CPAC is represented on the Ontario Association of Chiefs ofPolice (OACP) Community Policing Committee. Through that Committee CPAC has undertaken an exciting project to update and revise the Community Policing Model that Ontario adopted back in 1996.

The old model has proved inadequate for a number of reasons:

1) the language, concepts and meanings are vague and general;
2) it does not speak to front line police officers to whom falls most of the community policing work;
3) it does not accommodate recent trends in community policing,like “community mobilization”; and,
4) it inadvertently suggests that police officers are responsible for things like “community development”

The 1996 Model is depicted as a puzzle (below).

To inform the revision process, CPAC is leading a Province-wide consultation with over 25 police officers (from more than 20 Ontario police services) and citizens who have partnered with police on community policing projects.This exciting dialogue is transpiring strictly by internet.

After the group has a draft, revised model ready it will convene for the first time to finalize details – and meet face-to-face! That will probably be in early Spring, 2009. CPAC expects to recommend the final revised model to the Community Policing Committee. They, in turn, will consider whether it is ready for the Chiefs to approve at their June, 2009, Annual General Meeting.

Keep checking CPAC’s website because our progress on this initiative will be reported there. Eventually we’ll also share, there, the revised community policing model.

-Hugh C Russell Ph. D.
Community Justice Consultant
CPAC Vice-Chair