s death, and suicides by the method he used were also higher in August 2014 and the following months.2 Representation of suicide on TV is also problematic. In April 2019, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health reported a study by Bridge et al (still in press) that found the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why was “associated with a 28.9 per cent increase in suicide rates among American youth ages 10-17 in the month (April 2017) following the show’s release, after accounting for ongoing trends in suicide rates.”3 An association is not the same thing as causality. Suicide is a vastly

Suicide is a vastly complex phenomenon but media coverage [...] raises some real concerns.

complex phenomenon but media coverage and/or representation raises some real concerns.

Stephen Marche examined the Netflix show and its possible relationship with adolescent suicide in his New Yorker article. He stated, “Those who predicted the association between the show’s release and a rise in the suicide rate have met the fate of so much expert opinion in the twenty-first century: their predictions were ignored or cast into doubt by financially interested parties; the research, which came too late to matter, gave evidence that the predictions were true; and there were no consequences”. 4

And what about physical barriers?

Sinyor et al (2017)5 probed the impact of putting up the suicide barrier on jumping deaths in Toronto and the impact the media have on the suicide rates. They examined records from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario covering 1993– 2003 (11 years before the barrier) and 2004–2014 (11 years after the barrier was erected).

The purpose was to determine if there were changes in the yearly rates of suicide by jumping at Bloor Street Viaduct, other bridges (including the nearest comparison bridge, walking distance bridges), buildings and by other means. The finding was that suicide rates at the Bloor Viaduct declined from 9.0 deaths/year before the barrier to 0.1 deaths/year after the barrier. www.BlueLine.ca

That would make sense, however, negative media reports about erecting the barrier were associated with an increase in overall suicide-by-jumping from bridges in the four years after the barrier was erected. Over the long-term, however, the suicide-by-jumping declined in Toronto, with no associated increase in suicide by other means.

The barrier appears to have had its intended impact of preventing suicide despite a short-term rise in deaths at other bridges that seems, at least partially, to have been influenced by a media effect.

Sinyor and his team warn research examining barriers placed at other locations should interpret the short-term results with caution.

In conclusion, the content of media reports—particularly those relating to celebrity suicide, certain methods of suicide, suicide pacts and suicide in older adults—may lead to suicide contagion.

Kudos to the Toronto Police Service for their responsible handling of a sensitive issue.

Meanwhile, the third season of 13 Reasons Why is scheduled for October 2019.

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References

1. World Health Organisation (2008) Preventing BlueLine_Feb_Humber.indd 1 Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals (2008) www.whoint/mental_health/prevention/suicide/ resource_mediapdf 2. Whitley, R., Fink, D., Santaella-Tenorio, J., & Keyes, K. (2019) Suicide Mortality in Canada after the Death of Robin Williams, in the Context of High-Fidelity to Suicide Reporting Guidelines in the Canadian Media. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry [ePub ahead of print].

3. NIMH (2019) www.nimh.nih.gov/news/sciencenews/2019/release-of-13-reasons-why-associatedwith-increase-in-youth-suicide-rates.shtml 4. Marche, S. (2019) Netflix and Suicide: The Disturbing Example of “13 Reasons Why.” The New Yorker. www.newyorker.com/culture/ cultural-comment/netflix-and-suicide-thedisturbing-example-of-13-reasons-why 5. Sinyor, M. et al (2017) Did the suicide barrier work after all? Revisiting the Bloor Viaduct natural experiment and its impact on suicide rates in Toronto. British Medical Journal e015299. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015299

Dr. Peter Collins is the operational forensic psychiatrist with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Criminal Behaviour Analysis Unit.

He is also a member of the crisis/hostage negotiation team of the Toronto Police Service Emergency Task Force. His clinical appointment is with the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health in Toronto, and he is an associate professor with the University of Toronto. Dr. Collins’ opinions are his own and may not reflect the opinion of the OPP, University of Toronto or his mother. Contact him at peter.collins@ utoronto.ca.

@Blue_LineMag

2018-01-29 10:15 AM

HEALTH & WELLNESS

BY ISABELLE SAUVÉ

Tired of being tired: compassion fatigue

C

ompassion fatigue, also called vicarious traumatization, is “a state of tension experienced by those helping people or animals in distress... a concern with the suffering of those being helped to the degree it creates a secondary traumatic stress for the helper.” Compassion fatigue is characterized by emotional, cognitive and behavioural properties.

It is also known as a condition whereby a gradual lessening of compassion or affect takes place over the course of time. It is common for those who work directly with victims to be affected.

Symptoms of compassion fatigue include a shift in world-

view, cynicism, absenteeism, irritability, decreased experiences of pleasure, depression, mental and physical exhaustion, isolation, impaired judgment, weight fluctuation, anxiety, somatic complaints, hopelessness, and an overarching negative perspective. It is a type of situational desensitization which trickles over to other aspects of one’s life. It has the potential of impacting not only one’s professional life but also one’s personal life.

Compassion fatigue was first recognized amongst healthcare workers. Further studies confirm persons in other professions are also at risk. The willingness, energy and effort to help others or alleviate suffering can come at a cost. As

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This year’s conference will examine how evolving social & criminal behaviors, technology and crime pattens have impacted the prevention, intervention and suppression of gangs and organized crime groups.

Attendance is open to sworn members of the justice community. This includes police, corrections, border services, analysts, crowns, military and staff involved in support of the analysis, enforcement and prosecutions of criminal offenses.

a collective, law enforcement psychological issues are part of personnel often recount the anyone’s job description, reopportunity to help others as gardless of financial or any a main reason to pursue a ca- other compensation. reer in this field. This places Specific research suggests them at elevated risk for de- compassion fatigue can be veloping compassion fatigue. contagious and spread to others Law enforcement profes- within a group or an organizasionals routinely assist victims, tion. As such, a preventative persons in distress and those and educated culture is importwho are less privileged, while ant for the organization’s others are more indirectly in- overall wellness. Openly disvolved. Both those directly and cussing issues is key. indirectly involved A recent study also with victims of trauma A recent suggests higher levels can be affected by study also of empathy can lead to compassion fatigue. suggests lower levels of compasFor example, call tak- higher sion fatigue. In short, ers and dispatchers levels of the more empathy one are frequently subject empathy has for victims and to secondary expos- can lead to traumatic situations, ure by hearing trou- lower levels the more it can lead to bling situations and of greater satisfaction and speaking to victims. compassion serve as a buffer to In fact, they may be at fatigue. compassion fatigue. heightened risk due to Despite this, circuma lessened ability to have com- stances call for adaptive bepassion satisfaction, which of- haviour and law enforcement ten stems from on-scene officers must learn to self-reguproblem solving and benefit- late their emotional reactions ting from the satisfaction of and express appropriate levels bringing closure to situations. of sympathy for victims. As Compassion fatigue can also such, those with less experience lead to lack of interest, de- in the field and/or low social creased productivity, self- support are at greater risk of doubt and inability to focus. developing compassion fatigue.

