Police Board to hold Virtual Meeting on September 17, 2020

TORONTO:  The next scheduled meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board will take place on September 17, 2020 at 9:00AM.   
 
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, and to protect the health and wellbeing of all involved while adhering to provincial emergency orders, this Board Meeting will proceed as a virtual meeting.  Members of the public and media are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting through our livestream at https://youtu.be/qgxI9DDF38w.  The agenda is available on the Board’s website at: https://tpsb.ca/meetings/meetings-past.
 
Members of the public who wish to make a deputation may register using the regular process, at https://www.tpsb.ca/meetings/making-a-deputation.  The request must be received no later than 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. 


Items of Interest at this virtual Board meeting include:
 
TORONTO POLICE SERVICE’S PEOPLE PLAN AND NEW PROMOTIONAL PROCESS

The Board will hear a presentation regarding the Toronto Police Service’s People Plan for 2020-2023, entitled “Stronger Together.”  This People Plan has been built on the foundation created by the original 2017-2019 People Plan and is the next step in the Service’s journey to realize a vision of a modern People and Culture function with programs and services that support the Service’s Members and enable modernization, based on four strategic priorities - Our People, Our Leadership, Our HR Services and Our Culture and Inclusivity.
 
The presentation will also include an overview of the Service’s new promotional process, as outlined on a report from the Chief also on the agenda.  The new process was developed in collaboration with external experts and over 500 members across the Service, in response to Member feedback that people wanted to see a process that was more transparent, consistent and fair, and one that minimized bias.  The new process is focused on a demonstration of the core competencies, key performance accomplishments, and individual learning and development and will be implemented throughout 2020-2023; it represents a fundamental cultural shift in how the Service develops and grows its leaders.
 
MOBILE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM (MCIT) PROGRAM – INTERIM UPDATE

The Board will consider a report from the Chief containing an interim update on the Service’s Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) program.  The report has been prepared in response to a series of recommendations approved by the Board at its August 18, 2020 meeting.  The report details steps the Service is taking to expand and enhance its current MCIT Program within existing resources, as well as the ways in which the Service is continuing to emphasize de-escalation in its approach to resolving mental health crisis calls.  The report also outlines some early actions in exploring a non-police response model.
 
PURCHASE OF NEXT GENERATION (NG) 9-1-1 SOLUTION

The Board will receive a presentation regarding the purchase of a Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 solution. The presentation will detail the evolution of the 9-1-1 system and the technology involved, using IP-based softphones, which are highly configurable.  The new 9-1-1 solution also incorporates the use of texting.  The presentation will include the proposed timelines associated with this project.
 
RACE-BASED DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND PUBLIC REPORTING POLICY – QUARTERLY PROGRESS UPDATE

The Board will consider two quarterly update reports (for the second and third quarters) from the Chief on the update of implementation of the Board’s Race-Based Data Collection, Analysis and Public Reporting Policy.  These reports arise from a request made by the Board at its meeting of December 16, 2019 for the Chief to provide quarterly updates to the Board’s public meetings on the progress of implementing this Policy, with reporting structure and milestones to be covered by each quarterly report established through consultations between the Board and the Service in early March 2020.  The reports outline a variety of aspects of the implementation of the Policy, including communications (both internal and external), community engagement, the establishment of a Community Advisory Panel, data analysis and the development of a reporting framework, the development of the Indigenous Engagement Strategy and the self-identification pilot, lessons from the online training module, and work done to date to develop an ongoing partnership with an independent academic or organization to provide an analysis of the data collected.
 
ADDITION OF SELECT HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT AUTHORITIES FOR DISTRICT SPECIAL CONSTABLES
 
The Board will consider a report from the Chief recommending that the Board grant District Special Constables police powers under the sections of the Highway Traffic Act to direct traffic, close roads and remove obstructions from roadways.  The report states that since its inception, the District Special Constable (D.S.C.) program has flourished and become an integral part of frontline policing operations. The report states that if D.S.C.s are granted these authorities, this would decrease the number of police officer hours required to assist at collision and crime scenes and for major events that require road closures. This will allow for police officers to be deployed in a more efficient and effective capacity based on their skillsets and legislative abilities, consistent with the overall modernization and transformation approach of the Service.
 
 
As with all meetings, a recording of this meeting will be posted and archived to the Toronto Police Service YouTube account at https://www.youtube.com/TorontoPolice for members of the public to access later at their convenience.