Ontario Police Teaches Citizens How to File Police Complaints
November 2, 2009
Filed under Our Blog, Policing News
Have you ever noticed that many people are psychologically afraid of the police although they have not committed any crime? Perhaps it’s the way law enforcement is being protrayed in the media or entertainment, or perhaps the fear is rooted in their upbringing when their parents always half-jokingly warn them to behave otherwise the police will arrest them. Whatever the cause may be, that is the kind of attitude that creates a barrier for law enforcement to build a trusting and cooperative relationship with the general public. The Ontario Police is taking an initiative to improve their relations with the general public by launching a new police complaint system.
Traditionally, a citizen is required to enter a police station to obtain a complaint application form. Once the form has been submitted, it is left in the hands of the police force to decide whether it is worthwhile to proceed with an investigation. Many citizens feel uncomfortable knowing that their complaint is left in the hands of law enforcement, which is why the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) have recently been launched as a third-party organization that is responsible for investigating complaints against any provincial, regional or municipal police officer in Ontario.
Any citizen wanting to file a complaint against a police officer is still required to step foot into a police station to attain an application form, but the completed form will be submitted directly to OIPRD for further evaluation. The Ontario Police receives approximately 800 types of complaints from the public, and through the new establishment of OIPRD, they are expected to receive approximately 1400 types of complaints. Among these complaints, the 3 most common categories of complaints are police misconduct, racial profiling, and abuse. Despite the increase in the number of complaints the Ontario Police is expected to receive, they are taking a proactive approach towards educating the general public regarding this new police complaint system in attempt to better understand their problems and to build a better connection with the public.
Visit https://www.oiprd.on.ca/cms/ for more details about the OIPRD.
This isssue as to do with numerious unecessary action of the police. My son was picked by the Police which was a mistake in identity to start off. The police then charged my son for possession of an item obtained by crime. The Police found the Person who committed the crime and dispose of the item by using my daughter’s Lad top. My son is charged and photo graph for a crime that his friend has paid for and he did not benefit in any way. Now there was an incident at my sons school and the police was called. My son was attacked my another boy and he acted in self defence. My son was hurt and also the boy. My son is now charged for assault causing bodily arm. My son is diabetic, his doctor found that his face was still swallen after 4 days. I need and investigation in how things are twisted and the police is suggesting that it did not matter what happen to my son.
In my opinnion the police force is recruiting the very young kids to keep them in the system for their benifit.
To RCMP office
My daughter applied to become a Office with great and loyal honesty. She passed the abb test and had the best time for a female on the indurance test even bet some of the guys. But today she got the news that her applications was refused because she told the truth about trying marijauna. So this upsets us all the truth does not apply to the RCMP, I have know lost all respect for you and I wonder if all RCMP officers are liars and drug users. I own a restuarant and a few police officers stop in for lunch, and my daugther spoke to them about her desure to become a RCMP office .She was told to tell the truth because truth will always win. Not so in her case I feel that you just lost an excellent asset to your force. She was told to reapply again in2012, but she will not because she will again tell the truth and be denied. Even some of our politicians have tried marj. and they still are in Parliament. THANKS FOR NOTHING
disappointed mom
Judy
Judy
If your daughter is as poorly educated as you are, it probably wasn’t her admission to the usage of marihuana that did her in…
Grace
My goodness, do people not obtain educations anymore? Your spelling and grammar are horrible. Anyhow, your son was charged with possession of stolen property. Meaning he had the property on him. Regardless of the fact that your son’s friend took the rap, your son was still involved, and still holding the goods. Doesn’t release him from his responsibility. And as far as the school fight, one cannot consent to bodily harm, which is beyond mere common assault. Therefore, your son was charged. If your son stayed out of trouble, then these issues wouldn’t exist. Try putting the blame where it belongs. The police don’t pick your sons friends. Nor did they put stolen property in his hands. Nor did they make him fight.
Take some responsibility. Your son has to accept responsibility.
I think that was a rude remark you say your a proud canadian but you act like an ignorant american. in every profession there is going to be bad workers and good worker, but now I truly do think that most police officers are ignorant and dont really care anymore and this ruins it for all the good police officers out there. if you go into any jail in ontario there are alot of inocent people in there. I know quite a few crowns and they know this but if it puts the bad guy away there ok with it. It wouldnt be like this if the police did there job properly and looked into things further. last year I was charged with assult with a deadly weapon the person who claimed I ran him over with my car didnt have any marks on him and refused medical atention the funny thing is I drive a jeep there would have to be some sort of a mark. I got a call from the police saying they wanted to talk and so I did have no clue why and then I was put in jail. This case is over now and obvously I was found not guilty once he told the truth. But I wouldnt have had to gone through all of that if the police had done there job. And thats not the world we live in anymore if you call 911 and make an accusation the police will believe anything because you are gulty till proven inocent.
Since I have never broken the law in my life I would like to know why when vicitms of crime and witnesses of serious offnece go to rcmp to report thewy refused these people and would not open a file.As well being a teacher I reported something I saw happend to 2 samll children and the guilty parites have been harrassing me ever since. I found out family member is a police officer. so they have been going to police stations filing false claims againnst me which lawyers state is pubklic mischief and obstrcution of justice. what would you advize contact internal affiars
the comment above implies all americans are rude . which is not the case. there are rude people everywhere and ignorant ones to. No one has the markett cornered on human dignity and respect or social evils they exist everywhere like the psychiatrist that murdered his wife and 5 kids in eastern Canada a few years ago
Only tell the truth to the police if it is safe for yourself to do so. If there is any risk involved whatsoever, then lie. The police all too often take comments out of context and many times, the innocent person making the statement gets disrespected and picked apart because cops are trained to cause psychological trauma to those they are interviewing. Police officers are 37% more likely to commit an indictable offence in their lifetime than the average civilian. This number cannot be argued, because time after time, study after study, it is proven within 3 percentage points, that in general, police officers are criminals. In this day and age where a burgler can sue you for falling through your skylight while breaking into your house, and where those hired to protect the public arrogantly disregard the law on a daily basis, Canadians must make it clear to the police, that respect will be given once the law enforcement community starts setting an example for others to follow. The quality of our policing today shows that, given the ridiculous amount of power and responsibility they have, cops of the future should be forced to earn a university degree before being given the privilege of working for the people. This will not be a cure-all, but it would be a step in the right direction, and most of the bad apple boys in blue would stick with other 2-year college diploma programs.