Akin to post traumatic stress Organizational stressors can disorder (PTSD) and other exacerbate compassion fatigue conditions, a workplace cul- or they can play a significant role ture of “silence” or of “suck it in reducing its impact through up,” as well as an acceptance education and support. Without that symptoms are “the cost of intervention, compassion fadoing business,” is a mecca for tigue can have an incrementally compassion fatigue. It is well degenerative impact and lead to known law enforcement pro- burnout. Early diagnostics of the fessionals consent to a degree symptoms can be vital to its of risk inherent with the pro- treatment and impact reversal. fession. Nonetheless, this par- Additionally, suitable self-care, ticular way of thinking is stress reduction strategies and harmful and must be chal- healthy coping mechanisms are lenged. It should not be ac- key to preventing compassion cepted that emotional or fatigue.

Information will be posted on www.ongia.org soon.

For more information contact info@ongia.org

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WWW.ONGIA.ORG

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

BL_ONGIA-Ad_AUGSEP2019_SVA.indd 1

Isabelle Sauvé is a 12-year veteran with the OPP, currently with the Lanark County Detachment. She has a MA in psychology and is a PhD candidate. She is also an ultramarathon/endurance athlete and the Racing the Planet/4 Deserts 2018 Series winner as well as a Guinness World record holder.

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COVER STORY “Officer, did you do everything you could possibly do in this investigation?” If you didn’t check social media, could you really answer, “Yes?” In this day and age, I don’t think you could.

Policing at the speed of social media How the Calgary Police Service, the host of this year’s CACP (Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) conference, navigates “swatting,” amateur online sleuthing, and more. By Const. Patricia Ariss 16

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

www.BlueLine.ca

PHOTO: CALGARY POLICE SERVICE

T

his is an indisputable statement by Det. Darrin Chaplin of the Calgary Police Service (CPS).

Since the advent of social media, there has been a fundamental shift in policing. What began as something many believed was a fad, or a passing trend, has become such an integral part of day-to-day life that it’s not uncommon to hear of people making their living on some kind of social media platform. The terms “influencer” and “Insta-famous” are becoming normalized labels.

Social media has permeated every aspect of daily life, with no exception given to policing. Police organizations across the globe encounter social media-related or enabled files every day. This is not a new trend and it’s not something that is going to go away.

One of the first representations in Canada of the magnitude of influence social media can have on police involvement and investigation was the 2011 riots in Vancouver after the Vancouver Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The riots were characterized by violence, looting and the destruction of property. According to Christopher J. Schneider in Policing and Social Media, “The online reaction to the riot was immediate and multifaceted. Social media users launched a public condemnation of the riot almost immediately after it erupted and while the riot was in progress.”

Due to the swift public outcry, police were able to heavily rely on the images and videos from social media, which captured the rioters, and ultimately pursue investigations and arrests.

CPS has also seen, and continues to see, instances where offences were perpetrated by social media and, by contrast, investigations that were largely assisted by social media.

One such instance occurred in Calgary in 2017. Police received a

phone call about a violent incident inside an apartment building and officers were in the process of evacuating and containing the scene. In the meantime, the victim who lived in the apartment building had been livestreaming her gaming session when she became embroiled in an online altercation with another player.

In response, that player reached out to a “swatter” and asked him to swat (report a false emergency about) the victim. Prior to the incident, the victim had ordered pizza and, when it took too long to arrive, she called to find out what was taking so long. The delivery person informed the victim that he was unable to get to her house because it was surrounded by police. It wasn’t until that moment that the victim realized what was happening.

The victim, who makes her living as a gamer through sponsorships and advertisement, ended her livestream once she became aware of the situation and it was later determined that it was, in fact, the swatter who had called police reporting the violent incident at the victim’s residence.

Det. Chaplin, who investigated the event, reiterates the findings from the Vancouver riots—that police tend to underestimate the power of social media.

“We underestimate the importance of a person’s social media reputation and the effect it can have on someone making a living. [Online] …people will do or not do certain things because it could affect their followers, their likes, their reputation.”

Chaplin further states police need to adapt to what he calls “new motives.” Someone’s online intent or impulse may not fall into the traditional incentive compartments police have typically seen in years past, he notes.

In modern investigations, motives often include things like protecting or upholding one’s online reputation. As seen in the above swatting incident, the swatter outwardly told the victim he was angry with the victim for “going offline,” as it negatively affected his own credibility as a swatter-for-hire. @Blue_LineMag

Conversely, the victim purported her losses to be upward of $10,000 due to her being offline and she spent much of the following weeks apologizing to her followers for being offline.

CanadaCreep was another incident in which social media played a substantial role. By the summer of 2017, the CanadaCreep account had amassed more than 17,000 followers on Twitter over the course of one year. The modus operandi of the account was to post voyeuristic images and videos of women—the majority of these being taken up the skirts of unsuspecting victims.

In this case, social media was significant in assisting police in the investigation, right from the beginning. Not only was the offence being propagated over social media but, as with the Vancouver riots, there was a massive public outcry on social media, too. By the time police became aware of the account and its content, the social media community had already determined the offences were taking place in Calgary.

The primary investigator for this case, Det. Simon Ross, says the amateur sleuthing done on social media was an integral part of identifying and apprehending the offender.

“By the time police became involved, the public investigation had already been going on for two days prior to that,” he says. “People had started tagging police in social media posts, which is how it came to our attention. The CPS social media team became aware of the ongoing incident and were able to reach out to the public and encourage people to come forward with information.”

As Ross points out, social media played a role in every element of this investigation. The offence was discovered on a social media platform, civilian investigation occurred on various social media platforms, the offender was identified on social media, and victims were identified on social media.

