Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

probationary period in another Canadian jurisdiction may be exempted from this
requirement, or asked to complete other specified courses or examinations. 8
9. On being hired by the TPS, new recruits follow three courses of formal training:
(a)
(b)
(c)
two weeks of orientation at the TPC;
twelve weeks of basic constable training at the OPC; and
six weeks of further training at the TPC.
10. Although the 20-week program is intensive, it is shorter than what is required for
some other police services, such as the RCMP. Police recruits have to learn a
comprehensive and complex set of skills in a condensed timeframe, from legislation to
emergency driving, and from software use to weapons tactics. The powers and
responsibilities they study and exercise are very important, especially since the misuse
of their authority can deprive an individual of liberty or security of the person. Indeed,
the failure to react to crisis situations in accordance with training lessons can endanger
the lives of the person in crisis, police officers and members of the public.
C. Ontario Police College Training
11. The OPC is established by the Police Services Act for the training of officers in
Ontario. 9 The Provincial Policing Standards Manual requires the OPC to ensure all
recruits achieve competence in a number of areas. Some of the skills relevant to
responding to people in crisis include:
(a)
(b)
(c)
basic communications skills, including rapport development, and active
listening;
mental illness awareness and communication skills, including conducting
mediations, creating voluntary compliance, and defusing aggressive
behaviour; and
appropriate judgment with respect to weapons, practical experience
making use of force choices under realistic circumstances, race relations
sensitivity, confidence and restraint, ability to debrief encounters in order
to discuss threat perceptions, communication skills, knowledge of tactical
and less-than-lethal force options, and ability to discern whether the force
used was justified. 10
12. The OPC provides the Basic Constable Training Program to new recruits hired by
the TPS. This program educates recruits about the laws and procedures that front line
officers are required to follow, with particular emphasis on the core functions of police
8
Id., s. 44(2); O. Reg. 36/02, s. 1.
9
PSA, supra note 5, s. 3(3).
10
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Policing Standards Manual, AI-012A “Use of Force” Appendix A –
Ontario Police College Guidelines (Ontario: Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, 2004), ss. 3, 7.
Police Encounters With People in Crisis |145