Mitigating Risk in the Municipal Law Enforcement Environment

Mitigating Risk in the Municipal Law
Enforcement Environment
OAPSO
Nov 21, 2014
Mitigating Risk
We know that MLEO work involves risk
-
lack of understanding of the core role of a MLEO
lack of understanding of authority and jurisdiction
lack of resources and training
lack of supports (equipment, policies, operating
procedures)
inappropriate expectations (public and municipal
leaders
Mitigating Risk
MLEO work is not regulated in the same
sense as other similar work
Examples: training, certification, uniforms,
safety equipment, etc.
Therefore, municipalities are on their own to
determine what makes sense to them
Mitigating Risk
Many of the factors contributing to risk relate
to the gap between the core role of a MLEO
and what is actually happening in the field
The wider the gap, the more elevated the
level of risk
Project Team
Joint initiative with MLEOA and OAPSO
Randy Charlton, Randy Berg and Jon Popple
from MLEOA
Warwick Perrin from OAPSO
Shayne Turner, member at large
Project Goal
To develop a set of guidelines for
municipalities to help mitigate various risk
factors
“role of a MLEO”
“core competencies to fulfill the role”
“obtaining and maintaining competencies”
“ongoing-supports (equipment/training) to
fulfill the role
Environmental Scan
First phase:
Surveys conducted to assess the current
environment
Currently being evaluated to identify themes
and risk factors
Job Descriptions
Certification
Expectations
Training
Training
Support
Safety
Safety
Safety
Safety
Other Issues Identified
53% have a corporate standard for use of
safety equipment
38% do not wear uniforms
57% responsible for evaluating expert reports
Safety equipment – less than 50% - training,
replacement
Next Steps
Finish review and evaluation of survey results
Identify themes and areas of focus
Begin to identify strategies to mitigate risk
Project Deliverable
Create a resource document for
municipalities to reference (help mitigate
various risk factors)
Going forward:
Look for ways to encourage municipalities to
give thought to the document
Be better positioned for a time when the
MLEO environment may be regulated
Guidelines for municipalities
Guidelines to be included:
Minimum entry qualifications
Fundamental training standards
On-going training (annual training plans)
Policies and SOP’s
Uniforms
Vehicles
Safety Equipment
Questions for Feedback
What is the most significant
concern you have relating to the
risks/barriers/challenges you
experience in executing your
duties?
Questions for Feedback
If you could request/promote 1
significant change to give more
support and help manage the
challenges and risks you
experience, what would it be?
Questions for Feedback
How receptive do you think your
municipality would be to
implementing changes to help
reduce the risks that exist in
municipal law enforcement?
Risk Mitigation
Questions?
shayne.turner@kitchener.ca
wperrin@toronto.ca
rcharlton@haldimandcounty.on.ca
randy.berg@guelph.ca
jpopple@townofbwg.com