Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

45. Some stakeholders noted that police officers are generally “hyper-vigilant” at all
times, wondering where the next problem will come from. It was suggested that many
officers may benefit from help in managing their stress.
46. Several stakeholders also believe that the Service has demonstrated a strong
tendency to protect itself, reject criticism, and ostracize serving members who voice
concerns about specific incidents or about the need for self-improvement within the TPS
more generally.
III.
Recommendations
47. In one sense, as I have indicated, all of the recommendations in this Report are to
some degree about police culture.
48. For example, the recommendations in Chapter 6 (Selection of Police Officers) are
concerned with identifying new police recruits who possess an optimal set of personal
characteristics, and selecting officers for specialized roles based on similar
considerations. This is all about creating culture by selecting the right people.
49. In a similar way, the recommendations in Chapter 8 (Supervision) focus on
ensuring that the lessons of training are reinforced in the work environment by the
leadership of coach officers and supervisory officers, and by the practices observed
within platoons and divisions. The recommendations in Chapter 12 (Equipment) are
concerned in large part with ensuring an enhanced culture of accountability (in the case
of body-worn cameras), or ensuring a proper level of accountability in relation to certain
forms of equipment (in the case of conducted energy weapons). Similar issues of police
culture are addressed in the recommendations found in the chapters on the mental
health system, training, mental wellness of police, use of force and MCIT. Positive and
negative reinforcements are addressed throughout the Report, as are various
recommendations for ensuring effective leadership.
50. I have therefore not set out in this chapter all of the recommendations that are
designed to have an influence on police culture, since that would encompass most of the
recommendations in the Report. It is important to recognize that many of the
recommendations in the other chapters are specifically intended to help address some of
the less helpful elements of police culture described above. I would, however, make the
following recommendation that relates to many of the points raised in this chapter.
51. I recommend that:
Statement of TPS commitments relating to people in crisis
RECOMMENDATION 5: The TPS prepare a formal statement setting out the
Service’s commitments relating to people in crisis and, more broadly, relating to
people experiencing mental health issues. The statement should be made public
and treated as of equal weight to the Service’s Core Values. Among the
commitments listed, the Service should consider including the following items:
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