press release
Province Recognizes Police Week Across Ontario
Ontario’s Government is proud to celebrate Police Week, a national event organized in partnership with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. Police Week focuses on raising awareness and recognition of the work our police services do to keep our communities safe.
This year’s theme, “Proudly Supporting Our Police,” highlights the diversity of work done by Ontario’s police services, including services that the public may not normally see, such as forensics, canine services, search and rescue, marine, aviation, gang intelligence, anti-human trafficking, as well as the work civilian members do to support their uniformed colleagues.
“Ontario’s Government for the People is proud to recognize Police Week and take time to acknowledge and honour the work police personnel do each and every day to keep our communities and our families safe,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “We are clear in our commitment to respect police officers and provide them the tools, resources, and support they need to do their job. From fixing the province’s broken police legislation, to ensuring officers are not subject to an automatic investigation when they unsuccessfully attempt to save a life with Naloxone, we stand with our police officers. On behalf of a grateful province, we thank them for their service.”
Some of the government’s recent actions to support police officers include:
- The passage of the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019, a new framework for policing that will strengthen relationships between police officers and the communities they serve;
- The launch of a provincewide strategy aimed at fighting gun violence and dismantling gangs throughout the province;
- A $182-million investment to replace aging OPP facilities with nine new detachments across the province;
- Modernization of the province’s crumbling Public Safety Radio Network, which more than 38,000 provincial frontline and first responders, including OPP officers, rely on to communicate in emergencies;
- Intention to move forward with the proclamation of the Missing Persons Act that would give police the investigative tools and authority they need to find a missing person regardless if a crime is suspected.
- Development of a new comprehensive mental health program in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police Association to assist Ontario Provincial Police personnel and their families with work-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a panel to review workplace culture at the provincial police force; and
- Enabling police officers to carry and administer naloxone in response to opioid overdoses like other first responders.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