“Through the power of social media, within hours of CPS Cyber becoming aware, two tips had come in identifying the suspect,” Ross continues. “We were able to harness what naturally happened within the

“We underestimate the importance of a person’s social media reputation and the effect it can have on someone making a living.”

- Det. Darrin Chaplin, Calgary Police Service

4.34 calls for Calgary Police Service per day so far in 2019 involving at least one social media platform

263 occurrence reports to date for 2019 in which a least one social media platform is mentioned

94% of adult Canadian internet users have at least one social media account, according to Ryerson University research in 2018

209K followers on CPS’s Twitter account

social media world to the ultimate benefit of the investigation.”

These incidents, and numerous others, serve to highlight some of the challenges and potential benefits facing law enforcement as we continue to navigate the evermore connected world we police. Social media continues to grow at an exponential rate, with new platforms popping up and disappearing faster than law enforcement can sometimes keep up with. As the online world continues to grow, training for law enforcement needs to be a top priority so that police can continue to serve new generations who are living in the digital age.

CPS aims to be at the forefront of new and emerging social media trends. In order to do so, members attend training opportunities locally, nationally and internationally, held by law enforcement and trusted partners. CPS also recognizes the crucial role external entities play in the development of law enforcement and, as such, actively engages with other law enforcement partners, businesses and academic communities throughout the country to gather and share knowledge.

CPS is hosting its third Cyber Summit from March 10-12, 2020. The Summit will play host to local and international speakers who will address topics such as the relationship between social media and police investigations. We look forward to hearing from investigators on such high-profile cases as the Amanda Todd investigation, among others. More information at cybersummityyc.ca.

Patricia Ariss is a constable with the Calgary Police Service, Cybercrime Team. She has been with CPS for eight years.

August/September 2019 | BLUE LINE

17

TRAINING

The first Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective BJJ seminar, targeting police officers, was held in June in Houston, Texas.

Expanding the use of force toolbox with Brazilian jiu-jitsu

T

he modern police officer has access to a wide variety of equipment and technology to help them perform their job and keep the public safe. There is, however, one essential tool an overwhelming percentage of today’s officers do not have in their arsenal. In fact, some would say this skillset can become your superpower: Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).

BJJ gives people the ability to defend themselves in close-quarter situations and use their training to control their opponent — all without needing to strike another person.

It is a martial art with a focus on submission wrestling and grappling. It involves controlling another human with your body and hands and, if necessary, using carotid restriction or a submission to incapacitate an attacker.

BJJ’s focus is to close the distance where a person’s ability to punch, kick and cause harm to others is drastically diminished.

This is accomplished through the use of technique, leverage, dynamic movement and a bank of submission positions.

There has been a growing movement across North America encouraging police officers to begin training BJJ. The Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective, or the #BJJMakeItMandatory move-

18

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

ment as it is most commonly known on social media, has been encouraging officers to learn BJJ since February 2019.

Ari Knazan, 45, is a police officer and jiu-jitsu black belt based in Victoria, B.C. He is one of the co-founders of the Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective, heading the organization with Lt. Jason Rebsch, an American police officer based in Texas. Having ran his own martial arts gym for the past 16 years and trained extensively with law enforcement agencies across Canada, Knazan argues police departments need to get on board with their officers training BJJ now more than ever.

“It’s a super power. That’s what we’re trying to show people,” Knazan says. “If you end up learning jiu-jitsu, then you won’t have to rely on your duty belt for use of force options all the time. It gives you confidence, real confidence, in your ability.”

BJJ and the escalation of force

With his extensive background in training and teaching BJJ, Knazan says that the most beneficial aspect for a police officer is learning how to control someone without escalating the situation by using a lethal or non-lethal tool. www.BlueLine.ca

PHOTOS: ANDERSEN KEITH

By Landen Kruger

“Every officer I have ever talked to that has started jiu-jitsu has not stopped.

They’ve said it’s a life changer.”

- Ari Knazan

martial arts training and their limited confidence in their ability to physically engage with someone.

Changing the culture

For BJJ to become mainstream within police departments across North America, a culture change in policing altogether is necessary, according to Knazan, and that should start from the recruits in the academy right up to the superior officers, some of whom may still be subconsciously clinging to an “old-school” mentality.

“We have all these old-school police officers that went through the police academy and were taught ‘Hey, let’s do a knee strike and use your baton,’ and all this outdated material we’ve been taught. There are more ways to manipulate someone’s body as an officer,” he says.

“I have done some use of force stuff in the past that was totally ineffective, and it just blew my mind that they were still teaching this stuff. You’ll never pull off those moves when someone is hopped up on drugs or is violent,” he says.

Ari Knazan, right, is a Canadian police officer, jiu-jitsu black belt and one of the co-founders of the Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective.

“Jiu-jitsu is scalable. This means you can go from passive resistance to full-on resisting or lethality if you have to. With a firearm you can’t do that. It has one function only,” Knazan says.

A post from the Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective’s Instagram page frames the scalability of BJJ for officers by means of the “manual transmission analogy.” This analogy suggests that a majority of police officers have a “transmission box,” equipped with only: • reverse (to flee) • park (to freeze) • first gear (low level resistance, talking and being hands-on) • sixth gear (all-out use of force with weapons) Knazan argues BJJ provides officers with the second, third, fourth and fifth gears, which is the gradual increase of aggressiveness and resistance based on the reactions of the individual they are dealing with.

If they encounter a suspect who is resisting at a third or fourth gear level, most officers can only respond with a sixth gear alternative, which is equipping a firearm or taser and threatening its usage, he elaborates. Officers who have trained in BJJ, however, can scale their response at any time and in any manner based on their current situation.

“The majority of our job is obviously talking, and we should all be taught the skills of verbal judo. However, we are hands-on a ton as well. How often are we shooting someone as opposed to putting our hands on someone?” Knazan asks.

He argues the average police officer is more likely to ready a firearm over choosing to be hands-on because of their lack of

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2019-05-17 8:56 AM

than ever, and as a result, their actions heavily scruKnazan believes BJJ should be the foundation for tinized by the public. Every wrong or fatal encounter police combat training and experienced BJJ black made by an officer can be made available for the belts should be use of force co-ordinators. entire world to watch and judge.

