Guelph Police Services Board PO Box 31038, Willow West Postal Outlet, Guelph, Ontario N1H 8K1 Telephone: (519) 824-1212 #7213 Fax: (519) 824-8360 TTY (519)824-1466 Email: board@guelphpolice.ca PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES MARCH 19, 2015 A Public meeting of the Guelph Police Services Board was held on March 19, 2015 in the Boardroom, 3 rd Floor of the Guelph Police Service commencing at 2:30 p.m. Present: J. Sorbara, Chair J. DeRuyter, Chief of Police P. Giles, Member J. Sidlofsky Stoffman, Legal Services L. Piper, Member K. Hand, Financial Services Manager C. Guthrie, Mayor T. Harris, Human Resources Manager C. Polonenko, Executive Assistant Regrets: Guests: L. Griffiths, Vice-Chair Dave Preston, Police Services Advisor for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Rev. John Borthwick, Chaplain. Guelph Police Service: Inspector H. McGarr; Inspector P. Martin; Sergeant D. McNeilly; Staff Sergeant D. Pringle ; Detective Sergeant K. King, Detective Constable P. Pronovost, Constable M. Sharp, S. Odorico, Data Services Manager, J. Green, Manager, Information System Services 1. WELCOME The Chair welcomed everyone, and on behalf of the Board, congratulated Inspector Paul Martin on his new position as Deputy Chief of Police as of March 22, 2015. She stated that the Board has full confidence that he and Chief DeRuyter will move the Guelph Police Service through our major projects and into the future. As a long term member of the Guelph Police Service, he has excellent working relationship with the members and with the community of Guelph. She thanked Inspector Howard McGarr and Inspector Garry Male for temporarily filling the position of Deputy until the position was filled permanently. Their professionalism was truly appreciated. Chief DeRuyter expressed his appreciation of Deputy Martin and looks forward to working with him. The meeting was called to order at 2:35 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Moved by P. Giles Seconded by C. Guthrie THAT the Agenda be approved as presented. - CARRIED
March 19, 2015 Page 2 of 8 3. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OR PECUNIARY INTEREST There were no declarations of conflict or pecuniary interest. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.1 Minutes of the Public Meeting, Thursday, February 19, 2015 Moved by L. Piper Seconded by P. Giles THAT the Minutes of the Public Meeting held Thursday, February 19, 2015 be approved as presented. - CARRIED 5. PRESENTATIONS/DELEGATIONS 5.1 Retirement Constable Marlowe Sharp Chief DeRuyter introduced Constable Marlowe Sharp, noting that he commenced his policing career in 1987 with the Niagara Regional Police, transferring to the Orangeville Police Service in 1990 and joining the Guelph Police Service in 2001. Constable Sharp had worked in Uniform and Traffic units and led the Values, Influences and Peers program for four years, receiving many notes of appreciation from parents of VIP youth. A very conscientious officer, Constable Sharp is a key part of C Platoon. The Board extended their congratulations. Constable Sharp left the meeting at 2:43 p.m. 5.2 Human Trafficking Presentation Prostitution and the Sex Trade in Guelph Chief J. DeRuyter introduced Detective Sergeant Kevin King and Detective Constable Patty Pronovost of the Sexual Assault/Child Abuse unit. Detective Constable Pronovost highlighted the challenges of prostitution that the Guelph community faces. Her presentation included the following facts: Human trafficking is the illegal movement of people for the purposes of forced labour or sexual exploitation. Backpage.com is a website commonly used by sex trade workers and pimps, advertising their services for a donation. Pimps are drawn by money, power and control. The average income per girl is $1,000 to $1,500 per day. Whereas drugs can be sold only once, girls can be sold over and over. On March 25, 2015, a random look at the website showed 28 ads. The age listing in the ad is unreliable, and details are not truthful. Most victims are between the ages of 12 and 22. The average age of entry into the sex trade is 14. The biggest risk factor for exploitation is vulnerability. Thirty percent of street kids are involved. The pimp grooms the young girl, starting off the relationship as her boyfriend. Most victims do not believe they are being exploited, having been convinced by the pimp that their family does not care about them.
