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May 2010 2 Blue line Magazine May 2010 Volume 22 number 5 This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Auxiliary section of the Ontario Provincial Police. Transitioned in 1960 from the former Emergency Measures Organization the Auxiliary officers became more closely tied toward a policing func- tion. Since that time the dedicated men and women of this organization have volunteered many thousands of hours backing up the regular members of the Ontario Provincial Police. The cover photo, taken by Vince Gircys, shows Aux S/Sgt. Brian Cosby and Aux Sgt. Kathleen Twocock of the Niagara Detachment closing off a roadway and relieving regular members to attend an active police crime scene. Read more beginning on page 6. Features 6 Lending a hand for 50 years 20 Swimming pool chemicals The Ontario Provincial Police Auxiliary celebrate 50 years of back-up 24 Anatomy of a school shooting Dissecting some common precursors 8 Sticking it to fraudsters 28 The dark side of social networking 10 Mending a broken trust A toxic culture in need of repair Departments Case Law 38 Blue Links Ad Directory 30 Aerial observation didn’t breach privacy rights 18 Deep Blue 33 Vehicle search lawful as incidental to arrest 32 Dispatches 34 Warrant refusal doesn’t preclude reasonable 37 Letters grounds belief 36 Market Place 35 Evidence admitted despite police exceeding powers 22 Media & Public Affairs 5 Publisher’s Commentary 16 Technology 17 Weird Crimes Blue Blue lliinene MagazineMagazine 33 MayMay 20102010 May 2010 4 Blue line Magazine PubLisher’s Commentary by Morley Lymburner A contentious effort Dealing with a national readership of the only acceptable overtime in most provinces It can not be all things to all people and solve police and other law enforcement profession- is the voluntary kind. Officers must finish their every problem. Move out of municipal and, als comes with a lot of unique challenges. In work before they leave or it’s assigned to the where feasible, provincial policing. many instances the people I deal with work in next shift to complete. This is an old form of • Retain territorial policing functions. a regionally insular environment. Some of this particularly nasty peer pressure some nega- • E liminate duplication. If a government cocooning is naturally self generated, while on tively motivated supervisors invoke to keep agency has an enforcement and investiga- occasion I see it as imposed from the top down. underlings under control. tive branch, there is no need to duplicate It’s much the same as the three blind men When pressed for positive news of that effort. trying to identify the shape of an elephant changes, the only consistent response has been • Adopt best practice training, internal police by touch and each only “seeing” a little part. that they no longer have to wear ties. That investigations, police service accreditation Many top managers are more comfortable with ruling came down just after Brown’s report and take on cross border organized crime. keeping individuals in the dark and not giv- was released. • Retain police forensics where feasible and ing them the big picture. Of course this leads I attempted to communicate with the last national computer databases. me to our national icon, the Royal Canadian known person I heard was in charge of the • Retain VIP and embassy protection services. Mounted Police, and in particular the people “Change Committee” and discovered he had • Instill a management attitude and culture in charge of change. been moved out over a year ago. As of this which encourages the brightest and best in The Brown Report was released on June writing I still do not know who is in charge. the ranks. 15, 2007. It was created by the Prime Minister Last year I saw a training video about The problems facing RCMP management to examine certain questions and make recom- the RCMP academy and was struck by a drill are challenging and it’s not easy to change old mendations relating to how the RCMP handled sergeant’s comment. “We are not the police, war horses. In the analogy of horse training, reports of mismanagement or irregularities in we are the RCMP.” Once again I came face change will only occur after considerable the administration of its pension and insurance to face with the reality that RCMP traditions pressure is applied to each and every desired plans. Brown did, however, recognize that do not encourage a view of the broader field manoeuvre. Long held beliefs, customs and many of the problems with the pension plan of police collegiality. They are not trained tradition are deeply entrenched. It will take abuse and investigation came from a much with other officers and, by subtle design, are an entirely new generation of management broader problem; a lack of trust and confidence encouraged to keep to themselves. They have people to blaze a new path – a path that every in RCMP management. an opportunity to look over the fence but jump- other police service has long established and Since we are nearing the third anniversary ing is frowned upon. embraced. A path that the RCMP could smooth of the release, I attempted to find out what I have my own vision of where the RCMP over and expand upon greatly. changes have occurred. Once again commu- should go and others have agreed with my In an April 1 Ottawa Citizen article, nication with Ottawa has been sketchy, with assessment: RCMP Commissioner William Elliott was a few rays of hope in the form of people who • It must have an association to bargain work- quoted as saying, “We are making a conten- say they will talk to me at a future date. ing agreements and represent the member- tious effort to try and be more engaging and Pressed for some form of story before the ship. Every other Canadian police service has forthcoming with the media than we have been anniversary, our western correspondent, Ann one and there is no reason it can not work in the past.” Harvey, began beating the bushes. I sat on her for RCMP members. It is the one factor that I dearly hope that the word “contentious” submission for two months while patiently would take away at least 90 per cent of the wasn’t a Freudian slip and eagerly await the awaiting other sources to come forth. None problems associated with change. better communication. has so you can read her findings in a two part • The RCMP must control its own budget. The series commencing this month. elusive, unresponsive and unreachable treas- Troubled by this apparent lack of progress, ury board has been the phantom scapegoat I decided to pose the “change” question to for a senior management too tight fisted to our readership and received many frustrated admit it likes shoe string budgets. responses. The bottom line appears to be that • The RCMP must give up some of its omnificence. Blue line Magazine 5 May 2010 by Terri McCormack T h e E M O s u b s e q u e n t l y The dawn of a new decade conjures up transferred over much thought among police services about to the OPP and what the future holds in this rapidly chang- became known as ing world. While this also holds true for the the OPP Auxil- Ontario Provincial Police, the year 2010 also iary Program on has the force reflecting on another important April 1, 1960. Its milestone. formation came With members still catching their breath just a few years after the highly successful 100th anniversary before the provin- celebrations in 2009, the organization is cial force entered a new era of rapid growth B. O’Grady subsequently appointed Aux/ recognizing yet another significant occa- and modernization, including a new com- Chief Supt. Terry Harkins as Executive sion this month – the 50th anniversary of mand structure to support what was then 17 Director, Provincial Commander of the OPP the OPP Auxiliary. police districts. Auxiliary. The volunteer program has seen its fair Perhaps the most significant turning The auxiliary evolved to include ranks, share of transformation and growth since point in the program’s evolution was in the positions and promotional processes that its early days. It was originally recognized late 1980s and early 90s, when a number more closely aligned it with the structure of as the Emergency Measures Organization of recommendations were implemented regular OPP officers. Today, with 52 units (EMO), a body trained to control crowds following a 1988 audit. One of the biggest and more than 850 strong, the OPP has the and offer first aid in the event of a nuclear changes saw the auxiliary program become largest provincial auxiliary police program attack from Russia during the Cold War era. self-directed. Then Commissioner Thomas in the country and is recognized nationally May 2010 6 Blue line Magazine and internationally as a leading example of “As one of North America’s most diverse out the permanent ranks. Many see them- police volunteers. police services, the list of duties our auxilia- selves as simply giving back to the commu- Its size is not all that surprising when ries carry out is endless. I hold them in the nity. Others feel it’s an opportunity to spice you consider the 165 OPP detachment and highest regard for the outstanding work they up their lives by challenging themselves satellite locations spanning Canada’s second do when they volunteer unpaid time to assist with new tasks. largest province, from Moosonee in the our regular officers in serving communities Some members contribute skills and north to as far south as Pelee Island.