Outside of the department, there are more indiThis is where BJJ becomes an extremely valuable vidual and personal barriers officers must overcome tool for departments. before they begin training BJJ. “In terms of liability for police officers, if you’re “Often, people who do train say that ego is a massive not hurting suspects, you are not getting sued,” barrier for police officers,” he says. “We’re all alpha Knazan says. personalities. We all want to not end up looking silly Unwarranted or unintentional shootings by the in front of our peers or other people, so why should I police have become a central topic of conversation ad do it? Maybe I’ve done the job for 15, 20 years and I’ve outrage in North America. The greatest benefit of never needed jiu-jitsu, so why start now?” having officers trained in BJJ would be the reduction In fact, checking your ego is one of the most “It’s a super of unnecessary or unwarranted shootings, since ofbeneficial outcomes of training BJJ, Knazan argues. power. ficers will feel more comfortable physically engaging “One of the greatest benefits for me of training BJJ and subduing a person with BJJ instead of using is the ability to handle pressure. In jiu-jitsu, when That’s what their firearms. someone is 100 pounds heavier than you, holding you we’re trying BJJ is also immensely beneficial for officers who down, you’re not giving up. And you bring that mentalto show have experienced trauma or suffer from PTSD as a ity out into the field with you,” he says. result of their work.

The ability to remain calm in uncomfortable situa- people.”

- Ari Knazan, “I think one of the huge benefits that people don’t tions is one of the most beneficial outcomes of Invictus LEO Jiu realize is that it’s awesome for comradery. It’s awetraining BJJ for any individual.

Jitsu Collective some for combating PTSD,” Knazan says. “Every For police officers who have a highly stressful job and co-founder officer I have ever talked to that has started jiu-jitsu are constantly under the watchful eye of the public, has not stopped. They’ve said it’s a life changer.” subject to scrutiny for their actions, being able to reThe Invictus Leo Jiu Jitsu Collective is starting to create a main calm during the most intense and challenging moments of the network of officers and BJJ practitioners to encourage more ofjob will help them make better decisions and not act out of fear.

There are other barriers to BJJ for an officer. Often it comes ficers to find a gym near them and begin their training with a qualified and experienced instructor. down to the simple issue of time and money.

The Invictus LEO Jiu Jitsu Collective will be hosting BJJ “A lot of us do shiftwork so it’s impossible to get in to the gym. A lot of us have families, so there’s just not enough time,” Knazan says. seminars specifically for police officers in the upcoming months His response to this issue is simple: “You can never train too all around North America. Its first seminar was held in June in Houston, Texas, and attracted about 100 participants. much for a job that might end up killing you.”

“Those who attended had not only policing in common, but Knazan has also heard a lot of officers say that they don’t train BJJ jiu-jitsu as well,” says Knazan, who was the only Canadian instructbecause their training would not be paid for by their department.

“If you say, ‘Well, they’re not going to pay for me so I’m not or on site for the event. “The energy in the room that day was regoing to go;’ you’re missing the point. BJJ is going to save you. markable. We are getting requests from numerous cities to do You’re going to get a ton of positives out of it... You can’t rely on other events. And we are looking at new dates and locations.” the department to do everything for you,” he says. “I’m lucky that Visit invictusleo.com for more information. my department is open to new ideas.”

A valuable tool

With the massive proliferation of cameras in cell phones and access to social media, police officers are now being filmed more 20

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

Landen Kruger is a graduate student in contemporary journalism at Centennial College’s Story Arts centre. He has a degree in political science from Queen’s University.

www.BlueLine.ca

PHOTO: ANDERSEN KEITH

The Invictus Leo Jiu Jitsu Collective says it is starting to create a network of police officers and BJJ practitioners.

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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Tailoring critical incident response templates for educational stakeholders

A Niagara Regional Police partnership garners a game-changing database of school safety plans By Robin Bleich

I

t is time to stop reinventing the wheel and start sharing what works with respect to critical incident response.

The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) is celebrating 10 years of its School Police Emergency Action Response (SPEAR) program, an endeavour that continues to be shared and celebrated internationally for its all-encompassing approach to critical infrastructure safety within the educational sector.

In light of predated, recent and future occurrences of school violence, SPEAR was developed as part of an emergency preparedness business continuity practice to assist with essential emergency response systems. SPEAR establishes a risk-based approach for strengthening the resiliency of Niagara Region’s educational facilities and all public safety personnel.

Moreover, the program represents an artery that encourages open and healthy school safety dialogue, which allows for the sharing of critical information.

SPEAR made its debut at the 2016 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference. With over 15,000 in attendance, SPEAR landed on the “Leadership” track and received 100 per cent positive feedback from its attendees.

Since the international introduction, SPEAR gained traction within policing communities across the globe and the process of information sharing began.

Police officers from Germany, the United States and Canada continue to request information on the program.

Mission

SPEAR’s project mission and primary focus is to provide police, fire, medical responders and schools with a database of school safety plans. The plans provide emergency service responders with critical decision-making options by illustrating pre-determined school site management 22

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

Officer Robin Bleich, right, explains her badge to a group of young students.

and tactical information for evacuations.

SPEAR does not avert or eliminate potential threats; it assists in efficient resource allocation and time management skillsets. SPEAR’s application is not limited to high risk/low frequency incidents; its design is intuitive for any emergency involving schools. SPEAR is used for: • aggressive/hostile threats within a school • natural disasters • fires • bomb threats • CBRNE (chemical-, biological-, radiological-, nuclear-, and explosivespecific) hazards • missing children

The design

SPEAR demonstrates geographical resiliency. For example, Niagara Region has about 1,850 square kilometres of land spread across 12 municipalities and surrounded by approximately 3,885 square kilometres of international bodies of

water. Niagara Region is home to about 400,000 residents, while hosting about two million visitors annually.

The Niagara Region has exceptional water systems and some beautiful escarpments that are part of some the school’s landscaping. Moreover, there are schools in both rural and suburb locations, making some of the evacuation planning a challenge.

Nonetheless, SPEAR adapts, overcomes, and achieves its purpose. The resiliency of the program allows for updates to happen as frequent as necessary.

Any agency can adopt the program and implement its design as a result of this resiliency—its design is also transferable to other critical infrastructure partners such as: government, transportation, energy and utilities, etc.