March 19, 2015 Page 3 of 8 The girls are provided drugs, are imprisoned in a motel room and denied food, forced to work when sick, and contract sexually transmitted diseases. There are no benefits and no income at the end of the day for the girls. It takes approximately 15 to 22 contacts with a police officer before a girl will decide to get out. Victims are encouraged to call the police when their situation is dangerous. All 13 hotels in Guelph are used by sex trade workers. Police Services must be educated, change the way prostitution is policed, and work together, as these girls move from place to place. The Guelph Police Service has four people in the unit, using tools such as software programs that collect back page ads, seeking out and contacting victims, working with other police jurisdictions and partnering with agencies in the community. The following points arose from board discussion: Drugs play a significant role in the human trafficking issue. Police connection with the Guelph hotel staff has been very effective. Police services are under-resourced to deal with the scope of the problem. Timea Nagy s organization, Walk With Me, will assist a girl who wants to get out of the sex trade. Finding shelter for these girls is difficult. They do not meet the criteria for housing in a shelter as they do not have a romantic relationship with the pimp. If given emergency housing, they might be placed in a hotel, putting them right back to what they know. J. Sorbara thanked Detective Constable Pronovost for the very informative, but disturbing presentation. Detective Sergeant K. King, Detective Constable P. Pronovost, Inspector H. McGarr, and J. Green left the meeting at 3:17 p.m. 6. STRATEGIC ITEMS 6.1 Headquarters Renovation and Expansion Report Chief DeRuyter provided the monthly status report and highlighted the following: High Density Storage drawings have been issued and will be incorporated into the final tender document. Security plan drawings have been developed to show data and security room preliminary layouts. The furniture inventory is completed, with the recommendation to re-use existing furniture and supplement with new furniture where needed. General Contractor, Mechanical, Electrical and Building Controls prequalification packages have been released.
March 19, 2015 Page 4 of 8 A preliminary site plan review committee meeting was held. No major issues have been expressed at this time. The Delhi Community Centre has been considered as a possible location for Police to use for storage and some staff relocation. Police have narrowed down the Project Integrator to five candidates. Once interviews and evaluations are completed, pre-qualified vendors will be invited to submit pricing proposals. It is anticipated that the position will be filled April/May, will require three to five days per month. 6.2 Special Olympics 2016 Spring Games Chief J. DeRuyter provided an update as to the status and planning for the 2016 Special Olympic Spring Games hosted in Guelph. A meeting has been held with the City of Guelph, and several City locations will be secured for the Opening Ceremonies and V.I.P. venue. A Games Logo design has been created and accepted by Special Olympics Ontario and Guelph Police Executive for inclusion on the police letterhead. Fifty applications have been received for the Games Manager position and interviews will take place within the next two weeks. The selection will be announced at the media launch. Directors for the organizing committee are being recruited, both internally and externally. Chief J. DeRuyter thanked Sophie Lemay and Constable Mike Gatto for their work and committed to updating the Board monthly. 7. OPERATIONAL ITEMS 7.1 Human Resources Strategies 2014 Annual Report T. Harris stated that the purpose of the report was to highlight key indicators of performance in 2014 and update staffing and accommodations in 2015. Recruitment: Recruitment for police positions in 2014 has been steady. A retired police officer is being contracted to complete background investigations into applicants who wish to become members of the Guelph Police Service. An accommodated trained member has been transferred to Human Resources to assist with recruitment efforts. Civilian recruitment involved little movement. The Senior Leadership Team is committed to reviewing internal efficiencies as outlined in the Strategic Business Plan. Several recruitment initiatives were undertaken in 2014 to cast a wide net in search of candidates from various backgrounds to reflect the Guelph community, including job fairs, career events, Conestoga Advanced Police Studies Programs, Emergency Services Employment Panel Discussion at the University of Guelph, and a Diversity Event, to name a few. As a result, 647 applications were received in 2014, the highest number since this activity was tracked in 2008. The competition between police services for talent is a challenge as many seek to fill vacancies due to increased retirements.
