The cornerstone of our recruitment and retention program at the Toronto Police Service is to become the employer of choice for new recruits and people transferring from other services. In recognition of this, we have been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and the inaugural winner of Ontario’s Psychologically Healthy Workplaces Award .
The Ontario Medical Association released this statement today. The remarks of the OMA's incoming President on the importance of paying urgent attention to recruitment and retention demonstrate how right we have been in giving priority to these areas in our human resources strategy.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
ONTARIO PSYCHOLOGICALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACE AWARD
If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know that nurturing a healthy workplace at the Toronto Police Service is of key importance to the Toronto Police Services Board. We are working hard to ensure that the Toronto Police Service is the employer of choice for new recruits and people coming from other services. As you will see from my quote in the Toronto Sun today, the health and welfare of our officers is a paramount concern to the Board. That is why we are so thrilled that the Toronto Police Service is the inaugural winner of the Ontario Psychological Healthy Workplace Award . Here are my remarks from yesterday’s award ceremony.
Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award Presentation
May 1, 2008
Speaking Notes for Chair Alok Mukherjee
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am delighted to join our colleagues in accepting the Ontario Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award conferred on the Toronto Police Service. I am so pleased to be joined by my colleague, Ms. Judi Cohen.
I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Ontario Psychological Association for this important recognition. This award means a great deal to us because, for both the Board and the Service, the health and wellness of our members is a matter of paramount concern.
Let me take this opportunity to note that, last year, the Board approved a progressive new policy on Occupational Health and Wellness. This policy is a concrete demonstration of our commitment to the goal of enhancing employee wellness and maintaining safe and healthy workplaces.
We believe that psychological wellness is an integral part of a comprehensive approach to building a truly healthy workplace. This is especially true for people who work in the complex and challenging profession of policing.
On a daily basis, members of our police service deal with a variety of situations and events, many of which can be extremely taxing from a psychological perspective. They respond routinely to tragic events. Hardly a day goes by when they are not called upon to intervene in heartbreaking family situations. They experience sadness, horror, shock and awe. Helping people suffering from mental illness is a regular part of their job. They also work long hours, often with erratic schedules. And, they do their work under the constant glare of intense public scrutiny, with little margin for error.
As the employer of people engaged in doing this onerous work at significant personal cost, we have a responsibility to pay great attention to the psychological wellness of our employees.
I should add, as well, that we have this responsibility from a public interest point of view. Our employees interact with members of the public in many sensitive and delicate situations. We believe that psychological wellness is critical for ensuring that those interactions are always positive and professional. In other words, psychological wellness of police officers is a major contributor to the quality of service to the public.
This award is, for me, a wonderful recognition of the value and the effectiveness of our efforts.
There is one person whom I would like at this time to acknowledge, in particular. I am referring to Dr. Carol Vipari, our Corporate Psychologist. Dr. Vipari has been a tremendous champion of a psychologically healthy workplace, and has worked tirelessly to advance this important cause in our organization. Thank you, Dr. Vipari.
Thank you.
Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award Presentation
May 1, 2008
Speaking Notes for Chair Alok Mukherjee
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am delighted to join our colleagues in accepting the Ontario Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award conferred on the Toronto Police Service. I am so pleased to be joined by my colleague, Ms. Judi Cohen.
I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Ontario Psychological Association for this important recognition. This award means a great deal to us because, for both the Board and the Service, the health and wellness of our members is a matter of paramount concern.
Let me take this opportunity to note that, last year, the Board approved a progressive new policy on Occupational Health and Wellness. This policy is a concrete demonstration of our commitment to the goal of enhancing employee wellness and maintaining safe and healthy workplaces.
We believe that psychological wellness is an integral part of a comprehensive approach to building a truly healthy workplace. This is especially true for people who work in the complex and challenging profession of policing.
On a daily basis, members of our police service deal with a variety of situations and events, many of which can be extremely taxing from a psychological perspective. They respond routinely to tragic events. Hardly a day goes by when they are not called upon to intervene in heartbreaking family situations. They experience sadness, horror, shock and awe. Helping people suffering from mental illness is a regular part of their job. They also work long hours, often with erratic schedules. And, they do their work under the constant glare of intense public scrutiny, with little margin for error.