SPEAR has three components to its program infrastructure: • GIS (Geographic Information System) maps • SPEAR Edit • SPEAR Access System (SAS) www.BlueLine.ca

SPEAR Edit is a secure online data entry system, which allows our educational partners to login and update their school portfolios in real-time. It provides police with intimate infrastructure knowledge that is essential for the security and safety of school staff and the students. The SAS allows police officers to gain access inside the schools with the use of encrypted keys, swipe cards and codes that are strategically placed across the region.

The response plans are tailored to meet the needs of every school; no two are alike.

SPEAR currently oversees 219 schools across the region. Each school is visited by an officer who is trained in tactical analyses and experienced in SPEAR plan development. A site analysis of each school and the surrounding area is completed, including the gathering of tactical information. All information is then assessed and correlated, creating a unique and individual SPEAR safety plan. The GIS maps are used to capture the tactical data for responding emergency personnel. Each location has a

minimum of five maps focusing on the following information: • Front Identification GIS Map • 5m – Entrances GIS Map • 220m – Approach Routes GIS Map • 500m – Traffic Control GIS Map • 650m Evacuation GIS Map Emergency personnel have access to SPEAR electronically; in-house or online from their mobile data terminals (MDTs).

Valued partnerships

A multi-faceted threat assessment approach is a school’s first proactive measure in creating and maintaining an environment where all vocational members feel safe. The primary purpose is to identify indicators that suggest when a student or situation may be moving along a pathway to violence and to then identify how to intervene to decrease risk, prevent injury to self and/or others, and develop an appropriate management plan.

The NRPS has developed and maintained 29 successful working partnerships with

our educational stakeholders; in an effort to provide cost-efficient measures for its members and student population. Crime prevention is a key component of community mobilization and strong community partnerships are an essential element of any crime reduction strategy.

“The SPEAR program is an example of the opportunities and benefits of bringing our partners together in advance of a potential crisis situation to ensure we are working instep to ensure the safety of some of the most vulnerable members of our society—our children,” says Chief Bryan MacCulloch, NRPS. As SPEAR continues to develop, we recognize the benefits of tailoring a programmable template for interested agencies to implement. Education is prevention and NRPS’ dedication to prevention is within its partnerships.

Robin Bleich is a 13-year police officer with the Niagara Regional Police Service. She is the Chairperson of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Crime Prevention Committee. She can be contacted at robin.bleich@niagarapolice.ca.

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August/September 2019 | BLUE LINE

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2019-05-08 11:26 AM

CASE LAW

BY MIKE NOVAKOWSKI

Safety search of vehicle lawful during traffic stop

B

ritish Columbia’s top court has determined the reasonable suspicion standard drives a search incident to investigative detention, not the higher reasonable belief standard.

In R. v. Webber, 2019 BCCA 208, two patrol officers driving an unmarked police vehicle saw a car being driven in an erratic manner. It was daytime and the car’s driver made quick turns in a pedestrian-heavy area. The driver also drove through a controlled intersection without stopping, contrary to B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act (MVA).

The police activated their lights and siren and the car stopped abruptly, causing the driver to jerk forward and backward. The officers saw the driver lean towards the front centre console of the car and make a motion with his right arm.

The officers conducted a records search of the licence plate, which revealed the car was registered to a “Jason Webber” and had been involved in an attempted murder investigation about nine months earlier.

The officers approached the driver and asked him to step out of the vehicle. The driver was shaking and seemed excited.

And the vehicle was strewn with empty cans and bottles, two cell phone chargers, a cell phone, various fast food wrappers and half a dozen five-hour energy drinks.

After the driver stepped out of the car, he was patted down but no weapons were found. He remained by the curb with one officer, while the second officer returned to his vehicle and conducted a second police records check of the driver, now known as “Mark Webber.”

This records check revealed: 1. Webber was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior extortion conviction 2. He had been one of two intended victims of the attempted murder associated with the vehicle 3. The second intended victim was the subject of a drug trafficking investigation 4. The suspect in the attempted murder was also associated with drug trafficking The officer then conducted a safety search of the centre console of the vehicle.

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

He saw several small bags that appeared to contain cocaine. The officer stopped his search, arrested Webber, returned to the vehicle and conducted a more thorough search as an incident to arrest.

The police seized about 83 grams of cocaine and nine grams of MDMA (ecstasy) from the vehicle. Webber was subsequently charged with two counts of possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

In B.C. Provincial Court one officer described Webber’s motion as “stuffing and pulling,” while the items seen in the car were consistent with cars involved in drug trafficking. The other officer described Webber’s action as a stuffing motion or a motion where he was putting something in the centre console. Both officers testified they were concerned that the driver was pulling out or concealing something in the console, possibly a weapon.

As for the additional information revealed during the second police records check, an officer said it elevated his concern that a weapon may be concealed in the front centre console. In the officer’s view, the weapons prohibition suggested Webber had used weapons in the past. As well, the links between Webber and the drug trade elevated his safety concerns as the officer was aware of frequent violence in the Vancouver drug trade.

Among other things, Webber argued that his rights under ss. 8, 9 and 10 of the Charter had been breached. He contended that there was no legal basis for his initial detention, the pat-down search or the search of the car’s console. Furthermore, he suggested that he was not informed of the reason for his detention and was not adequately apprised of his right to counsel. In his view, the evidence obtained from the

search of the console should have been excluded under s. 24(2) of the Charter.

The judge found the Webber’s initial detention lawful. Because he failed to stop at a controlled intersection and because of his erratic driving, the police had a legal right to stop him. Moreover, the fact the police issued no ticket did not render the detention improper. Webber also had been informed of the reasons for his detention — erratic driving and failing to stop. The judge also ruled that s. 10(b) was not triggered during a traffic stop for driving offences.

As for the pat-down search and the console search, the officer subjectively believed they were both necessary to ensure no weapon was present. The judge also held both searches were objectively reasonable.

The judge accepted the officer’s evidence that he conducted the pat-down search due to a concern over concealed weapons. In applying a reasonable suspicion standard for the safety searches, he found that “reasonable grounds existed to conduct a safety search of both Mr. Webber and the centre console area of the vehicle” when Webber was first detained and the initial police records check was made. In other words, the reasons for both the pat-down and console search were the same. As for the second police records check, it only served to “bolster” or reinforce the initial grounds and provide additional facts to support the console search.