March 19, 2015 Page 5 of 8 The Guelph Police Service supports crime prevention through youth outreach. In 2014, the Service supported thirteen student assignments through high school placements, college career programs including co-op assignments and the Youth in Policing initiative. Career Development Transfer Opportunities: In 2014, the rate of internal movement by employees in police operations as a percentage of headcount was 25 percent, which is 4 percent higher than last year, demonstrating the Senior Leadership Team s commitment to succession planning, and in civilian operations, was 13.4 percent. Professional Development and Training: The Professional Development and Recruitment Unit has been reviewing training processes to ensure that the Service is well aligned to meet the current and future demands of the ever-changing complexities of policing. With the implementation of the new model to strategize and prioritize legislated training in 2014, the preliminary results show that 91.5 percent of the total training budget has been used. Attendance at courses is consistent with previous years; however, e-learning courses has increased substantially. The new recruit orientation program was expanded to include 10 working days prior to attending the college and 10 days following graduation. Current Staffing Including Accommodation and Leaves: The 2014 preliminary surplus in budget was $565,487 and 41 percent of this related to permanent salary savings as a result of position vacancies offset by banked hours accrual, recoveries and other general payouts. Over the past three years, increased accommodations have been putting pressures on the Service and specifically, front-line patrol operations. The same work must be handled with fewer people affecting morale, time off cannot always be granted in accordance with the collective agreement as each unit must be properly staffed in accordance with the Police Services Act, there are more complex accommodations and difficulty finding meaningful work for them, and increased costs for overtime and call-outs. Commitment to Wellness Initiatives: The Service continues to promote workplace safety and wellness to members through several programs, including the Chaplaincy program introduced in 2014. Attrition Rates and Retirement Projections for 2015-2020: In 2014, there were no civilian resignations and one retirement (1.1 percent attrition rate); and three police resignations and six retirements (3.1 percent attrition rate). Based on research and analysis, it is anticipated that 12.2 percent of civilian and police membership will retire in this six-year period. Various strategies are being implemented to mitigate this projection. J. Sorbara thanked T. Harris for the very informative report.
March 19, 2015 Page 6 of 8 7.2 Major Case Management 2014 Annual Report Inspectors Garry Male and Paul Martin, Investigative Services, have provided leadership and oversight to all Major Case Management cases investigated by the Guelph Police Service in 2014 and reported the findings to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services pursuant to legislated requirements. In 2014, Guelph had two homicides or attempted homicides, sixty cases that fall under the category of sexual assault, down significantly from last year, one missing person occurrence where foul play is suspected, one criminal harassment where the harasser is not known to the victim, and two other cases designated as major cases. 7.3 Professional Standards 2014 Annual Report From January 1 to December 31, 2014, nine public complaints, all related to member conduct, were received by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) regarding the Guelph Police Service. Of these nine complaints, two were retained for investigation by the OIPRD, and both were concluded as unsubstantiated. Of the remaining seven complaints, six were investigated by the Professional Standards Branch and concluded as unsubstantiated. One of these is currently under review by the OIPRD at the request of the complainant. The remaining matter was dealt with successfully through Customer Service Resolution. No complaint investigations carried over to 2015; however, four carried over from 2013. Three were concluded as unsubstantiated and once was concluded as a minor misconduct and resolved through a disposition without a hearing under the Police Services Act. The Guelph Police Service initiated four internal investigations in 2014; two were concluded as minor misconduct and both were resolved through dispositions without a hearing. One investigation was closed upon discovery that the error was made by another Police Service, and the fourth remains ongoing. Of two carried over from 2013, one was concluded