Ottawa police launches Special Constable Pilot Project
![District Special Constable Pilot Project The Ottawa Police Service announced Friday the launch of its District Special Constable Pilot Project to improve its operations and free up frontline officers for other duties. (Ottawa Police Service/ X)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/3/8/district-special-constable-pilot-project-1-6800188-1709920895090.png)
The Ottawa Police Service announced Friday the launch of its District Special Constable Pilot Project to improve its operations and free up frontline officers for other duties.
The city’s police said in a news release on Friday its pilot project will deploy special constables to help front line police officers by sending them to multiple non-emergency calls.
The special constables will have two new roles, including helping with custody of persons apprehended under the Mental health act, and assisting with traffic control duties, reads the release.
“Currently, two police officers are required to maintain custody of a detainee at hospital. A special constable will relieve the secondary police officer so they can return to patrol duties and respond to other emergencies,” read the release.
“The second role is traffic control duties. They will assist police officers with traffic direction and road closures to alleviate frontline resources. This includes road closures at collision scenes, crime scenes, events, demonstrations and any other incident that may require traffic control. (They) will also support frontline officers with towing or removing vehicles from roadways.”
The pilot project will run for a period of six months.
Police are now hiring to fill the Special Constable positions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.