The judge also held that safety searches may legitimately attend investigations of MVA violations and need not be confined to the person. The search of the console was part of the safety search and this search only became a drug investigation when the drugs were discovered. Both the pat-down search and console search were minimally intrusive, and the console search was limited to the area of the pulling or stuffing motion. Further, the time between the initial detention and the discovery of the drugs was short, no more than 10 minutes. Since there were no Charter breaches, there was no reason to exclude the evidence under s. 24(2). Webber was convicted on both charges.

Webber accepted that his initial detention and the pat-down search of his body were lawful in the British Columbia Court of Appeal, but asserted that the trial judge erred in concluding that the console search did not breach s. 8 of the Charter.

In his view, among other things, the trial judge improperly relied upon the officer’s www.BlueLine.ca

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CASE LAW

OFF THE SHELF

BY MIKE NOVAKOWSKI evidence that a safety search of the centre console was necessary.

Moreover, he contended that the trial judge erred in law by applying the “reasonable suspicion” standard rather than the “reasonable grounds to believe” standard for determining the scope and necessity of the safety search. He also suggested the trial judge erred by finding his detention during the console search was lawful pursuant to an investigation under the MVA. He suggested that the evidence ought to have been excluded under s. 24(2).

Reasonable suspicion versus reasonable grounds to believe standard

After reviewing case law, Justice Savage concluded that the appropriate standard for a police safety search incidental to investigative detention is “reasonable suspicion.” He noted the judicial debate that has emerged from the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in R. v. MacDonald, 2014 SCC 3, and whether that case changed the requisite legal threshold for lawful police safety searches from the “reasonable suspicion” standard to the higher standard of “reasonable grounds to believe.”

In his view, the legal standard for a safety search was not elevated by MacDonald. “In my opinion, the Supreme Court of Canada did not recalibrate the test for lawful police safety searches from the traditional ‘reasonable suspicion’ standard,” he said. The judge did not err in concluding that the reasonable suspicion standard applied in determining whether a limited safety search was reasonably necessary.

The console search

Webber conceded that his pat-down search was lawfully conducted as incident to his investigative detention. Thus, as the Court of Appeal noted, Webber “must be taken to accept that there were reasonable grounds (on the elevated standard) to believe the pat-down search for weapons was justified.” Since the trial judge concluded that both safety searches were justified on the basis of the grounds acquired during the initial detention and the first police records check, the information learned during the second police records check was not material to the outcome of whether the console search was reasonable.

Additionally, the Appeal Court too found there was no error in the trial “judge accepting the police officers’ evidence,

“The powers of investigative detention and search incident thereto are lawfully exercised where the police have reasonable grounds to suspect it is necessary to ensure safety, even if the reason for the initial stop is not a crime.” including their evidence about their safety concerns arising from both what they observed and their knowledge of the local circumstances.” Justice Savage held the “the officers’ subjective concerns were objectively reasonable,” and “both officers had observed the pulling or stuffing motion, which was not related to procuring a driver’s licence arising from the stop.”

Detention during console search

Webber’s argument that the police did not continue to have the authority to detain him and conduct a safety search of the centre console after they had decided not to issue him a ticket for contravening the MVA before conducting the console search was rejected.

“In my view, the continued detention and search of Mr. Webber’s vehicle after the officers decided not to issue a ticket under the Motor Vehicle Act was authorized by law,” Justice Savage said. “Police have the authority to detain individuals and conduct searches to prevent avoidable harm through brief and minimally intrusive searches, which are not necessarily restricted to physical pat-downs. The powers of investigative detention and search incident thereto are lawfully exercised where the police have reasonable grounds to suspect it is necessary to ensure safety, even if the reason for the initial stop is not a crime. The authorization to conduct a brief, focused protective search, as was done here, does not end at the point in time that charging decisions are being considered or made.”

Webber’s appeal was dismissed.

Mike Novakowski is Blue Line’s case law columnist. He can be contacted at caselaw@blueline.ca.

Ethics and Canadian Law Enforcement

By Richard Parent and Catherine Parent; 2018, 346 pages ISBN: 978-1773380735

Ethics and Canadian Law Enforcement is a cogent and current text that speaks to the important issue of public confidence and police competence as well as the transformation of police services over the last three decades. Where this text stands out above others is the chapter on police oversight.

The use of civilian-led oversight models versus police-led oversight models is a topic of great debate within Canada and the authors do not hold back in an analysis of the contentious issues with respect to holding the police accountable for their actions.

Each chapter builds on the previous, allowing the reader to fully grasp the theoretical concepts of legitimacy, governance and ethics within law enforcement as real examples are used to vividly describe the current state of affairs in Canada. The work traverses the areas of community and restorative justice with significant discussion around the concerted efforts by police to build trusting relationships with our Indigenous peoples.

The text ends with a discussion around ethical police leadership, which the authors argue is key to building trusting policing organizations free of internal issues, such as harassment, while externally viewed by the public as respectful and professional in all aspects. There has never been such a time in Canadian policing history where ethics, oversight and values are so critical. The nascent trends with respect to radicalization to violence, increased scrutiny of police use of force, collaborative responses to mental health and social issues, and the importance of recognizing diversity and gender within policing is vital to public safety.

Rick Parent’s experience as a former police leader is evident within this text as he guides the reader through the complexity and challenges of policing in Canada and the “right” way forward. This is an excellent teaching textbook and one that every criminal justice student and pracademic should reference when they speak to Canadian police and accountability.

- DR. GALIB BHAYANI, KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

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TECHNOLOGY

BY RENÉE FRANCOEUR

Speaking the same language Mobile version of digital mental health assessment tool takes Belleville Police’s collaboration with healthcare to another level

Y

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

“Officers are inundated with admin tasks now more than ever and with this in-your-handfill-out tool, you can complete the assessment in three to five minutes,” Insp. Meeks says.

and we started. We’re well underway right now, with implementation starting in July.

I’ve also met with our healthcare partners and the community agencies that will be involved in the referral process —when we don’t apprehend and take people to the hospital.”

Implementation will take around 14 weeks of test runs and training, according to Meeks, and everything should be ready to go live by Oct. 29.

“What stands out about using HealthIM is we’re all speaking the same language...

