Police Board to meet Tuesday February 25, 2020 at North York Civic Centre (Revised)

TORONTO: The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on Tuesday February 25, 2020 at 1:30 PM. The meeting will take place at North York Civic Centre, Council Chambers (please note the change in venue from Toronto Police Headquarters). Copies of the agenda are available on the Board’s website at www.tpsb.ca, from the Board Office and limited copies will be available at the meeting.

The Board meeting may be viewed via LiveStream on YouTube using the following link:
https://youtu.be/qwRqPI9Oc0o

Those members of the public who would like to make a deputation to the Board regarding an item on the agenda should refer to the Notice for Making a Deputation at this link.

Items of interest include:

ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION PROGRAM – REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF CONTRACT VALUE

The Board will consider a report from the Chief recommending that the Board approve a contract with Price Waterhouse Coopers at an amount not to exceed $1.9M, excluding taxes, for the Innovation Partnership for Automated Business Process Re-Engineering and Collaboration program to enable the building of two bots. As the report states, the Ministry of the Solicitor General approved funding under its Community Safety and Policing grant for the Service to implement a Robotic Process Automation (R.P.A.). R.P.A. is the use of software to handle high-volume, repeatable tasks that previously required humans to perform. The R.P.A. program currently consists of two projects which are both being developed for Communications Services: 1. An Audio Disclosure and Data Services bot and; 2. A Parking Complaints bot. The report notes that while the first areas being addressed are audio disclosure and parking complaints, the capacity of the bots will allow the Service to explore other areas where the use of this technology could improve effectiveness and efficiency.

CHILD AND YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE AGREEMENT

The Board will consider a report from the Chief recommending that the Board authorize the Chair to execute a new, five-year Cooperation Agreement and Partner Services Agreement between Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (C.Y.A.C.) for the City of Toronto (City) and the Board for a period of five years. As the report states, the C.Y.A.C. is comprised of specialized child abuse investigators from the Service, in collaboration with Service Partners and representatives from a number of healthcare and community agencies. It is a child-focused, community-oriented, multi-disciplinary facility where the professionals involved in the investigation, treatment and management of child abuse cases work together to ensure that a child’s safety and best interests are paramount. As the report notes, the C.Y.A.C. has had a significant impact on the way child abuse investigations are conducted in Toronto and since becoming operational in October 2013, members have investigated over 4500 occurrences and interviewed over 8000 individuals, creating a leading edge model of success.

HEALTHY WORKPLACE INITIATIVES – ANNUAL REPORT

The Board will consider the Chief’s 2019 annual report on healthy workplace initiatives. As the report states, as part of an ongoing recognition of the unique and high-stress work environment in which Service Members function and the increased exposure to potentially traumatic events, the Service continues to offer a well-rounded approach to wellness that involves addressing the whole person, including the mind-body connection. The report details workplace wellness initiatives in a number of different areas, including: training, nutritional services, yoga and meditation/mindfulness, psychological services and mental health resources, Employee and Family Assistance, and Critical Incident/Peer Support, chaplaincy services, cardiac health fairs and the Toronto Beyond the Blue program.

CORPORATE DONATION TO THE EMERGENCY TASK FORCE

NOTE: this item, as listed on the previous Agenda (now revised)has been withdrawn, as the proposed donor has advised that it will be redirecting its funds to other community causes. The revised agenda is available here:

http://www.tpsb.ca/images/agendas/REVISED_PUBLIC_AGENDA_Feb25.pdf

MUNICIPAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT – ANNUAL REPORT

The Board will consider a report from the Chief regarding the 2019 annual statistical report on compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. As the report notes, in 2019, the Access and Privacy Section received 5,234 Freedom of Information requests to access information held by the Service in accordance with the Act. This represents an increase of 186 requests (3.68%) compared to the 5,048 received in 2018. Currently, A.P.S. will be carrying over 451 backlog files. This is a vast improvement from the backlog identified in 2018, of 1,791 files; a reduction of 1644 or 92% of the outstanding files. The report credits a number of staffing and administrative measures that were immediately taken, along with the hard work of the staff, for the significant reduction in the backlog.

The Toronto Police Services Board is the civilian body responsible for governing the Toronto Police Service. The Board is responsible for ensuring the provision of adequate and effective police services in the City of Toronto, setting priorities and objectives for the Toronto Police Service, approving the annual police budget and selecting the Chief of Police.

Contact:

Sandy Murray
www.tpsb.ca
Senior Advisor, Toronto Police Services Board
(416) 808-8090