Peel Regional Police

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Peel Regional Police
220x140px
Logo of the Peel Regional Police
Motto A safer Community Together
Agency overview
Formed 1974
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Brampton, ON
Sworn members 1979
Unsworn members 859
Elected officer responsible The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Agency executive Jennifer Evans, Chief of Police
Facilities
Divisions 5
Website
http://www.peelpolice.ca/

Peel Regional Police (PRP) provides police services for Peel Region in Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest municipal police service in Ontario after the Toronto Police Service and third largest municipal force in Canada (behind Toronto and Montreal) with 1,937 uniformed members and close to 840 support staff.

Peel Regional Police serve approximately 1,237,354 citizens of Mississauga and Brampton, located immediately west of Toronto, including Toronto Pearson International Airport (actually located in Mississauga) which annually sees 32 million travellers. Although it is part of the Region of Peel, policing for the Town of Caledon, which is north of Brampton, is the responsibility of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The village of Snelgrove was once part of Caledon, but is now within Brampton, and is within the jurisdiction of the Peel force.

The PRP also patrol the section of Highway 409 between the Toronto-Peel border and Pearson Airport. Policing of all other 400-series highways that pass through the Region, including Highways 401, 403, 410, and 427 as well as the QEW freeway and the 407 ETR toll highway, are the responsibility of the OPP.

History

Peel Regional Police was established in tandem with the creation of the Regional Municipality of Peel on January 1, 1974. It integrated the former police departments of Mississauga, Port Credit, Streetsville, Brampton, and Chinguacousy.

Toronto Township Police Department was formed in January 1944 and was later renamed Mississauga Township Police Department in 1968.

Brampton Township Police Department dates to 1873, when it was created to replace policing from Chinguacousy. It merged with the other local forces in 1974.

Chinguacousy Township Police traces roots back to 1853, and was merged to the Peel force in 1974.

Port Credit Police Department was founded with township's incorporation in 1909, and merged with the Mississauga force in 1961.

Streetsville Police Department was formed in 1858 and merged into the Peel force in 1974.

As of 2012 Peel Regional Police has 1937 officers and 840 civilian support staff.

Since the creation of the Peel force only 4 deaths have been recorded, 3 from traffic accidents (latest in March 2010) and 1 from a stabbing (1984).[1]

Mission statement

Peel Regional Police, in partnership with the community, will strive to create a safe environment in which to live, work, and visit.

Command structure

The Peel Regional Police divides the region into five divisions. Major police stations are located in each division which are supported by smaller Community Police Stations. These provide residents with services to deal with traffic complaints, neighbour disputes, minor thefts, community issues, landlord-tenant disputes, on-going problems in a neighbourhood, found property, and respond to questions related to policing in the community.

11 Division

Commanded by Superintendent Marc Andrews

  • 3030 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga
Community Police Stations
  • Erin Mills, 3476 Glen Erin Drive (closed April 1, 2012)
  • Meadowvale, 6677 Meadowvale Town Centre Circle

12 Division

Commanded by Superintendent Robert Ryan

  • 4600 Dixie Road, Mississauga
Community Police Stations
  • Lakeshore, 268 Lakeshore Road East (closed April 1, 2012)
  • Square One, 100 City Center Drive

The Marine Unit at 135 Lakefront Promenade is located in this division. The unit is responsible for 105 square kilometre of waterways, including Lake Ontario and rivers that run in the region using 3 boats. It was created in 1974 and inherited 1 boat from the Port Credit Police Department.[2]

21 Division

Commanded by Superintendent Kim Whyte.

10 Peel Centre Dr, Suite C, Brampton L6T 4B9 (905) 453-3311 ext. 2100

Community Police Stations
  • Malton, 7205 Goreway Drive
  • Springdale, 6-51 Mountainash Road (closed April 1, 2012)

22 Division (Headquarters)

Commanded by Superintendent Stephen Blom

  • 7750 Hurontario Street, Brampton
Community Police Stations
  • Cassie Campbell, 1050 Sandalwood Parkway West

Airport Division

Currently commanded by Superintendent Paul Thorne, the Airport Division was established in 1997 following the departure of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The Airport Division consists of uniform, tactical, and plain clothes officers and staffed at 2951 Convair Drive in Mississauga.

Rank Structure

(rank / epaulette insignia / shirt color)

Recruitment

Peel Regional Police follows the P.R.E.P Testing as of July 2008 for its constable selection process. Unlike every other police service in the province, the Peel Regional Police does not charge for its written and physical testings.

