Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

41. With respect to the person subject to police attention, the Review heard that use
of clear, short commands is viewed by police as being most effective in gaining
compliance from a subject who may be agitated, in crisis, dealing with his or her own
fear response, and processing significant stimuli, including the presence of police. The
rationale for such standard commands is that people are told exactly what they have to
do in order to avoid, or stop, the police use of force.
42. Individuals suffering from auditory hallucinations or other crisis symptoms may
have difficulty comprehending any instructions from a police officer. This raises the
question of whether the Police Challenge is effective when used in encounters with some
people in crisis. One police trainer expressed the view that repetition of the Police
Challenge may get through the various other stimuli facing a person in crisis more
effectively than lengthier or less direct methods of communication. Conversely, some
stakeholders suggested that the repetitive shouting of “Don’t Move” is inconsistent with
the need to attempt de-escalation and to use compassion when responding to people in
crisis who may be struggling to regain a sense of control over their actions and
surroundings.
3. Use of Force Review Committee
43. The Service has established a Use of Force Review Committee, which is composed
of members from both Area and Central Field Command, the Emergency Task Force
(ETF), the Toronto Police College, the Professional Standards Investigative Unit, and
the Public Safety and Emergency Management Unit. The Committee reviews policy and
training related recommendations from the professional standards unit after a Firearm
Discharge Report is filed, and reviews other use of force incidents to assess the
effectiveness of the Service’s training, practices, and associated governance. The
Committee reports its findings to the TPS Senior Management Team, but no formal
reports or minutes of proceedings are published.
4. Procedure regarding notification of the ETF
44. As discussed in Chapter 4 (The Mental Health System and the Toronto Police
Service), the ETF must be notified of certain incidents involving people in crisis, such as
suicide intervention calls. In those circumstances, the ETF decides whether to attend the
scene, based on the nature of incident and the ETF’s availability. If the ETF is
dispatched, the role of the primary response officers is to control and contain the scene
until the ETF arrives. Unless there is an immediate danger to life, those first responders
are not permitted to enter the scene. However, primary response units are instructed to
obtain as much information as possible pending the arrival of the ETF, including the
person’s identity, physical description, mental and physical condition, previous history
of interactions with police, and access to weapons.
45. Similarly, the ETF may be requested to attend in high risk incidents, which may
include a situation involving an armed or violent person in crisis. The role of the
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