Halton Regional Police Service
| Halton Regional Police Service | |
|---|---|
Logo of the Halton Regional Police Service
|
|
| Motto | Progress through participation |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1974 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| General nature |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Oakville, ON |
| Sworn members | 721 |
| Unsworn members | 350 |
| Elected officer responsible | The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services |
| Agency executive | Stephen J. Tanner, Chief of Police |
| Facilities | |
| Districts | 3 |
| Website | |
| http://www.haltonpolice.ca | |
The Halton Regional Police Service provides policing service for the Regional Municipality of Halton, which is located at the south western end of the Greater Toronto Area, in Ontario, Canada, bordering the City of Hamilton to the west and the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton to the east. Halton Region encompasses the City of Burlington and the Towns of Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills. The Halton Regional Police Service has over 1050 employees which include 721 sworn police officers and approximately 350 civilian and volunteer members. The force is responsible for policing a population of approximately 540,000 people in an area covering 967 square kilometers.
The Chief of Police is the highest-ranking officer of the Halton Regional Police Service. The position belongs to Stephen J. Tanner, who began his term on September 1, 2012 and was sworn in on September 4.
Contents
History[edit]
Halton Regional Police Service was established in tandem with the creation of the Regional Municipality of Halton on January 1, 1974. It incorporated the former police services of Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills and first consisted of 205 officers and 45 civilians. The Ontario Provincial Police continued to police the remainder of the Region until 1975, when the Regional Force had expanded to the point where it could assume responsibility for the entire area.
Crest[edit]
- St. Edward's Crown
- ribbon containing Halton's motto Progress Through Participation
- the shield is based on the one for Halton Region
- Trillium - official flower of Ontario
- wreath of golden leaves
Organization[edit]
The HRPS divides the region into five divisions (police stations) within three districts and one head office.
Headquarters[edit]
Commanded by Chief Stephen J. Tanner overseeing the three districts
- 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville
District 1[edit]
Commanded by Superintendent Chris Perkins, and Inspector Roger Wilke
- 10 Division - (Queen Street Substation) 315 Queen Street, Acton
- 11 Division - 217 Guelph Street, Georgetown
- 12 Division - 490 Childs Drive, Milton
District 2[edit]
Commanded by Superintendent Carol Crowe and Inspector Brad Brand
- 20 Division - 95 Oak Walk Drive, Oakville
District 3[edit]
Commanded by Superintendent Al Albano and Inspector Kevin Maher
- 30 Division - 3800 Constable Henshaw Boulevard, Burlington
Rank structure[edit]
Commanding Officers
- Chief Of Police
- Deputy Chief of Operations
- Deputy Chief of Administration
Senior Police Officers
- Superintendent
- Inspector
Police Officers
- Staff Sergeant / Detective Sergeant
- Sergeant / Detective
- Police Constable / Detective Constable
Cadet Program[edit]
HRPS has opened up its Cadet Program, targeting residents between the ages of 18 to 24. This program gives valuable experience to cadets while taking pressure from the front-line constables.
They have the following desired qualifications for Cadets:
- Between the ages of 19-24
- Resident of Halton Region or within 50km of the area
- Recent post-secondary graduate or in the last semester or post-secondary education, with graduation in Spring, 2015
Units[edit]
Investigative
- Homicide Unit
- Domestic Violence Investigative Unit
- Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit (CASA)
- Collision Reconstruction Unit
- Firearms Unit
- Internet Child Exploitation (ICE)
- Fraud/Arson Unit
- Integrated Drug, Gun and Gang Unit (IDGGU)
- Human Trafficking and Vice Unit
- Polygraph
- Intelligence Bureau
- Forensic Identification Services
Emergency Services
- Tactical Rescue Unit (TRU)
- Canine
- Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU)
- Marine Unit (Marine Unit)
- Ground Search and Rescue
- Crisis Negotiators
Community Policing
- District Response Unit (DRU)
- Strategic Support Team (SST)
- Diversity
- High School Liaison
- Village Constable
- D.A.R.E
- Auxiliary Police (Auxiliary Constable)
- C.O.A.S.T Mental Health Support Team
Investigators are also assigned at the District level to the Criminal Investigation Bureau which investigates crimes against persons and property.
Community policing philosophy[edit]
HRPS is widely known as one of the first and also the most progressive community policing services in Canada with its strong emphasis on the community, with the idea for transformation of the organization being conceived in 1984. Community policing in the Halton region is a philosophy based on the concept that police officers and private citizens work together, in partnership, resulting in creative ways to solve contemporary community problems related to crime, fear of crime, social and physical order, and neighborhood decay. In recent years the Halton Regional Police have incorporated an intelligence-led policing strategy which is built around risk assessment and risk management, utilizing analysis in crime trends to effect an appropriate policing response.
Special Investigations Unit[edit]
The actions of police officers in the Province of Ontario are overseen by the Special Investigations Unit of Ontario, a civilian agency responsible for investigating circumstances involving police and civilians that have resulted in a death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault. The SIU is dedicated to maintaining one law, ensuring equal justice before the law among both the police and the public.[1] Their goal is to ensure that the criminal law is applied appropriately to police conduct, as determined through independent investigations, increasing public confidence in the police services.[2]
Complaints involving police conduct that do not result in a serious injury or death must be referred to the appropriate police service or to another oversight agency, such as the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services.[3]
Fleet and weapons[edit]
- Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
- Ford Expedition
- Dodge Caravan (Summons Unit)
- Mini Cooper (D.A.R.E. Program)
- Volkswagen Beetle (D.A.R.E. Program)
- Dodge Charger Police Cruiser
- Ford Taurus Police Interceptor
- Ford Explorer Police Utility
- Intrepid Vehicles Mobile Command Unit
- Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber pistol also known as the Military and Police 40- 600 ordered in 2008 as standard side arm for frontline officers[4]
- Colt Canada C8A2 Patrol Carbine