The physical requirements are:

  • Jumping a 4-foot (1.2 m) fence
  • Climb stairs
  • Run laps
  • Pull testing
  • Push testing
  • Push together testing
  • Drag a 150-pound dummy approximately 7.5 m
  • Beep test and minimum of 6.5 to pass the test

Uniform

As of January 2008, front line officers wear black shirts, cargo pants with a red stripe and boots. Winter jackets are either black or reflective orange/yellow with the word POLICE in white and blue at the back. Hats are standard forage caps with a red band. Yukon hats or embroidered toques are worn in the winter.

Senior officers wear white shirts and a black dress jacket.

----- Amendment -----

The Peel Regional Police do not wear black shirts or jackets, they are dark-navy.

- Frontline officers wear dark-navy shirts, v-neck sweaters (optional during cold weather months), and side-pocket patrol pants ("cargo pants") w/ red stripe (ranks Sergeant and higher wear a black stripe down their pant leg in place of red); and officers wear dark-navy epaulet (rank) slip-ons on the epaulets of shirts, sweaters, and jackets w/ embroidered Canadian flag and badge number (in white) beneath on each (rank insignia above the flag for ranks above constable).

- Senior officers do wear white shirts, dark-navy pants (no side pocket/cargo pocket) w/ black stripe, and dark-navy jackets. Dark-navy v-neck sweaters are also worn. Senior officers wear gold collar brass (on the collar of their shirts) and dark-navy epaulet (rank) slip-ons on the epaulets of shirts, sweaters, and jackets w/ embroidered Canadian flag, no badge number, and applicable rank insignia above the flag.

- The external carriers (body armour) worn by officers ARE black w/ silver 'POLICE' on the back and an embroidered patch over the right pocket w/ badge # embroidered in white. This is the only uniform item that is black (currently); they may switch to matching dark-navy carriers in the future.

- On dark-navy v-neck sweaters, an embroidered patch is worn on the left chest w/ 'POLICE' in white.

- Officers standard headdress is the forage (or peak) cap; the cap is dark-navy w/ black peak, red band, and silver cap badge (gold cap badge for senior officers). Optional Yukon hat (artificial fur hat) or uniform toque can be worn in the winter. Officers of the Sikh faith are permitted to wear uniform turban (dark-navy blue with red stripe and cap badge).

- The shoulder flash (embroidered patch) worn on each arm by officers ranked Constable through Staff Sergeant has white border, white lettering, black background, and coloured seal of the Regional Municipality of Peel.

- The shoulder flash (embroidered patch) worn on each arm by senior officers (Inspector and above) has gold border, gold lettering, black background, and coloured seal of the Regional Municipality of Peel.

Fleet

Peel Regional Police has a fleet of over 500 vehicles including:

All vehicles are painted white with three blue stripes, a changed made from yellow standard used by GTA forces in the 1980s. In 2007 Peel Police spearheaded a campaign to amend provincial law to equip police cruisers with blue and red lights and deployed the first such cruiser in Ontario. In 2008 newer cruisers now sport a single blue stripe. The force's logo moves forward along the stripe with the motto and phone number on the rear back door.


  • Cruiser with old paint scheme and lightbar

  • Bike Patrol

Weapons

Uniform Patrol

Tactical Rescue Unit & Airport Division

Units

  • Traffic Enforcement
    • Regional Traffic
    • Regional Breath Unit
  • Investigation
    • Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureaus
    • Homicide
    • Special Victims Unit
    • Central Robbery Bureau
    • Frauds
    • Major Drugs and Vice
    • Street Crime
    • Gang Unit
    • Major Collision Bureau
    • Commercial Auto Crime Bureau
    • ICE Unit
    • Technological Crime Unit
    • Forensic Identification
    • Offender Management
  • Community Support
    • Neighbourhood Policing Unit
    • Family Violence
    • Auxiliary Program (Auxiliary Constable)
    • Crime Prevention /Alarm Program
    • Diversity Relations
    • Labour Liaison
    • Drug Education
    • Community Liaison Office

Awards

  • (1995) Won the Webber Seavey Award for quality in law enforcement sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Motorola. The award was made for the development of a process that helps abused children through the justice system and into treatment with minimal personal trauma.
  • (1995) Awarded the Certificate of Merit by the National Quality Institute's (NQI) "Canada Awards of Excellence" program.
  • (1994) Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the first police service in Ontario to receive this distinction and only the fifth in Canada.[4]

Members of the Peel Regional Police are involved in fundraising for a variety of charities and community causes. They have annually raised over $1,000,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and $140,000 through the "Cops for Cancer" program. They are also one of the region's largest donators to the United Way. Members of the force are involved in public service and volunteerism throughout the community.

Controversies

Misconduct allegations

  • (2010) Constable Sheldon Cook was convicted of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property in a police investigation. He is currently appealing the conviction and is out on bail.
  • (2008) Constable Roger Yeo was accused of stalking young girls while off-duty in the summer and fall of 2005. During the course of the investigation into the stalking allegations Yeo said he had used steroids while on the job and claimed other officers had also done so. This prompted Chief Mike Metcalf to launch an investigation into steroid use in the force.[5]
Yeo was found guilty of discreditable conduct on 29 April 2008 and was suspended with pay.