as unsubstantiated and one was found not to be misconduct and concluded with a formal reprimand. There were six Special Investigation Unit (SIU) investigations. One was closed by the SIU Director as the complainant refused to cooperate. Three investigations were closed by the Director as there was no serious injury as alleged or the matter was not criminal. Two matters remain ongoing into 2015. Both investigations carried over from 2013 were concluded by the SIU as not criminal. Chief J. DeRuyter thanked Inspector H. McGarr and Sergeant D. McNeilly for their excellent work. 7.4 Use of Force 2014 Annual Report Chief DeRuyter reported that from January 1 to December 31, 2014, officers attended to 46 incidents where one or more levels of force were required to bring the situation to a peaceful and successful resolution. 135 levels of force were used
March 19, 2015 Page 7 of 8 during these incidents: one of these incidents and eight levels of force are attributed to assistance given to other Services outside our jurisdiction. Upon review of the Use of Force reports, it was determined that in all incidents, the officers were justified in using the force outlined in the report and that Guelph Police Service officers are performing at a remarkably high standard. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 8.1 Chief s Monthly Report Acting Chief DeRuyter provided his schedule of upcoming internal and external community events and meetings and highlighted the following: On March 25, 2015, a grant-funded program will be launched at St. Joseph s Health Centre regarding policing responses to an aging population who may have dementia or Alzheimer s, and conflict with the law. Chief J. DeRuyter will attend the budget meeting at City Council on March 25, 2015 when the capital and operating budget is discussed and voted on. Chief J. DeRuyter will meet with the Mercury editorial board to discuss policing and his new position as Chief. Graduation at Ontario Police College will be April 2, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. The Guelph Police Service has five graduates. April 8, 2015 will be the swearing in ceremony and the Board is invited to attend. Chief J. DeRuyter will teach the word dependability at the Start2Finish reading and exercise program. Chief J. DeRuyter and Sergeant Pflug will be participating in the Community Living Fashion Show on April 15, 2015. Immigrant Services is planning a Meet the Chief night where he can meet new community members informally. Statistics on St. Patrick s Day were released to the public on March 18, 2015. Chaplain Borthwick was very involved. Calls for service were fewer this year. There were 37 open liquor offences. The plan involved a great partnership with the City, Guelph Transit, Public Works, Downtown Business Association, the Student Association of the University, Off Campus Living, and Campus Police to ensure that the plan addressed the needs of our community. The case against a business issuing safety certificates to taxicabs improperly has been resolved with a guilty plea. Chief J. DeRuyter thanked Constable Dan Mosey for his work on this file. Sergeant David Doxey and the Traffic Unit has been responding to Niska Road and East Side traffic complaints.
March 19, 2015 Page 8 of 8 Regarding the 2016-2018 Business Plan, community engagement and consultation with stakeholders will begin in May. L. Piper left the meeting at 3:52 p.m. 8.2 Board Correspondence Reports Correspondence Received Royal Bank: Statement for Community Account for January 2, 2015 February 3, 2015 Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition: Thank you letter for funding from Community Account Correspondence Issued Letters to Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition and Big Brothers Big Sisters re: Community Account funding Resignation letter: Melanie Fleck Letters to new hires (5) Letters to Guelph Police Service members for volunteer efforts: Sunshine Foundation Dodge Ball Team (9), Special Olympic Bowlathon (7), Special Olympics Pancake Breakfast (6), Circles Guelph Wellington Platoon D J. Sorbara congratulated Vice-Chair Griffiths on his appointment as Chair of the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards Zone 5. 8.4 Information Items Date of Next Meeting Thursday, April 16, 2015 Canadian Association of Police Governance (CAPG) o Summit Session 2015 April 7, 2015 o Annual Conference August 27-29, 2015 OAPSB Spring Conference and AGM May 27-30, 2015 9. ADJOURNMENT Moved by P. Giles Seconded by C. Guthrie THAT the public meeting adjourn as at 3:53 p.m. - CARRIED The minutes of this meeting were adopted this 16 th day of April, 2015. J. Sorbara C. Polonenko J. Sorbara, Chair C. Polonenko, Executive Assistant