As the employer of people engaged in doing this onerous work at significant personal cost, we have a responsibility to pay great attention to the psychological wellness of our employees.
I should add, as well, that we have this responsibility from a public interest point of view. Our employees interact with members of the public in many sensitive and delicate situations. We believe that psychological wellness is critical for ensuring that those interactions are always positive and professional. In other words, psychological wellness of police officers is a major contributor to the quality of service to the public.
This award is, for me, a wonderful recognition of the value and the effectiveness of our efforts.
There is one person whom I would like at this time to acknowledge, in particular. I am referring to Dr. Carol Vipari, our Corporate Psychologist. Dr. Vipari has been a tremendous champion of a psychologically healthy workplace, and has worked tirelessly to advance this important cause in our organization. Thank you, Dr. Vipari.
Thank you.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
THE NOT SO GLOBAL SEARCH FOR POLICE RECRUITS
I wanted to engage in some thoughtful consideration before I commented on the article that appeared last week in the Toronto Sun (Link) about a so-called global search for cops.
The article didn’t sit well with me. The article claims that police forces are on a global search for recruits. In the case of the Toronto Police Service, this statement is entirely untrue.
In terms of the Toronto Police Service, all of our recruiting takes place in Ontario. We receive applications from around the world, and are always pleased to welcome qualified candidates from other jurisdictions. These foreign applications are a result of Toronto’s worldwide reputation as a great city to live and work in - and our benefits and compensation package – not as a result of foreign recruiting efforts.
For our part, the Toronto Police Service does do extensive local recruiting. As I have talked about in past blogs (Link to Blog 1, Blog 2), our recruiting is aimed at continuing to ensure that the Toronto Police Service is the employer of choice for the best and the brightest.
How do we attract the best and the brightest? By offering the most exciting job opportunities in law enforcement in the most diverse and exciting city in Canada. In addition, we provide a very appealing benefits and compensation package. You will see below, information from the recruiting section of the Toronto Police Service’s website (Link).
It is evident that the President of PAO has no knowledge of how successful our recruiting efforts continue to be. Our recruiters have brought the world to the TPS without going on expensive junkets to seek out foreign candidates, as he recommends. The diversity we want and need is in Toronto - one of the most diverse cities in the world. Our recruitment team recognizes the strength of the local community and has worked very hard to give meaning to the Board's commitment that our Service must reflect the world that is our community.
The article didn’t sit well with me. The article claims that police forces are on a global search for recruits. In the case of the Toronto Police Service, this statement is entirely untrue.
In terms of the Toronto Police Service, all of our recruiting takes place in Ontario. We receive applications from around the world, and are always pleased to welcome qualified candidates from other jurisdictions. These foreign applications are a result of Toronto’s worldwide reputation as a great city to live and work in - and our benefits and compensation package – not as a result of foreign recruiting efforts.
For our part, the Toronto Police Service does do extensive local recruiting. As I have talked about in past blogs (Link to Blog 1, Blog 2), our recruiting is aimed at continuing to ensure that the Toronto Police Service is the employer of choice for the best and the brightest.
How do we attract the best and the brightest? By offering the most exciting job opportunities in law enforcement in the most diverse and exciting city in Canada. In addition, we provide a very appealing benefits and compensation package. You will see below, information from the recruiting section of the Toronto Police Service’s website (Link).
It is evident that the President of PAO has no knowledge of how successful our recruiting efforts continue to be. Our recruiters have brought the world to the TPS without going on expensive junkets to seek out foreign candidates, as he recommends. The diversity we want and need is in Toronto - one of the most diverse cities in the world. Our recruitment team recognizes the strength of the local community and has worked very hard to give meaning to the Board's commitment that our Service must reflect the world that is our community.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
POLICING THE TTC
Policing the TTC: Update from the Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board
Prior to the meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday April 17, 2008, there had been media reports that the TTC was considering arming its Special Constables with Tasers. I would like to share with you details of how the TPSB has responded to this matter.
