In July I wrote an op ed in The Toronto Star and blogged here and here on the need to allow for suspension without pay of police officers in certain circumstances. This is an issue that is of paramount importance to the Toronto Police Services Board.
In fact,since 1997, the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service have made numerous recommendations to politicians for amendments to the Police Services Act that would allow for suspension without pay in certain circumstances. The last time our Board did this was on September 28, 2006.
The Hamilton Spectator's Susan Clairmont very clearly lays out the issue and Ontario's unique position in today's paper.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
CRIME. CRIME. CRIME. CRIME.
It is day six of the federal election campaign and, as usual, I am watching it with great curiosity and interest.
The federal party leaders are out and about, everyone making their first of a large number of stops in the vote-rich GTA.
They talk about issues like infrastructure, manufacturing and families.
They also talk about crime.
If the party leaders want to get serious about crime, they can do what the Toronto Police Services Board and Mayor Miller (who is a member of our Board) have repeatedly called on Ottawa to do – impose a handgun ban.
This issue goes far beyond the election. It is an issue that I have frequently blogged on (here, here and here) because it is one significant thing that the federal government can do quickly to address the issue of gun violence in this country.
I will continue to watch this election with great interest in the hope that all party leaders will make the issue of a handgun ban a priority
DIVERSITY AND THE TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
Yestderday, 77 new recruits joined the Toronto Police Service. I would like to share with you this article from today's Toronto Sun on the diversity of people who are coming to work for the Toronto Police Service. As I have said in previous blogs, here and here, the demographics of our recruits are changing to reflect the diversity that is Toronto.
And that's a good thing.
And that's a good thing.
Friday, September 5, 2008
SPARKING PUBLIC DEBATE
Today The Toronto Sun has called for a review of the practice of paid duty by police officers in Toronto with its editorial on the subject. It appears that this is becoming a matter of significant public interest.
This morning, on CFRB 1010, Jim Richards and his listeners also weighed in on the topic during the "Jim Richards Showgram."
In Wednesday's blog I mentioned John Barber's column on paid duty in the Globe and Mail.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
WHAT DOES # 1 REALLY MEAN?
The Toronto Police Association says that it wants its members to be number one. What does this really mean?
The TPA likes to complain about many things, and never has much to say that is positive about the terms and conditions of employment for its members.
Of late, the complaint has been that the Board refuses to ensure that police officers in Toronto are the highest paid in the province.
I will explain the Board’s position in a moment, but let’s start by looking at the history of the collective agreements that the Board and the TPA have reached over the years.
From 2000 to 2007, the annual salary for a TPS officer was almost exactly the same as the average of the other twelve largest police services. The numbers below show where the TPS salary is when compared to the average of the other twelve largest police services.
2000 +.2%
2001 +.1%
2002 +.3%
2003 +.1%
2004 +.2%
2005 +.2%
2006 +.1%
2007 +.0%
This information shows us that the annual salary for TPS officers has been very close to the average of the largest services. If you look at the data in more detail, you see the annual officer salaries among the largest services are always very close together.
For example, in 2006, the average salary of a First Class Constable ranged from $71,567 (the OPP) to $71,211 (London). Toronto was $71,511. Even this brief overview leads me to my first inescapable conclusion:
Raising the rate of pay of one of the large police services means raising the rates of pay for all of them.
Why?
The TPS does not bargain in isolation. The fact is that the terms and conditions of employment for police officers are set through pattern bargaining or pattern arbitration among the largest police services. For example, arbitrators considering what to award police services in Durham, Ottawa or Sudbury look to settlements or arbitration awards in places like Toronto, the OPP or Peel. The so called “Big 12” is the group within which this pattern bargaining occurs for Toronto.
So let us be very clear about the implication of TPA’s demand that its members be the best paid by a substantial margin. If conceded, TPA’s demand will contribute to the process of driving police officer rates of pay in the province higher and higher, with no limit.
The TPA knows that it can only ever be the best paid until the next settlement or arbitration award. Being number one never lasts, only the municipality is saddled with a forever spiralling wage bill for policing. The TPA does not care about that.
There is something else going on right now that makes this even more interesting.
The collective agreement between the Peel Regional Police Service and its Police Association for the period ending December 31, 2010 has a provision that commits Peel to provide the same salary as the highest paid police service. This means that providing a higher salary in 2010 only drives the Peel rate to the same number. Given the history of police bargaining in Ontario, it really means that the salary for all of the large services would be driven ever higher.
The Board’s position is that it must balance a number of competing factors:
The TPA likes to complain about many things, and never has much to say that is positive about the terms and conditions of employment for its members.
Of late, the complaint has been that the Board refuses to ensure that police officers in Toronto are the highest paid in the province.
I will explain the Board’s position in a moment, but let’s start by looking at the history of the collective agreements that the Board and the TPA have reached over the years.
