Ottawa Police Association

Let us remember those who sacrificed so much for our freedom, and let us be mindful of the women and men serving today in our Armed Forces, in places near and far. We honour you today, and always.

A link to the complete written decision of the Court.

A Statement to our Members from President Skof Dear Members, In policing, our sworn members respond to, and civilian members support, hundreds of thousands of calls for service each year. Nearly all these incidents are resolved through your most frequently used tool the ability to deescalate incidents to bring them to a close.... You are empowered to uphold the laws created by the federal and provincial governments. You are trained to use force when circumstances warrant, in accordance with standards that are determined by the province. You are hired by a police service, and you follow their rules and procedures, as determined by the Chief of Police and the Police Services Board. When you experience difficult, even extreme calls, it sometimes seems that you are left to stand on your own in the aftermath. As the President of the Ottawa Police Association I have always held that in these times, the Association is there for you. Let us stand together over these coming days, let us stand with Dan, his family and his colleagues, and let us remember always, that it is an honour to be entrusted with the responsibilities of the profession of policing. These are truly difficult times. Four years ago, a call for service required extra assistance and, in the end, a man died. We are all truly sorry for the loss of Abdirahman Abdi, and we realize that many people in the community are deeply feeling his loss. Throughout this long period, and in the coming days, you will continue to serve Ottawa’s citizens as responsible police professionals. We will hear otherwise, we will be challenged, but I have confidence that you will continue to be committed to the safety of Ottawa’s residents, and to each other. In Unity Matt Skof President

Move for mental health: let’s invest is the World Health Organization (WHO)'s theme for 2020 #WorldMentalHealthDay. In Canada, 1 in 5 first responders suffer...s from PTSD. The PAO calls on the Ontario Government and local municipal councils to fund/develop specific and accessible mental health programs for all of Ontario's police personnel and first responders. To our members: There is honour in asking for help, and we are working to break down the stigma and any barriers that could impact your ability to get that help. #LetsTalkAboutMentalHealth #MentalHealthisHealth

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