At its meeting last Thursday, the Board considered annual reports on Special Constables from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and the University of Toronto (U of T). Media reports about the TTC possibly providing Tasers to its Special Constables led Board members to ask many critical questions of representatives from the TTC Special Constable program. At the end, members of the Board wondered whether the TTC had the legal right to even engage in such decision-making.
Ultimately, the Board approved a motion that I brought forward, that the Chief present a report as soon as possible on the adequate and effective policing of public transit and public housing within the meaning and scope of the Police Services Act, and that the Board use this report to initiate a public discussion.
The motion reflects the Board’s concern about the proliferation in our city of different forms of policing, or multi-tiered policing as it is called.
All of it is paid for by the same public. However, only one form of it, that is, the police service, is covered by the Police Services Act, governed by an oversight body, and required to meet important standards of training, accountability and discipline.
I hope that the report the Board has requested from Chief Blair will result in a very vigorous and thoughtful public discussion of the kind of public police we want in our community. The time to have that discussion is now, before different approaches to policing have crept upon us and it is too late to do anything about it.
Prior to the meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday April 17, 2008, there had been media reports that the TTC was considering arming its Special Constables with Tasers. I would like to share with you details of how the TPSB has responded to this matter.
At its meeting last Thursday, the Board considered annual reports on Special Constables from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and the University of Toronto (U of T). Media reports about the TTC possibly providing Tasers to its Special Constables led Board members to ask many critical questions of representatives from the TTC Special Constable program. At the end, members of the Board wondered whether the TTC had the legal right to even engage in such decision-making.
Ultimately, the Board approved a motion that I brought forward, that the Chief present a report as soon as possible on the adequate and effective policing of public transit and public housing within the meaning and scope of the Police Services Act, and that the Board use this report to initiate a public discussion.
The motion reflects the Board’s concern about the proliferation in our city of different forms of policing, or multi-tiered policing as it is called.
All of it is paid for by the same public. However, only one form of it, that is, the police service, is covered by the Police Services Act, governed by an oversight body, and required to meet important standards of training, accountability and discipline.
I hope that the report the Board has requested from Chief Blair will result in a very vigorous and thoughtful public discussion of the kind of public police we want in our community. The time to have that discussion is now, before different approaches to policing have crept upon us and it is too late to do anything about it.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
VICTIM SERVICES
I was pleased to read about Victim Services, an important program that works closely with the TPS and the TPSB, in today’s Toronto Star. Earlier this week I had the privilege of speaking at the Chief's Gala in support of Victim Services. Here are my remarks.
Good evening.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am delighted to join all of you in this event to raise vital funds for an organization which, every day, works to support one of the most important groups in our midst, victims of violence and crime, and their families.
I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Vice Chair and Councillor Pam McConnell, who is here representing Mayor David Miller, Ms. Judi Cohen and Mr. Hamlin Grange.
For the Toronto Police Services Board, the work of the Victim Services Program of Toronto is of great importance. It constitutes a key plank in our vision of community safety. Community safety requires a multipronged approach including robust policing to deal strongly with perpetrators of violent and criminal activity, preventive interventions to build community capacity in the face of threats to social wellbeing, and, equally critically, meaningful and effective support for those individuals, groups, neighbourhoods and communities who suffer in the aftermath of violent and criminal acts.
The responsibility for carrying out this last piece falls largely on our Victim Services Program. It is a heavy burden, which, since 1979, the staff and volunteers of this organization have carried with tremendous caring, sensitivity, dedication and commitment. And they continue to do this on a budget that can only be described as modest and, even, precarious.
There are few services, as important as this, which provide the value for money that Victim Services does.
It is due to the responsiveness to evolving community needs as well as the resolve and resourcefulness of this agency’s Board, staff and volunteers, that a limited financial base has not kept it from doing important things. Today, it provides an impressive range of services to individuals, families and communities. These services reflect the important recognition that it is not individual members of a family alone who suffer when violent, criminal acts take place. There are times when an entire community is affected.