From 2000 to 2007, the annual salary for a TPS officer was almost exactly the same as the average of the other twelve largest police services. The numbers below show where the TPS salary is when compared to the average of the other twelve largest police services.
2000 +.2%
2001 +.1%
2002 +.3%
2003 +.1%
2004 +.2%
2005 +.2%
2006 +.1%
2007 +.0%
This information shows us that the annual salary for TPS officers has been very close to the average of the largest services. If you look at the data in more detail, you see the annual officer salaries among the largest services are always very close together.
For example, in 2006, the average salary of a First Class Constable ranged from $71,567 (the OPP) to $71,211 (London). Toronto was $71,511. Even this brief overview leads me to my first inescapable conclusion:
Raising the rate of pay of one of the large police services means raising the rates of pay for all of them.
Why?
The TPS does not bargain in isolation. The fact is that the terms and conditions of employment for police officers are set through pattern bargaining or pattern arbitration among the largest police services. For example, arbitrators considering what to award police services in Durham, Ottawa or Sudbury look to settlements or arbitration awards in places like Toronto, the OPP or Peel. The so called “Big 12” is the group within which this pattern bargaining occurs for Toronto.
So let us be very clear about the implication of TPA’s demand that its members be the best paid by a substantial margin. If conceded, TPA’s demand will contribute to the process of driving police officer rates of pay in the province higher and higher, with no limit.
The TPA knows that it can only ever be the best paid until the next settlement or arbitration award. Being number one never lasts, only the municipality is saddled with a forever spiralling wage bill for policing. The TPA does not care about that.
There is something else going on right now that makes this even more interesting.
The collective agreement between the Peel Regional Police Service and its Police Association for the period ending December 31, 2010 has a provision that commits Peel to provide the same salary as the highest paid police service. This means that providing a higher salary in 2010 only drives the Peel rate to the same number. Given the history of police bargaining in Ontario, it really means that the salary for all of the large services would be driven ever higher.
The Board’s position is that it must balance a number of competing factors:
- balancing the interests of a number of stakeholders, for example the Service and its members, the taxpayers and Toronto’s residents
- the fairness and affordability of the collective agreement
- ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of police service
- examining the comparator collective agreements to ensure that we are providing a fair and appropriate outcome
We are convinced that, rhetoric apart, our approach is the only way to ensure a fair result for everyone – not just for the TPA.
Monday, August 25, 2008
THE COST OF POLICING – SOME INTERESTING NUMBERS
One has to give credit to Dave Wilson for being so single-minded. You ask him anything about policing in Toronto and he says: “It is the fault of the Toronto Police Services Board. If only the Board agreed to make our members the highest paid police officers in the country, all public safety issues will disappear.” I am not sure if this is an example of being single-minded or of having a one-track mind. It is like all VIA trains travel on the same track, no matter what the destination!
In Dave Wilson’s case, that track is called MORE TAX DOLLARS!
We often hear the cry of “We’re behind” or “You don’t respect us” from the Toronto Police Association when its bargaining demands are not being met. This time is no different.
From the Association’s constant refrain, you would assume that Toronto is not paying its fair share when it comes to policing. The opposite is true. In fact, Toronto devotes a very high level of resources to policing. Comparisons with other municipalities provide a very interesting insight about the cost of policing and the level of resources that Toronto provides to its police service.
What are the conclusions?
A few themes emerge from this comparison:
· Toronto is well-resourced when it comes to policing.
· Toronto’s cost of policing is significantly higher than those of our neighbours.
· Except for Windsor, Toronto has proportionately more police officers than any other major Ontario municipality. Toronto’s per capita cost of policing is among the highest in Canada. It is 30% higher than the average of the major Ontario municipalities.
The Data
The following data provide some interesting information about police resources. These are derived from Statistics Canada’s annual report called “Police Resources in Canada” which provides a variety of statistical data concerning the level of police resources across the country.
The Cost of Policing
The cost of policing in the large Ontario municipalities provides an interesting point of comparison.
In terms of per capita cost derived from dividing the police budget by population, we see that Toronto’s per capita cost of $320 is the highest. This figure compares to $211 for Peel and Durham and $192 for York. London, which has the highest crime rate per 100,000 population, has a per capita cost that is about 33% less than that of Toronto
Operating Expenditures – Ontario Large Police Services – 2006
Source: Police Resources in Canada, 2007 p. 48
Police Service: York
Per Capita Cost: $192
Police Service: Halton
Per Capita Cost: $185
Police Service: Peel
Per Capita Cost: $211
Police Service: Durham
Per Capita Cost: $211
Police Service: Waterloo
Per Capita Cost: $190
Police Service: Ottawa
Per Capita Cost: $217
Police Service: Niagara
Per Capita Cost: $255
Police Service: Greater Sudbury
Per Capita Cost: $233
Police Service: Hamilton
Per Capita Cost: $220
Police Service: Toronto
Per Capita Cost: $320
Police Service: Windsor
Per Capita Cost: $284
Police Service: London
Per Capita Cost: $200
AVERAGE: $226.50
What about the number of police officers for each resident?
