Latest news with #OPS
Ottawa Citizen
a day ago
- General
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa police constable demoted for 14 months over impaired driving conviction
An Ottawa Police Service officer has been ordered demoted following the settlement of a disciplinary process sparked by his arrest and conviction for impaired driving in late 2024. Article content A 'consent order' by adjudicator Ian Anderson, dated May 23 and published this week on the OPS website, said Serge Fortin would be downgraded from First Class Constable to Second Class Constable for 14 months. Article content Article content Officially, Fortin was penalized for one count of being convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada and another count of undermining the public trust. Article content He had failed blood-alcohol tests after being stopped at an Ontario Provincial Police RIDE checkpoint on Nov. 26, 2024, the consent order said. On Feb. 3, it added in an agreed statement of facts, he pleaded guilty to an impaired driving charge in court and received both a 12-month driving suspension and a $1,500 fine. Article content
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
CM Sukhu inaugurates newly established SDPO office at Nadaun
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 3 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday inaugurated the newly established office of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) at Nadaun, aiming to strengthen the law and order infrastructure in the region. The SDPO office will oversee operations at Police Station Nadaun and Police Station Sujanpur, improving coordination, efficiency, and supervision of law enforcement activities. Covering a jurisdiction of 82 Gram Panchayats and one Nagar Panchayat (NAC), the new office is expected to enhance policing, ensure faster response times, and provide better administrative oversight. In addition, the Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed 'Rajasva Sadan' at Nadaun, built at a cost of Rs 18.50 lakh, and dedicated the Panchayat Ghar in Kalur, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.14 crore. While addressing a gathering in Kalur, the Chief Minister said that when the construction of the Panchayat Ghar started, he was an MLA at that time and was happy to inaugurate it today. He announced that the liquor shop in Kalur will be shifted back to its previous location. He stated that ever since the state government has reinstated the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the state has been facing financial restrictions from the Union government. 'As a result, Rs 1,600 crore as financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh has been curtailed by the Union Government,' he said. The Chief Minister further announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding School in Amlehar will commence from the next academic session. This will be the first CBSE-affiliated Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding School in the state. Along with quality education, the state government will also ensure nutritious meals in this school and in the coming years, around one thousand students are expected to enrol in this institution. He added that the state government has fixed a minimum support price of Rs 90 per kilogram for naturally grown raw turmeric, Rs 40 per kilogram for maize, and Rs 60 per kilogram for wheat. He also said that improvements in the state's healthcare services are underway and the medical college and a cancer hospital would soon be operational in Hamirpur. CM Sukhu also inspected the ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art Multipurpose Sports Complex at Kharidi in the Nadaun area. Being developed at a cost of Rs 65 crore, the facility is set to become a major hub for sports and youth engagement in the region. He directed the officers to complete the work by the end of this year. The modern complex will feature an 8-lane swimming pool, a shooting range, and dedicated spaces for wrestling, boxing, kabaddi, yoga, table tennis, and badminton. The Chief Minister stated that similar multipurpose sports complexes are being developed across the state to provide constructive avenues for youth and to help curb the menace of drug abuse. Emphasising the critical role of sports in promoting a healthy and disciplined lifestyle, the Chief Minister said, 'This sports complex will be a symbol of our commitment to nurturing talent and ensuring the physical and mental well-being of our youth.' Later, the Chief Minister also inspected the ongoing work at the Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School in Amlehar, within the Nadaun assembly constituency. MLA Sanjay Rattan, HRTC Vice Chairman Ajay Verma, Nagar Panchayat Nadaun President Shammi Soni, District Collector Amarjeet Singh, SP Bhagat Singh, Congress leader Captain Prithvi Chand, and other dignitaries were present at the event. (ANI)
Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Ontario legislation could put police back in schools in Ottawa and across Ontario
