SINCE WE LAST SPOKE Taken in the line of duty

With a heavy heart, we have tragically lost too many members of our police family since the printing of our last magazine issue. On Dec. 27, 2022 –Provincial Constable Greg Pierzchala of the Haldimand County Detach -

January

Jan 14

Bail reform would quell rising violence against police and keep Ontarians safe

Four of Canada’s largest police associations, representing more than 60,000 sworn and civilian police personnel, announced that they have joined forces to confront the growing wave of violence against police and the communities they serve and protect (see pages 17 - 18).

Jan 30 ment. From our Canadian policing family, we lost Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan of the Edmonton Police Service on Mar. 16; Sergeant Maureen Breau of Sûreté du Québec on Mar. 27; and Constable Harvinder (Harvey) Singh Dhami of Alberta’s

PAO President Mark Baxter spoke with Ontario MPPs at Ontario’s Standing Committee on Justice Policy about the need to reform Canada’s bail system to keep people and communities safe. The PAO was one of a few organizations that provided testimony to explain the front-line reality of how the current bail system fails to keep Ontarians safe.

February

Feb. 15-17

Executive Member Workshop | Largest annual Employment Conference

We welcomed newly elected board members to our Executive Member Workshop.

Feb. 27-28

PAO hosted its annual Employment Conference. Our largest conference, attended by 300+ people from across Canada.

March

Mar. 29

PAO is pleased to see an investment of $9.6 million to accelerate the development Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s First Responders Wellness and Rehabilitation Centre included in the Ontario 2023 Budget.

April

Apr. 4

OMERS Annual Meeting

Strathcona RCMP Detachment on Apr. 10; Sergeant Eric Mueller, Russell County OPP and Detective Constable Steven Tourangeau, OPP Perth County Detachment on May 11.

OMERS hosted its Annual Meeting and its leadership presented the 2022 financial results and provided updates on investments, pension services and the Plan (read more about OMERS on page 26).

PAO met with party officials, discusse bail reform

Apr. 4-5

We hosted our Communications Workshop: Supporting Your Association – The Why, How, and What of Media Relations.

Apr. 17-19

PAO and members attended the Canadian Police Association 2023 Legislative Conference and Lobby Day. We met with and heard various elected Party officials discuss a key solution to improve public safety and combat the increased violence against police – bail reform for repeat violent offenders.

Apr. 25

The Government of Ontario announced that it would provide free tuition & expanding enrollment for basic constable training addressing policing shortages. They will also eliminate the postsecondary education requirement in the CSPA to become a police officer.

Apr. 27

The Government of Ontario announced that it is investing $112 million over three years to ensure that high-risk and repeat violent offenders comply with bail conditions, our judges and crown prosecutors have the resources to prepare for these complete bail hearings.

MAY May

7

Heroes in Life honoured | AGM & Police Hero awards

Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance paid tribute to Ontario’s fallen police officers who died in the Line of Duty – Heroes in Life, Not Death. As the policing community continues to reel from these events, five more names were added to the memorial wall:

• Constable Andrew Hong, Toronto, 2022

• Constable Devon Northrup, South Simcoe, 2022

• Constable Morgan Russell, South Simcoe, 2022

• Provincial Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala, Haldimand OPP, 2022

• Constable Vicky Lynn Wilson, Durham, 1992

Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of

May 16

The Government of Canada tabled new legislation aimed at making it harder for repeat violent offenders to be granted bail, through a handful of targeted Criminal Code reforms - Bill C-48.

May 30-June 1

We held our 91st Annual General Meeting in Aurora. Hosted by York Regional Police Association, more than 170 members from 45 Ontario police associations attended. On June 1 we hosted our inaugural Presidents’ Award Dinner where deserving policing personnel received Police Hero Awards, Dennis R. Latten Award, John Walker Award, and Harry DeJong Awards. (see pages 21- 23).

June 26

Fundraiser for first responders’ mental health

We hosted our 2nd Annual PAO Charity Golf Tournament at Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton. Over $20,000 was raised for Badge of Life Canada and Canada Beyond Blue will provide mental health support for Ontario’s first responders.

YRPA Vice President Mike Buchanan, York Regional Police Chief Jim Mac Sween, Town of Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, Attorney General Doug Downey, PAO President Mark Baxter, and YRPA President Rob O’Quinn at PAO’s President’s and Awards Banquet.