Mlnlsby of Community Safety Ministate de la Sÿcuritÿ communautalre ÿ-=ÿ-ÿ and Correctional Services et des Services correctionnels
Office of the Mlnister Bureau de la ministre
25 Grosvenor Stn3et 25, rue Grosvenor ' Ontario 18ÿ, Floor 18" ÿtage Toronto ON M7A 1Y6 Toronto ON M7A 1Y6 Tel: 416-325-0408 TÿI. : 416-325-0408 Fax: 416ÿ325-6067 T61ÿo, :416-325-6067
MC-2013-4445 MC-2013-4730 BEC 5. 201-3 MC-2013-4738
His Worship R. (Bob) Bratina Mayor City of Hamilton 71 Main Street West, 2nd Floor Hamilton ON L8P 4Y5
Dear Mayor Bratina!
The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, has forwarded your correspondence of September 27, 2013, about a City of Hamilton council motion that requests copies of past provincial funding agreements for the purchase of conducted energy weapons (CEWs) and the training of sworn personnel. I am also responding to your correspondence dated October 24,2013, addressed to Premier Wynne and me, regarding funding for CEWs and public consultation on CEW use.
While I do appreciate your inquiry about provincial funding agreements, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services does not have the records you are seeking. Police services are responsible for purchasing CEWs and other equipment their officers use. The ministry is confident that police, services will make decisions that are fiscally feasible and in the best interests of their communities..
Similarly, the ministry is not providing funding to police services for the purchase of CEWs or for training on the use of CEWs. To support the delivery of in-service CEW training, the ministry has issued standards for all levels of CEW training, including standards for users, trainers, requalification training, familiarization training, trainer re-certification, and Instructor Trainers. In addition, the Ontario Police College offers an Instructor Trainer Course and provides training materials to CEW trainers. Police services that do not have their own training facilities or resources can make arrangements with another police service to deliver the necessary training required by the ministry.
Lastly, the ministry strongly encourages police services boards to invite input from their local community regarding any plans to expand the use of CEWs. I am confident that police services boards will determine the best way in which to capture that input, as they decide on whether to develop local policy.
Thankyou for bringing City Council's requests to our attention.
Sincerely,
Madele]ne Meilleur Minister c: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne Premier OFFICE OF "I:'HE MAYOR CITY OF HAMILTON September 27, 2013
The Honourable Kathleen Wynne Premier of ontario Room 281 111 Wellesley Street West Toronto; ON M7A 1A1
Dear Madam Premier:
City Council, at its meeting held on September 25, 2013, approved the following Motion with respect to "Use of Conducted Energy Weapons (Tasers) and Non-Lethal Force by Sworn Officers", as follows:
Whereas, the Premier for the Province of Ontario recently announced the intention to relax restrictions on the use of conducted energy weapons (CEWs) by municipal police services; and
Whereas, Council will be required to debate the Hamilton Police Services Board budget request with respect to the purchase of CEWs (tasers) and training for increased use by sworn officers; and
Whereas, City Council does not have any background information on Police Services Board policies for CEW use or use of force.
Therefore Be It Resolved:
(a) That Hamilton Police Services (HPS)Board be requested to provide copies of HPS Board policies, for sworn officers use of non- lethal force such as conducted energy weapons (tasers), batons, pepper spray, etc.;
(b) That Hamilton Police Services (HPS) Board be requested to provide copies of any HPS Board policies directing sworn officers to use de-escalation techniques when apprehending potential assailants; \ (c) That the Mayor correspond with the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, to request copies of any past funding. agreements by the Province of Ontario regarding the purchase of conducted energy weapons and training of sworn personnel; and,
7 ! MAIN STREET WEST, 2"D FLOOR, HAMILTON, ONTARIO LBP 4Y5 PHONE: 905.546.4200 FAX: 905.546.2340 -2-
(d) That staff be directed to provide an update of the 2013 first six month Police budget actuals compared to the first 6 months of the 2013 approved police budget at a future General Issues Committee meeting.
This Motion is being provided to you in accordance with the directions outlined in sub- section (c) of the recommendations.
Your assistance in forwarding this request on to the appropriate Ministry is greatly appreciated.
Yours truly
• R. gratina Mayor OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY OF HAMILTON
October 24, 2013
The Honourable Kathleen Wynne Premier of Ontario Room 281 111 Wellesley Street West Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services 18th Floor, George Drew Building 25 Grosvenor Street Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6
Dear Madam Premier and Madam Minister:
City Council, at its meeting held on October 23, 2013, approved item 5 of General Issues Committee Report 13-021, which reads as follows:
5. Hamilton Police Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW/Taser) Expansion (PSB13-090) (Item 8.1)
Whereas on August 27, 2013, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services announced the use of Conductive Energy Weapons (CEWs) for all front-line police officers;
And Whereas on September 16, 2013, the Hamilton Police Chief presented a report to the Hamilton Police Services Board outlining the cost of purchasing and training for the use of CEW's to be $992,462 for start up costs and $635,433 based on today's costs;
And Whereas on September 16, 2013, the Hamilton Police Services Board referred the issue to Council for public consultation and funding.
7! MAIN STREET WEST, 2"D FLOOR, HA,MILTON, ONTARIO LSP 4Y5 PHONE; 905,546.4200 FAX: 905.546.2340 -2-
Now Therefore Be It Resolved:
(a) That Police Services Board Report 13-090 dated September 23, 2013 respecting "Hamilton-Police Conducted Energy Weapons-(CEW/Taser) ExpÿanSion'' and the report attached thereto dated September 161 2013, be received;
(b) That the City of Hamilton request that the Province.fund all costs of CEW's as the Province initiated this enhancement;
(c) That this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) and all local M.P.P.s;
(d) That the Hamilton Police Services Board be advised accordingly.
(e) That the Police Services Board be reminded that the Ministry requested Police Services hold public consultations on the use of CEW/Tasers.
I would bring to your attention sub-section (b) which is a request of City Council to the Province to fund all costs of CEW's as this is a provincial initiative.
Your consideration of Council's request is greatly appreciated.
Yours truly
R. Bratina Mayor
C,Co Association of Municipalities of Ontario Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario Ted McMeekin, MIP.P., Ancaster/Dundas/Flambbrough/Westdale Andrea .Horwath, M.P.P., Hamilton Centre Tim Hudak, M.P.P., Niagara West-Glanbrook Monique Taylor, M.P.P., Hamilton Mountain Paul Miller, M.P.P., Hamilton East-Stoney Creek