Through programs and projects like the Victim Crisis Response, Domestic Violence Emergency Response, Support Link, Victims of Gun Violence Response, Project PAIN to assist victims in high crime communities and Project TEAR, Victim Services fulfills its goal of restoring, rebuilding and enhancing victims’ quality of life, and preventing revictimization.
And it meets this goal through an impressive Volunteer Program. Volunteers donate in excess of 25,000 hours every year. It is indicative of the agency’s understanding of what it takes to serve all residents of this City that it has made a serious effort to enhance its cultural competency. With volunteers who come from many ethnocultural backgrounds and possess a combined ability to converse in 30 different languages, the organization is able to provide an inclusive program.
For these reasons, the Toronto Police Services Board is an avid and vocal supporter of the Victim Services Program. Last year, cognizant of the severe financial constraints faced by this critical service, the Board provided Victim Services with funding in the amount of $100,000.
I am grateful to the Province and the City for recognizing the importance of Victim Services by increasing their share of funding and providing additional financial support for specific programs.
And I want to thank all of you for your ongoing contribution, not only because of the money that you provide, which is critical, but also for the vote of confidence that it represents. And that is extremely important.
So, once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I would like to say a big and very sincere thank you to all of you.
Good evening.
On behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I am delighted to join all of you in this event to raise vital funds for an organization which, every day, works to support one of the most important groups in our midst, victims of violence and crime, and their families.
I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Vice Chair and Councillor Pam McConnell, who is here representing Mayor David Miller, Ms. Judi Cohen and Mr. Hamlin Grange.
For the Toronto Police Services Board, the work of the Victim Services Program of Toronto is of great importance. It constitutes a key plank in our vision of community safety. Community safety requires a multipronged approach including robust policing to deal strongly with perpetrators of violent and criminal activity, preventive interventions to build community capacity in the face of threats to social wellbeing, and, equally critically, meaningful and effective support for those individuals, groups, neighbourhoods and communities who suffer in the aftermath of violent and criminal acts.
The responsibility for carrying out this last piece falls largely on our Victim Services Program. It is a heavy burden, which, since 1979, the staff and volunteers of this organization have carried with tremendous caring, sensitivity, dedication and commitment. And they continue to do this on a budget that can only be described as modest and, even, precarious.
There are few services, as important as this, which provide the value for money that Victim Services does.
It is due to the responsiveness to evolving community needs as well as the resolve and resourcefulness of this agency’s Board, staff and volunteers, that a limited financial base has not kept it from doing important things. Today, it provides an impressive range of services to individuals, families and communities. These services reflect the important recognition that it is not individual members of a family alone who suffer when violent, criminal acts take place. There are times when an entire community is affected.
Through programs and projects like the Victim Crisis Response, Domestic Violence Emergency Response, Support Link, Victims of Gun Violence Response, Project PAIN to assist victims in high crime communities and Project TEAR, Victim Services fulfills its goal of restoring, rebuilding and enhancing victims’ quality of life, and preventing revictimization.
And it meets this goal through an impressive Volunteer Program. Volunteers donate in excess of 25,000 hours every year. It is indicative of the agency’s understanding of what it takes to serve all residents of this City that it has made a serious effort to enhance its cultural competency. With volunteers who come from many ethnocultural backgrounds and possess a combined ability to converse in 30 different languages, the organization is able to provide an inclusive program.
For these reasons, the Toronto Police Services Board is an avid and vocal supporter of the Victim Services Program. Last year, cognizant of the severe financial constraints faced by this critical service, the Board provided Victim Services with funding in the amount of $100,000.
I am grateful to the Province and the City for recognizing the importance of Victim Services by increasing their share of funding and providing additional financial support for specific programs.
And I want to thank all of you for your ongoing contribution, not only because of the money that you provide, which is critical, but also for the vote of confidence that it represents. And that is extremely important.
So, once again, on behalf of the Toronto Police Services Board, I would like to say a big and very sincere thank you to all of you.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)