If we examine the ratio of population to police officer in the large Ontario municipal police services, we see that Toronto has much fewer residents per police officer.
Population per Police Officer – Ontario Large Police Services – 2007
Source: Police Resources in Canada, 2007, p. 32
Toronto - 474
Windsor - 474
London - 636
Niagara Regional - 653
Greater Sudbury - 655
Hamilton - 669
Ottawa - 694
Peel - 706
Waterloo Regional - 717
Durham Regional - 733
York - 752
Halton - 836
Compared to the other major services, Toronto has the highest level of police officers to population and is significantly higher than the adjacent police services of York, Durham and Peel.
What about the crime rates in these municipalities?
This data examines the number of police officers per 100,000 population in the municipalities. It also lists the 2006 crime rate for these municipalities in terms of the number of Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 population.
Police Officers and Crime Rates – Large Ontario Municipal Police Services
Police Service: York
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 133
2006 Crime Rate: 3177
Police Service: Halton
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 120
2006 Crime Rate: 3575
Police Service: Peel
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 142
2006 Crime Rate: 4020
Police Service: Durham
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 136
2006 Crime Rate: 4890
Police Service: Waterloo
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 140
2006 Crime Rate: 5295
Police Service: Ottawa
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 144
2006 Crime Rate: 5913
Police Service: Niagara
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 153
2006 Crime Rate: 5951
Police Service: Greater Sudbury
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 153
2006 Crime Rate: 6219
Police Service: Hamilton
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 149
2006 Crime Rate: 6298
Police Service: Toronto
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 211
2006 Crime Rate: 6371
Police Service: Windsor
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 211
2006 Crime Rate: 8662
Police Service: London
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 157
2006 Crime Rate: 9194
This data is interesting because it shows that the Toronto crime rate is relatively the same as those in Hamilton, Sudbury, Niagara Region and Ottawa. It is substantially less than those in Windsor and London. Yet, the proportion of Toronto officers is the same as Windsor – and much higher (almost 50%) than in municipalities with a similar crime rate.
What about major Canadian cities as a basis for comparison?
With a couple of exceptions, Toronto has a lower crime rate than other Canadian cities. We are able to achieve this with a ratio of officers to population that is almost always lower than in other cities.
Major Canadian Cities
Source: Police Resources in Canada, 2007 p.18
City: Montreal
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 235
2006 Crime Rate: 8772
City: Vancouver
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 222
2006 Crime Rate: 11583
City: Calgary
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 159
2006 Crime Rate: 6642
City: Edmonton
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 184
2006 Crime Rate: 11045
City: Winnipeg
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 196
2006 Crime Rate: 11805
City: Quebec City
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 138
2006 Crime Rate: 5424
City: Halifax
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 222
2006 Crime Rate: 11824
City: Saskatoon
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 191
2006 Crime Rate: 13996
City: Regina
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 189
2006 Crime Rate: 13152
City: St. John’s
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 153
2006 Crime Rate: 6773
This brief examination of the level of resources in relation to crime rates allows for some interesting and important conclusions.
First, the level of resources is high compared to many of the comparator jurisdictions, both in terms of number of officers and financing.
Second, the crime rate data is quite good. The overall crime rate is comparable to many other services (who have lower resource levels) and the trend is favourable.
Third, the per capita cost is a concern. It is substantially higher than many of the comparators. Given the large population base in Toronto – a 30% differential in per capita cost translates into a budget impact of about one-quarter of a billion dollars per year.
In Dave Wilson’s case, that track is called MORE TAX DOLLARS!
We often hear the cry of “We’re behind” or “You don’t respect us” from the Toronto Police Association when its bargaining demands are not being met. This time is no different.
From the Association’s constant refrain, you would assume that Toronto is not paying its fair share when it comes to policing. The opposite is true. In fact, Toronto devotes a very high level of resources to policing. Comparisons with other municipalities provide a very interesting insight about the cost of policing and the level of resources that Toronto provides to its police service.
What are the conclusions?
A few themes emerge from this comparison:
· Toronto is well-resourced when it comes to policing.
· Toronto’s cost of policing is significantly higher than those of our neighbours.
· Except for Windsor, Toronto has proportionately more police officers than any other major Ontario municipality. Toronto’s per capita cost of policing is among the highest in Canada. It is 30% higher than the average of the major Ontario municipalities.
The Data
The following data provide some interesting information about police resources. These are derived from Statistics Canada’s annual report called “Police Resources in Canada” which provides a variety of statistical data concerning the level of police resources across the country.
