Ottawa police to use special constables for traffic control, mental health calls
Ottawa police are looking to use special constables to cover traffic control duties normally performed by sworn officers, including traffic directions and road closures, and to assist with maintaining custody of detainees in hospital to free up resources for officers.
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
In a report for Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board meeting, police are seeking approval for a special constable pilot project, which would employ four OPS special constables and four more serving as backfill, if required.
The special constables will have extended powers under two jurisdictions normally served only by sworn officers. This includes new powers granted under the Mental Health Act and the Highway Traffic Act to assist officers.
Police say the outsourcing of duties to special constables will allow emergency response officers to respond to other emergency calls.
The constables will be granted extended powers to assist sworn officers with traffic direction and road closures.
This will include closures at accident scenes, crime scenes, events, demonstrations and any other incident that may require traffic control. They will have the power to assist officers with the towing or removal of vehicles from roadways.
Police say the officers will receive the same training given to sworn officers on traffic direction.
The constables will also be given powers under the Mental Health Act to assist with maintaining the custody of persons at hospitals. Currently, two sworn officers are required to maintain custody of a detainee at hospital.
"This is an area that is causing a strain on frontline resources while officers maintain custody of detainees at hospitals," the report said. "A special constable will relieve the secondary officer so they can return to patrol duties and respond to other emergencies."
If approved, a special constable would be able to detain a person who is being violent, a threat to themselves or scaring others around them and is possibly suffering from a mental disorder. Police say all special constables will receive de-escalation training and annual use of force training.
The program will run for a period of six months and if successful, the force will ask the board for the powers to be granted to all uniformed special constables.
The plan for the project will appear before the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting for approval on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Syrian rebels topple Assad, transforming nation and Middle East
Syria rebel fighters raced into Damascus unopposed on Sunday, overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad and ending nearly six decades of his family's iron-fisted rule after a lightning advance that reversed the course of a 13-year civil war.
Baby found dead in south Edmonton parking lot: police
Police are investigating the death of an infant in south Edmonton.
Trump calls for immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and says a U.S. withdrawal from NATO is possible
Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine, describing it as part of his active efforts as U.S. president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office.
A man, a bike and a gun: Police search for evidence to solve the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on the streets of New York
As the investigation into the fatal shooting of a health care executive in Manhattan enters its fifth day, New York City police are missing key pieces of evidence.
Updated advisory urges Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria, leave if possible
Ottawa is urging Canadians to avoid all travel to Syria and to consider leaving the country if it's safe to do so.
‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and US$600 million globally
The Walt Disney Co.'s animated film 'Moana 2' remained at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theatres as it brought in another record haul.
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise U.S. prices and promises swift immigration action
Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned.
After $80 million Lotto Max, another lucky Lotto 6/49 ticket sold in Quebec
Lotto-Québec announced on Sunday that "the classic jackpot of $5 million, offered in yesterday's (Saturday) Lotto 6/49 draw, was won thanks to a ticket sold in Quebec."
MP Jamil Jivani meets U.S. vice president-elect amid Trump's tariff threats
A Conservative member of Parliament has tapped a longtime friendship to connect with Donald Trump's inner circle as Canada prepares for the president-elect’s return to the White House next month amid threats of devastating tariffs.