Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

This branch also offers refresher courses, coordinates first aid and
occupational health and safety training, and provides information
technology and software education;
(f)
(g)
learning development and standards, which coordinates electronic and
adult learning, trainer accreditation, and quality assurance; and
police vehicle operations, which trains officers on the use of cars,
motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and bicycles. 22
22. The TPC uses a variety of training and evaluation methods, including classroom
lectures and written tests, simulations of incidents in which police have to react to
filmed events and communicate with a partner, live scenarios in indoor and outdoor
settings, and firing range exercises. Mental health issues are addressed in many formats,
including instruction on the Mental Health Act, lectures from mental health
professionals on the symptoms and medications commonly associated with various
mental illnesses, panel discussions or videos representing the perspectives of people
with lived experience of mental illness, and scenarios involving people in crisis armed
with weapons. The in-service training program also includes video testimonials from
members of the Service who have family members with mental health issues.
23. The recruit and in-service mental health training curricula are developed in
consideration of real life scenarios from the TPS and other jurisdictions. The Service
incorporates such practical learning opportunities in at least five ways. First, the TPC
reviews recommendations resulting from inquests into fatalities involving encounters
with Service members when designing training curricula. Second, the TPC considers
input from the TPS Use of Force Committee on trends, concerns and best practices
regarding officer use of force. Third, the TPS consults with other law enforcement
agencies in Canada and internationally to identify trends in policing and training, best
practices, and innovative course design and delivery. Fourth, the TPS Use of Force
Analyst compiles statistics on incidents and outcomes and provides both the Service and
the Toronto Police Services Board with annual trend and data analyses. These analyses
can be incorporated into both classroom and scenario training at the TPC. Fifth, the
training curricula are influenced by members’ survey responses and by the trainers’ own
experiences in the field.
1. Recruit training at the TPC
24. New recruits are introduced to many of the concepts addressed in this Report
during the two-week orientation at the TPC. They participate in sessions on invisible
disabilities, human rights, ethics, professional standards, working with different
communities, and the Service’s Employee Family Assistance Program, among others. 23
22
Toronto Police Service, “Toronto Police College” (2014), online: Toronto Police Service
.
23
Toronto Police College, “Course Training Standard: Pre-Ontario Police College Basic Constable Training Course – Community
Policing Section” (2013).
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