We aren’t psychiatrists and nor do we claim to be but with this tool and the dropdown menu options, we’re using the clinical language the hospital is using. The officers are already doing such a good job out there. This just provides them with an extra tool that can make their decisions more evidence-based. It’s recorded and tangible in a document form as opposed to us having a conversation with healthcare staff afterwards, where things can get lost in translation.”

Additionally, it is so user friendly, Meeks adds.

“Officers are inundated with admin tasks now more than ever and with this in-your-hand-fill-out tool, you can complete the assessment in three to five minutes,” she says. “It’s not anything cumbersome.”

Secure and mobile

HealthIM will be accessed solely via a mobile app for Belleville Police Service (BSP). It’s a shift Sheehan says the company has noticed in a broader context, too.

“The biggest shifts we have observed over the past three years would be a move from a member using the system with a person in crisis on the in-car MDT to mobile devices,” Sheehan says. “That and a bigger demand for the performance reporting and analytics. The most positive outcomes we hear continue to be around safety (member and the individual) and improved collaboration with healthcare.”

The reporting process has evolved since the technology’s inception, he adds, to include automated monthly reports, reporting at the command level as well as platoon, and reporting that compares operating units and then individual members.

HealthIM says it utilizes a combination of encryption protocols and transport layer security to protect data at rest and in transit. After the report is written on the mobile device, the system sends the data to HealthIM’s servers. Sensitive fields (identifiable data) are separated from the remainder of the data. If the report is being transmitted to another organization (such as a hospital or community mental health agency), the sensitive fields are encrypted specifically for each organization. www.BlueLine.ca

PHOTO: HEALTHIM

ou’ve probably been hearing about the HealthIM and interRAI’s Brief Mental Health Screener (BMHS) program, the brainchild of two ambitious University of Waterloo graduates, for a handful of years now.

Blue Line last reported on the digital mental health assessment tool for law enforcement back in 2016, noting it had been field tested with the Niagara Regional and Brantford police services since 2013.

We wanted to check in with the technology and see what has happened since.

The system is currently deployed in 19 communities in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, says Brendan Sheehan, the director of operations at HealthIM. Outside of these communities, there are an additional 21 communities in all these three provinces plus in British Columbia currently undergoing implementation and will be operational within the next 12 months.

One of those communities is Belleville, Ont., and it’s a standout case because here the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is the one funding the program for the local police service.

Belleville Police Insp. Sheri Meeks has been in the field of crisis negotiation since 2002. She says she had been aware of HealthIM for quite a while and actively brainstorming on how to fit it into her municipal police budget.

For more than 10 years, Meeks has sat on her local (Hastings-Prince Edward County) Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee (HSJCC) as well as the police/hospital committee, which meets quarterly to discuss specific cases.

She began liaisoning with Addictions and Mental Health Services - Hastings Prince Edward, and proposed pitching the HealthIM business case to the LHIN. Thanks to her passion for better, patient-centered transitions of care as well as some steely perseverance, and an advocate at Addictions and Mental Health Services, Meeks finally had her funding request approved for a three-year contract with HealthIM in February 2019.

“I was told I was the first municipality to receive this kind of financial aid from a LHIN for the technology,” she says. “As soon as I got the word, I called HealthIM

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TECHNOLOGY

“The officers are already doing such a good job out there. This just provides them with an extra tool that can make their decisions more evidence-based.

It’s recorded and tangible in a document form as opposed to us having a conversation with healthcare staff afterwards, where things can get lost in translation.”

- Insp. Sheri Meeks “For Belleville Police Service, we will be receiving the electronic reports from the HealthIM servers in PDF format and uploading the documents into our records management system (RMS),” adds Joe Myderwyk, the systems network administrator with BPS.

Belleville by tasking someone internally with a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

“Our records management system was capturing some of the data, but not all of it,” she explains. “For example, the time the individual cleared the hospital was not being tracked. We were trying to do that so we could get an accurate picture of the Better transfer of care, wait times overall situation. It was very difficult.”

Over the past two years Meeks tried to Implementing HealthIM takes care of all capture the data on the call volume for that. However, it is only a piece of a threemental health calls involving police in stage project for Meeks. The next step is to

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establish a mobile crisis response unit, as found in many other services.

Part of the overall goal of this multipronged project is to reduce the wait times officers are sitting in hospitals as well.

“Average wait times are around 2.5 hours,” Meeks says. “The target goal is 60-90 minutes.”

In consultation with her Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) partners, Meeks has also brought about a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Chief of BPS, Ron Gignac, and the CEO of Quinte Health Care regarding these wait times.

Furthermore, in April 2019, a new “Transfer of Care form” went live at Belleville General Hospital, completed by Meeks and the OPP. “This is a one-page document filled out by every police officer and kept at the hospital,” Meeks says. “We’re already seeing a change in wait times from this alone. Frontline members are coming up and telling me it’s getting so much better.”

HealthIM notes it will digitize BPS’s Transfer of Care form.

“Where these existed prior to a jurisdiction adopting the system, we just try and move the process off of paper for the frontline members,” Sheehan says.

It’s these types of protocols that you’ll find in the freshly released Police-Hospital Transitions Framework and Toolkit. These resources, endorsed and recommended by Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on June 3, 2019, are “meant to help police, hospitals and others comply with legal requirements (e.g. as found in Ontario’s mental health, human rights, policing and privacy legislation) and support the adoption of best practices.”

The hope for the future, with shared protocols like the above and technology like HealthIM, is improved communication between police and healthcare, Meeks says.

“My number one priority is that we become better at serving these individuals through increased collaboration with our community mental health partners... So maybe an officer can link an individual with a support agency in the community instead of taking them to the hospital in order to better serve them versus that revolving door of going in and out of hospitals.”

Visit hsjcc.on.ca/our-work/projects/policehospital-transition-framework/ for more on the Police-Hospital Transitions Framework and Toolkit.

BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

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Integrated Biometrics’ sensor film enables mobile fingerprint devices

OceanAlpha launches the Dolphin 1

Since the Dolphin 1, a water rescue robot, can be “easily stored, transported and deployed, it improves workflows for water rescuers and will decrease overall costs and risks involved with search and rescue missions,” according to OceanAlpha. The Dolphin 1 operates well in all types of water environments, the company adds, making it the ideal device to augment or replace personal flotation devices and other water vehicles like jet skis or small craft. oceanalpha.us

Integrated Biometrics (IB), designer and manufacturer of mobile biometric fingerprint sensors, revealed its patented Light Emitting Sensor (LES) film provides the core capability for the “IdentiFi” series of devices from SIC Biometrics, mobile Wi-Fi-enabled biometric fingerprint devices. Already in use by U.S. federal law enforcement, ldentiFi gives users a choice of an FAP-45 sensor for capturing two-finger flat or single-fingerprint roll prints, or an FAP-50 sensor, which adds the ability to capture four fingers at a time. IB’s patented LES sensor film means fingerprint scanners are not susceptible to the effects of bright light (natural or artificial), and don’t need the frequent cleanings or high levels of maintenance required by other fingerprint technologies.www.IntegratedBiometrics.com

Teachers develop software to automate school lockdowns

Two American teachers developed a web-based software application to assist schools with student management issues and instant “safe schools lock down automation.” Matt Ridenour and Josette Rechul developed the TABS (Tracking Appropriate Behaviours) system, which also features “Positive Behavioural Intervention and Supports (PBIS) tracking,” as well as paperless hall pass technology. The automatic lock down feature allows secure communication between administration, security and teachers, the founders stated.

Schools interested in using the TABS system can email hello@solutionsforteachers. com or view video demonstrations at facebook.com/trackingappropriatebehaviors. www.solutionsforteachers.com

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1500 displays the ‘smarts’

Drone Delivery Canada unveils 400-lb Condor

Drone Delivery Canada has unveiled its Condor drone, which has been in development for the past year to serve as a delivery cargo aircraft. The Condor is expected to have a payload capacity of 180 kilograms (400 pounds) and a potential travel distance of up to 200 kilometres. The company explains it will work with Transport Canada to secure necessary approvals to begin flight testing the Condor by the third quarter of 2019. dronedeliverycanada.com

Visit www.BlueLine.ca for the latest news, stories, products, videos, photo galleries and industry events.

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BLUE LINE | August/September 2019

Fujitsu Canada’s ScanSnap iX1500, a new flagship colour duplex model, joins the Fujitsu ScanSnap series of document scanners. The ScanSnap Series converts most office documents into PDFs, searchable PDFs, Word and Excel documents and more. iX1500 users can complete end-to-end processes with “one touch” of the new large, 4.3-inch colour touch screen. Basic tasks such as setup and Wi-Fi configuration, checking scanning statuses and choosing save-to destinations are easy, even for first-time users with the touch screen’s use of simple visual icons, the company notes. The iX1500 also features ScanSnap Cloud, which connects to your favourite cloud service – without needing a computer or mobile device – to manage your documents, receipts, business cards, and photos. www.fujitsu.com/ca/en

PPSS Group launches cut-resistant neck guards

PPSS Group has launched SlashPRO Cut Resistant Neck Guards to protect both the carotid artery and jugular vein of security, government and law enforcement officers. SlashPRO Neck Guards can be worn “turned up” to cover the entire neck area, or “turned down” for covert operations or a more natural look. They are available in black. The neck protectors offer field tested and high levels of certified cut protection, including International Cut Level 5 (ISO 13997:1999). www.slash-pro.com

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33

BACK OF THE BOOK

BY KEVIN RICHARD

More than traffic tickets: talking in public about police duties

T

he tragic events that can befall nocent or resentful nature, and regardless someone and the terrible things of my ability to socialize in the moment. a person can do to another can At times, while I’m listening to stories be so awful that just hearing about traffic tickets and the like, I’m also about them can permanently scar the soul. discretely tending to my latest wounds.

You’d think that such incidents would be Though others may not notice it, my body rare, but they are not. In fact, there is no sometimes aches from the burns of reshortage of them. And while we are often peatedly reaching through the fires of exposed to negative news reports, most of hell. Though others may not hear it, my the suffering around us goes unreported. ears are sometimes filled with mothers’ There’s indeed a lot of pain and despair and fathers’ high-pitched screams of in this world, and there are some who horror. And though others may not see it, come to experience a certain type of my mind sometimes struggles to un-see personal hell here on earth. I’ve seen it; what it cannot un-see and to forget what I’ve contended with it; and I’ve felt its it cannot forget. burning heat.

“So you’re the guy who gives us Often times when I meet some- Often times tickets eh,” she said, in a someone, and they learn that I am a when I meet what passive-aggressive tone. police officer, I am greeted with someone, “Yes ma’am,” I responded, some comment or story about a and they while feeling a tidal wave about traffic citation of some kind. It’s learn that I to leap from my chest. “It’s not often a complaint about how they am a police all I do, however. I also hurry off felt they should have benefited officer, I am to help those who are descending from the officer’s discretion, but greeted with into the pits of hell. You see, didn’t. Traffic code enforcement some sometimes I get there on time, is indeed the context in which comment or before hell completely devours there is the most contact between story about them, but sometimes I don’t. citizens and officers, so I can a traffic When I do get there on time, I understand how this may be the citation of have to contend with the hell default subject of conversation, some kind. they’re in, hoping it doesn’t debut I’m nonetheless struck by the It’s often a vour me in the process. When I lack of knowledge about the many complaint... don’t get there on time, I have to other police duties. grapple with hell’s destructive For the most part, my responses to such power, and I have to contend with how it comments are limited to a smile and a will now be unleashed on the loved ones shrug, or perhaps changing the subject left behind as I break the news.” entirely. At times, however, when I am “Oh,” she responded. feeling fairly energetic and sociable, and “Yes ma’am,” I replied. “I could go on at when I sense that I am in the company of a length about death and tragedy, pain and reasonable person, I will respond by care- despair, but know this: many people fully steering the conversation towards around us are suffering, and while I am other aspects of my work. I let them know indeed the guy who gives you tickets, I’m that the pain and suffering in their com- also the guy who contends with the forces munity is probably far worse than they of hell.” believe, that they likely have a friend, neighbour, or family member of whom they *Note: The French version of this piece originare unaware, who struggles with suicidal ally appeared in the Huffington Post Québec: thoughts, and that a large part of our work bit.ly/2BTVFrZ. is dedicated to responding to such people in crises.

I must admit, however, that with the Kevin Richard is a municipal police officer passing of time, I am finding it increasand freelance writer in Quebec. Reach ingly difficult to simply shrug off such him at opinionkrichard@gmail.com. comments, regardless of their either in34

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