Four years after a controversial police-in-schools program was cancelled in Ottawa, the province is introducing legislation that will require school boards to implement a program if it is available. The Ottawa Police Service cancelled the SRO program in June 2021 after the city's largest school board decided to drop the 20-year-old program and publicly apologize for harm to marginalized students. About a week after the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board cancelled the program, then-police chief Peter Sloly said since the OCDSB accounted for about half of the SRO program, police had decided to drop the program at all four Ottawa school boards and reinvest the resources. The proposed legislation announced May 29 may help 'rebuild capacity,' said OPS in a statement. School resource officer (SRO) programs will be implemented if local police have one, to take effect in the next school year, according to the province. OPS said it has developed a specialized 'community youth unit,' launched in January, which currently includes four officers, with a proposal to add one additional officer per police district. 'These will not be new positions. The additions will reactivate existing roles that have remained vacant since 2021, when the previous SRO program was suspended.' OPS is not reintroducing the former SRO program in name, but it has fully integrated many of its most effective elements into the new delivery model, said the statement. 'We recognize that some aspects of the former model — such as consistent and timely support during school-related incidents — were highly valued. While these elements are part of our long-term vision, current staffing limitations prevent us from fully realizing that level of coverage at this time. That said, the proposed provincial legislation may help accelerate our ability to rebuild capacity and restore more consistent service across Ottawa's schools.' The decision to drop the SRO program at the OCDSB in 2021 came after months of controversy. Sloly argued that while some students distrust police, the SRO program is part of the solution to improve relationships and fight systemic racism. But a report from the OCDSB's equity and human rights office said the program had not been critically examined for its impact on Indigenous, racialized and minoritized students. When the SRO program was cancelled, police were only permitted in OCDSB schools under certain circumstances, such as investigating a crime, responding to a safety concern or in response to an invitation from a school or the school board. In May 2023, Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in after an invitation to an Ottawa police officer to attend a 'community helpers day' event at a Stittsville elementary school was rescinded if the officer wore her police uniform. 'This is a disturbing trend that needs to stop,' Ford tweeted, calling on OCDSB to immediately reverse the policy. OPS introduced its new youth strategy in 2024, which guided the development of the community school engagement team launched in January. Created in collaboration with all four school boards, the program is delivered by Community Youth Unit officers and is designed to provide consistent, relationship-based support to schools, said OPS. 'However, participation is voluntary and based on each school board's decision to access our services. Should the proposed legislation pass, it may encourage greater uptake by supporting school boards in engaging with police services in a structured and transparent way.' In June 2023, OCDSB Trustee Donna Blackburn attempted to introduce a motion to reopen discussions with OPS about establishing standards of practice that would allow for police support in schools. The matter was never debated on a point of order. 'I believe it's a positive development,' said Blackburn of the province's May 29 announcement. 'It's just sad that we were put in a position where (Education Minister) Paul Calandra was forced to say it.' Blackburn signalled her intent to bring the matter back in another motion that had been scheduled for discussion on May 20, but has since been rescheduled to June. Cancelling the SRO program in 2021 'not only affected the safety of staff and students at the OCDSB, we affected the safety of staff and students at the other three school boards,' said Blackburn in an interview. She believes trustees may be open to discussing the matter again. 'We have seven new trustees since the OCDSB voted to get rid of the program,' said Blackburn. 'My motion gives all of us the opportunity to demonstrate we understand the importance of the role police can play in keeping school communities safe.' Blackburn said in one recent incident, she was asked by the parent council at a Barrhaven school whether they could invite police to a school barbecue. 'I agreed that if there was any blowback to anyone, I would take responsibility for it. Thankfully, the police presence was a huge success and there were no negative repercussions whatsoever,' she said. 'We need to have a very clear message to the system if a school community wants the OPS to come to a barbecue, they can come in uniform, and they can come in a cruiser. If school communities don't want police doing that, then don't do that.' But fellow trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth said it's inappropriate for the Ministry of Education to centrally make a decision about police in schools. 'The work that was done in 2021 to end the SRO program and remove police from schools was very important to address the past and present discrimination and bias by police in interactions with Black and Indigenous and LGBTQIA, by women and girls who report violence and sexual harassment, by people with mental illnesses and disabilities and other marginalized groups in our community,' she said. Trustees have a responsibility as elected representatives to advocate for the community, said Kaplan-Myrth. 'Vulnerable populations in Ottawa have made it crystal clear that, from an equity and social justice lens, cancelling the SRO program was the right thing to do. That doesn't mean that the OCDSB has no relationship with the Ottawa Police. We've been working with them in other ways. There's still a lot of work to be done to establish trust.' SROs in schools are part of a broad proposed legislation that would give the minister of education more power to put schools under supervision. The OCDSB is under financial investigation by the province. 'It's incumbent on us to pass this motion to demonstrate to the Ministry that the OCDSB can make good, common-sense decisions, particularly when we are being closely monitored,' said Blackburn.
