Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

addition, officers must obtain the original form, obtain background information from
the complainant, conduct other relevant background checks, and notify the ETF if the
background checks reveal a history of violence or the presence of a weapon. 58
65. Upon arriving at the psychiatric facility, the officers must remain with the person
in crisis until the facility accepts custody over her or him. A facility accepts custody
when it arranges for its staff to take charge of the individual, or when the person is taken
for an assessment, discussed below. If the officers are held up or expect to be held up at
the facility for over one hour, as is frequently the case, officers must notify a Supervisory
Officer. 59
(d) Supervisory officers
66. As stated above, under Procedure 10-01, the first Supervisory Officer to respond
to a call assesses the incident, consults with the first officer on the scene, and decides
whether to assume the role of Incident Commander. Supervisors are automatically
notified of every “EDP call” but whether they are sent to the call depends on their
availability.
67. In all other circumstances, it is up to the discretion of first responding officers
whether they require additional support. In these circumstances, these officers can
request the attendance of a Supervisor.
68. In light of the fact that currently only front line supervisory officers, the ETF and
supervisors of high-risk units carry conducted energy weapons (CEWs), officers
responding to calls involving a person in crisis who is wielding a weapon or is otherwise
perceived to be dangerous often request the attendance of a Supervisory Officer. 60 This
gives officers the option of using a CEW if the incident evolves in a manner in which the
officers conclude that the CEW is the most appropriate use of force. The circumstances
under which a CEW should be used are addressed in further detail in Chapter 12
(Equipment).
(e) Emergency Task Force
69. The Emergency Task Force, the Service’s tactical unit assigned to deal with highrisk
situations such as hostage takings, barricaded persons, risky arrests, terrorism
threats, warrant service, and protection details, also monitors all calls involving a person
in crisis, including incidents where suicide prevention skills may be needed. 61 The ETF
decides which incidents involving people in crisis warrant its intervention, although the
ETF is aware that these incidents often unfold too quickly for it to be able to arrive on-
58
TPS, “Procedure 06-04”, supra note 24 at 6-7.
59
Id. at 1.
60
High-risk units include Public Safety and Emergency Management, the Intelligence Division, Organized Crime Enforcement
(including Hold-Up and Toronto Drug Squad) and the Provincial Repeat Offender and Parole Enforcement (ROPE) and Fugitive
Squad carry Conducted Energy Weapons. See Chief William Blair, “#P47Annual Report: 2013 Use of Conducted Energy
Weapons” (Report presented to the Toronto Police Services Board, 13 March 2014).
61
TPS, “Communications Services”, supra note 51 at C.6.1.6; Toronto Police Service, Procedure 10-05 “Incidents Requiring the
Emergency Task Force” (Toronto, ON: Toronto Police Service, 2011) at 3.
Police Encounters With People in Crisis |98