The sentencing phase of Yeo's hearing was scheduled for 15 April 2009, however he resigned on 23 January 2009 and all ongoing disciplinary proceedings were stayed.[6][7]

  • (2006) A $9.5 million lawsuit was filed by a police officer, Constable Duane Simon, an 18-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service, alleging false imprisonment, abuse of public office, injurious falsehoods, negligent investigation and breach of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms after he had been arrested and charged with assault of a female Peel Regional Police Officer.
Simon's suit is pending.
  • (2006) A $3.6 million lawsuit was filed by the parents of three Brampton teens alleging seven off-duty officers attacked them without cause in the fall of 2005 after one of the teens crashed his bicycle into a car owned by one of the men.
The suit was settled out of court in June 2006.
  • (2006) A $12 million suit was filed by Orlando Canizalez and Richard Cimpoesu who claim that they were roughed up by off-duty police on 28 August 2006 after refusing to give up their videotape of officers partying behind a strip mall.
Fourteen officers have been charged under the Police Act with offences ranging from discreditable conduct to neglect of duty. Ten other officers have been disciplined for their roles in the incident. Of these, two were demoted, while others were docked 4 to 9 days pay. The lawsuit brought by the two men is pending.
  • (2006) A $14.6 million lawsuit was filed by former Toronto Argonaut football player Orlando Bowen, who says he was assaulted and falsely arrested on 26 March 2004 by two undercover officers outside a Mississauga night club. Bowen was tried and acquitted for drug possession in 2005, claiming the officers had planted drugs on him. The judge in the case described the testimony of the officers involved as "incredible and unworthy of belief".
The Crown prosecutor attempted to have the charges against Bowen withdrawn before a verdict was rendered after Constable Sheldon Cook, a 14-year veteran of the force, was charged on 18 November 2005 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with drug possession and drug trafficking. RCMP officers tracked a shipment of cocaine from Pearson International Airport to Cook's home in Cambridge where they found discovered 15 kilograms of the drug with a street value of more than $500,000.
Bowen's suit is pending. Cook's case is pending.[8]

Shooting death of Michael Wade Lawson

On 8 December 1988, 17-year-old Michael Wade Lawson was shot to death by two Peel Regional Police Constables. Anthony Melaragni #1192 and Darren Longpre #1139 were both charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault after a preliminary hearing; both were later acquitted by a jury.

The officers claimed that the stolen vehicle driven by Lawson was approaching the officers head-on in a threatening manner, and they then discharged their firearms.[9]

An autopsy conducted by the Ontario Coroner's Office showed that the unarmed teenager was struck by a hollow-point bullet to the back of the head. This type of bullet was considered illegal at the time, as hollow-point bullets were not authorized for use by police officers in Ontario.

Shortly after the shooting death of Lawson and pressure from the Black Canadian community, the Attorney General of Ontario established the Race Relations and Policing Task Force. The Task Force made several recommendations, the result was the provincial government creating the Special Investigations Unit to investigate police shootings resulting in injury or death.[9]

Public complaints

The Peel Regional Police Public Complaints Investigation Bureau (PCIB) investigates all complaints made by the public in regards to the actions and services provided by PRP officers. PCIB is a branch of the Professional Standards Bureau.

In 2005, 158 public complaints were filed:

  • 2 resulted in informal discipline
  • 1 resulted in charges under the Police Services Act of Ontario
  • none resulted in charges under the Criminal Code
  • 155 were withdrawn by the complainants, resolved informally, or ruled invalid as they exceeded the time limit or the complainant was not directly affected

In 2004, 180 public complaints were filed:

  • 3 resulted in informal discipline
  • none resulted in charges under the Police Services Act of Ontario
  • none resulted in charges under the Criminal Code
  • 177 were withdrawn by the complainants, resolved informally, or ruled invalid as they exceeded the time limit or the complainant was not directly affected

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ http://www.peelpolice.on.ca/en/aboutus/marineunit.asp
  3. ↑ Press Releases
  4. ↑ Peel Regional Police - History
  5. ↑ TheStar.com: Peel officer admits to using steroids on the job
  6. ↑ http://www.mississauga.com/news/local/article/27671--disgraced-cop-resigns
  7. ↑ http://www.peelpolice.on.ca/news/Media%20Archive.aspx?Page=37&MainContent=2136
  8. ↑ globeandmail.com - National: Ex-Argo sues Peel Police over arrest
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://web.archive.org/web/20060505022627/http://www.aclc.net/antiba_criminaljustsys.htm

External links

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