The Cost of Policing
The cost of policing in the large Ontario municipalities provides an interesting point of comparison.
In terms of per capita cost derived from dividing the police budget by population, we see that Toronto’s per capita cost of $320 is the highest. This figure compares to $211 for Peel and Durham and $192 for York. London, which has the highest crime rate per 100,000 population, has a per capita cost that is about 33% less than that of Toronto
Operating Expenditures – Ontario Large Police Services – 2006
Source: Police Resources in Canada, 2007 p. 48
Police Service: York
Per Capita Cost: $192
Police Service: Halton
Per Capita Cost: $185
Police Service: Peel
Per Capita Cost: $211
Police Service: Durham
Per Capita Cost: $211
Police Service: Waterloo
Per Capita Cost: $190
Police Service: Ottawa
Per Capita Cost: $217
Police Service: Niagara
Per Capita Cost: $255
Police Service: Greater Sudbury
Per Capita Cost: $233
Police Service: Hamilton
Per Capita Cost: $220
Police Service: Toronto
Per Capita Cost: $320
Police Service: Windsor
Per Capita Cost: $284
Police Service: London
Per Capita Cost: $200
AVERAGE: $226.50
What about the number of police officers for each resident?
If we examine the ratio of population to police officer in the large Ontario municipal police services, we see that Toronto has much fewer residents per police officer.
Population per Police Officer – Ontario Large Police Services – 2007
Source: Police Resources in Canada, 2007, p. 32
Toronto - 474
Windsor - 474
London - 636
Niagara Regional - 653
Greater Sudbury - 655
Hamilton - 669
Ottawa - 694
Peel - 706
Waterloo Regional - 717
Durham Regional - 733
York - 752
Halton - 836
Compared to the other major services, Toronto has the highest level of police officers to population and is significantly higher than the adjacent police services of York, Durham and Peel.
What about the crime rates in these municipalities?
This data examines the number of police officers per 100,000 population in the municipalities. It also lists the 2006 crime rate for these municipalities in terms of the number of Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 population.
Police Officers and Crime Rates – Large Ontario Municipal Police Services
Police Service: York
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 133
2006 Crime Rate: 3177
Police Service: Halton
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 120
2006 Crime Rate: 3575
Police Service: Peel
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 142
2006 Crime Rate: 4020
Police Service: Durham
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 136
2006 Crime Rate: 4890
Police Service: Waterloo
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 140
2006 Crime Rate: 5295
Police Service: Ottawa
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 144
2006 Crime Rate: 5913
Police Service: Niagara
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 153
2006 Crime Rate: 5951
Police Service: Greater Sudbury
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 153
2006 Crime Rate: 6219
Police Service: Hamilton
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 149
2006 Crime Rate: 6298
Police Service: Toronto
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 211
2006 Crime Rate: 6371
Police Service: Windsor
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 211
2006 Crime Rate: 8662
Police Service: London
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 157
2006 Crime Rate: 9194
This data is interesting because it shows that the Toronto crime rate is relatively the same as those in Hamilton, Sudbury, Niagara Region and Ottawa. It is substantially less than those in Windsor and London. Yet, the proportion of Toronto officers is the same as Windsor – and much higher (almost 50%) than in municipalities with a similar crime rate.
What about major Canadian cities as a basis for comparison?
With a couple of exceptions, Toronto has a lower crime rate than other Canadian cities. We are able to achieve this with a ratio of officers to population that is almost always lower than in other cities.
Major Canadian Cities
Source: Police Resources in Canada, 2007 p.18
City: Montreal
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 235
2006 Crime Rate: 8772
City: Vancouver
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 222
2006 Crime Rate: 11583
City: Calgary
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 159
2006 Crime Rate: 6642
City: Edmonton
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 184
2006 Crime Rate: 11045
City: Winnipeg
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 196
2006 Crime Rate: 11805
City: Quebec City
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 138
2006 Crime Rate: 5424
City: Halifax
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 222
2006 Crime Rate: 11824
City: Saskatoon
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 191
2006 Crime Rate: 13996
City: Regina
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 189
2006 Crime Rate: 13152
City: St. John’s
Police Officers per 100,000 population 2007: 153
2006 Crime Rate: 6773
This brief examination of the level of resources in relation to crime rates allows for some interesting and important conclusions.
First, the level of resources is high compared to many of the comparator jurisdictions, both in terms of number of officers and financing.
Second, the crime rate data is quite good. The overall crime rate is comparable to many other services (who have lower resource levels) and the trend is favourable.
Third, the per capita cost is a concern. It is substantially higher than many of the comparators. Given the large population base in Toronto – a 30% differential in per capita cost translates into a budget impact of about one-quarter of a billion dollars per year.
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