Ottawa Citizen
6 days ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Ontario legislation could put police back in schools in Ottawa and across Ontario
Four years after a controversial police-in-schools program was cancelled in Ottawa, the province is introducing legislation that will require school boards to implement a program if it is available. The Ottawa Police Service cancelled the SRO program in June 2021 after the city's largest school board decided to drop the 20-year-old program and publicly apologize for harm to marginalized students. About a week after the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board cancelled the program, then-police chief Peter Sloly said since the OCDSB accounted for about half of the SRO program, police had decided to drop the program at all four Ottawa school boards and reinvest the resources. The proposed legislation announced May 29 may help 'rebuild capacity,' said OPS in a statement. School resource officer (SRO) programs will be implemented if local police have one, to take effect in the next school year, according to the province. OPS said it has developed a specialized 'community youth unit,' launched in January, which currently includes four officers, with a proposal to add one additional officer per police district. 'These will not be new positions. The additions will reactivate existing roles that have remained vacant since 2021, when the previous SRO program was suspended.' OPS is not reintroducing the former SRO program in name, but it has fully integrated many of its most effective elements into the new delivery model, said the statement. 'We recognize that some aspects of the former model — such as consistent and timely support during school-related incidents — were highly valued. While these elements are part of our long-term vision, current staffing limitations prevent us from fully realizing that level of coverage at this time. That said, the proposed provincial legislation may help accelerate our ability to rebuild capacity and restore more consistent service across Ottawa's schools.' The decision to drop the SRO program at the OCDSB in 2021 came after months of controversy. Sloly argued that while some students distrust police, the SRO program is part of the solution to improve relationships and fight systemic racism. But a report from the OCDSB's equity and human rights office said the program had not been critically examined for its impact on Indigenous, racialized and minoritized students. When the SRO program was cancelled, police were only permitted in OCDSB schools under certain circumstances, such as investigating a crime, responding to a safety concern or in response to an invitation from a school or the school board. In May 2023, Ontario Premier Doug Ford weighed in after an invitation to an Ottawa police officer to attend a 'community helpers day' event at a Stittsville elementary school was rescinded if the officer wore her police uniform. 'This is a disturbing trend that needs to stop,' Ford tweeted, calling on OCDSB to immediately reverse the policy. OPS introduced its new youth strategy in 2024, which guided the development of the community school engagement team launched in January. Created in collaboration with all four school boards, the program is delivered by Community Youth Unit officers and is designed to provide consistent, relationship-based support to schools, said OPS. 'However, participation is voluntary and based on each school board's decision to access our services. Should the proposed legislation pass, it may encourage greater uptake by supporting school boards in engaging with police services in a structured and transparent way.' In June 2023, OCDSB Trustee Donna Blackburn attempted to introduce a motion to reopen discussions with OPS about establishing standards of practice that would allow for police support in schools. The matter was never debated on a point of order. 'I believe it's a positive development,' said Blackburn of the province's May 29 announcement. 'It's just sad that we were put in a position where (Education Minister) Paul Calandra was forced to say it.' Blackburn signalled her intent to bring the matter back in another motion that had been scheduled for discussion on May 20, but has since been rescheduled to June. Cancelling the SRO program in 2021 'not only affected the safety of staff and students at the OCDSB, we affected the safety of staff and students at the other three school boards,' said Blackburn in an interview. She believes trustees may be open to discussing the matter again. 'We have seven new trustees since the OCDSB voted to get rid of the program,' said Blackburn. 'My motion gives all of us the opportunity to demonstrate we understand the importance of the role police can play in keeping school communities safe.' Blackburn said in one recent incident, she was asked by the parent council at a Barrhaven school whether they could invite police to a school barbecue. 'I agreed that if there was any blowback to anyone, I would take responsibility for it. Thankfully, the police presence was a huge success and there were no negative repercussions whatsoever,' she said. 'We need to have a very clear message to the system if a school community wants the OPS to come to a barbecue, they can come in uniform, and they can come in a cruiser. If school communities don't want police doing that, then don't do that.' But fellow trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth said it's inappropriate for the Ministry of Education to centrally make a decision about police in schools. 'The work that was done in 2021 to end the SRO program and remove police from schools was very important to address the past and present discrimination and bias by police in interactions with Black and Indigenous and LGBTQIA, by women and girls who report violence and sexual harassment, by people with mental illnesses and disabilities and other marginalized groups in our community,' she said. Trustees have a responsibility as elected representatives to advocate for the community, said Kaplan-Myrth. 'Vulnerable populations in Ottawa have made it crystal clear that, from an equity and social justice lens, cancelling the SRO program was the right thing to do. That doesn't mean that the OCDSB has no relationship with the Ottawa Police. We've been working with them in other ways. There's still a lot of work to be done to establish trust.' SROs in schools are part of a broad proposed legislation that would give the minister of education more power to put schools under supervision. The OCDSB is under financial investigation by the province.
Epoch Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Ottawa Police Arrest 11 for Mischief, Assaulting Officers in Protest of Defence Trade Show
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has deployed crowd control units and arrested anti-war and pro-Palestine protesters who were blocking a road leading to the city's airport and a defence trade show. Police
