2016Waterloo Regional PoliceAnnual Report

“Every year brings new energy to our members, new ideas to our Service, and new results to our community.” - Chief Bryan M. Larkin.

TABLE OF CONTENTSABOUT USCHIEF LARKINBOARD MEMBERS

COMMUNITYEVENTS AWARENESSCORRESPONDANTS

STSTISTICSCRIMEUSE OF FORCEROAD SAFETY

SERVICECOSTSOCCURRENCESCITIZEN CALLSONLINE REPORTING

APPENDICIESCOMPLAINTSTHANK YOU LETTERSCRIME STATISTICS FOR WATERLOO REGION

ABOUT US At the Waterloo Regional Police Service, we believe strongly in community policing and are committed to making a difference in the many diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods of Waterloo Region.

We are the seventh largest police service in the province of Ontario and under the governance of the Police Services Board and the leadership of Chief Bryan M. Larkin. Waterloo Regional Police serve the municipalities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge and the Townships of Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich and North Dumfries.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is committed to strengthening public safety and quality of life by working in partnership with the community in crime prevention, law enforcement, and providing assistance to all those who need our help and believe strongly in our vision that if every person contributes to a safe Waterloo Region, current and future generations will thrive.

We provide professional service to the community and our members offer specialized skills and expertise. Civilian members are hired to work in areas such as; Communications, Information Processing Specialists, Special Constables, Information Technology, Human Resources, Forensic Technicians, and Administrative positions.

Officers provide operational police service to the community consisting of frontline patrol, detectives, school resource, and special response. Officers undergo ongoing training - both mandated and developmental - in order to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.

Collectively, the members of the organization work towards the objectives of the Strategic Business Plan and within the best interests of the community and the policing profession.

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE200 Maple Grove RoadCambridge, ON N3H 5M1

Welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to learn about us by reviewing our 2016 Annual Report. It has been an incredible year for the Waterloo Regional Police Service as we continue to serve the Waterloo Region community with enthusiasm and respect.

Our members were outstanding this year with participation in hundreds of community events raising thousands of dollars for worthy causes. We continued our support for Special Olympics Ontario, raised almost $40,000 for the United Way, and developed campaigns in support of kindness, acceptance and good deeds.

This year was successful from an investigative standpoint as well. We made significant arrests in many high profile cases and maintained a series of complex and sophisticated investigations.

At the front line, communications and patrol have provided exceptional service, despite rising call demand from the community. We have also continued our efforts around public education and connecting with those we serve. This report is another method for providing information to the community and we hope you will join us in reflecting on 2016.

Best Regards,

Chief Bryan Larkin

CHIEF LARKIN

Bryan M. Larkin, Chief of Police

CHAIR’S MESSAGEOn behalf of every member of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board, thank you for taking the time to review the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s 2016 Annual Report, for educating yourself on policing in Waterloo Region, and for demonstrating an interest in community safety.

As the civilian oversight and governance body, this report is an important resource for residents as it provides access to information and statistics on crime, road safety, use of force, and the demand on service in our Region. For us, it represents transparency and accountability and is also a way to acknowledge the many successes of years past.

We are extremely proud of the Waterloo Regional Police Service and it is our pleasure to provide this detailed information to our community. It is our mandate to provide effective police services to the many diverse neighbourhoods of Waterloo Region and we hope you find this Annual Report both informative and engaging as we review the highlights of 2016.

Tom GallowayChair of the Board

The Waterloo Regional Police Service is made up of approximately 1,200 dedicated members who - officer or civilian - work together to keep our community safe. Waterloo Region, with a population of 545,000 people, offers diverse and unique communities throughout its three cities and four townships, of which our members are proud to serve.

Our members are skilled, trained, and willing to handle any situation that may arise in the interest of assisting or protecting the Waterloo Region community. Each member provides their own knowledge, experiences and background to the job and are committed to serving the residents of Waterloo Region.

Our operational service delivery to the community is directed by Chief of Police, Bryan Larkin with the support of the Deputy Chief of Operations, Kevin Thaler and a Deputy Chief of Systems and Innovation, Kevin Chalk. Under their leadership, the Service supports the 2015-2017 Strategic Business Plan which aims to strengthening public safety and quality of life by working in partnership with the community in crime prevention, law enforcement, and providing assistance to all those who need our help.

Often giving back to the people we serve, police members take pride in what they do and can often be found representing the Service both on and off the job as volunteers, mentors and role models.

OUR MEMBERS

COMMUNITYEvery year, members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service organize, host, and participate in a wide variety of events and programs. These events provide an opportunity to connect with our community, celebrate successes, build awareness and join together as an organization.

The many diverse and vibrant Waterloo Region communities kindly invite police members to take part in countless local events throughout the year. It is a pleasure for members of the organization to give back, provide support, and contribute to our community partners and non-profit organizations in an effort to build a stronger Waterloo Region.

As a Service, we also make an effort throughout the year to promote awareness of ongoing or current crime trends and safety information in order to prevent crime and better protect those we serve. Education is at the core of what we do and we focus much of our efforts on sharing information and providing guidance to the public.

This section of the Annual Report provides a sample of some of the events, partnerships and awareness campaigns of 2016. It also includes a report on formal community correspondences.

RECONCILIATION CANOE TRIPMembers of the local Waterloo Region Aboriginal organizations and the Waterloo Regional Police Service (pictured above) teamed up on August 10, 2016, for the ‘Reconciliation-Leading The Way’ Canoe Day Event. Participants built long lasting relationships, built trust, and learned about each other’s backgrounds and cultures. Most importantly, it was a fun filled day for all involved.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmJCyjGM-Zc

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP FORUMThe Waterloo Regional Police Service is proud to host the first Leadership Forum for Women within our organization to listen and learn from individuals who have succeeded in their respective fields. Barrie Police Service Chief Kimberley Greenwood, Peel Regional Police Service Chief Jennifer Evans and Dr. Kathy Hogarth spoke about their careers, shared experiences and offered practical advice to a packed house.

NEW OFFICERS RECEIVE POLICE BADGESThe Waterloo Regional Police Service welcomed 34 recruits at three separate ceremonies held throughout the year. This is the day they officially become a police officer. In front of their family and friends, officers march on parade, take the oath of office, and receive their police badge from police Chief Bryan Larkin and Police Services Board Chair, Tom Galloway.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyR2SBorLHk

OPEN HOUSEThe Open House at Headquarters is a special day when families can enjoy a variety of activities and celebrate along with police members and representatives of numerous community and partner agencies. Thousands of guests enjoyed demonstrations, tours, activities, and live music. It is celebrated annual in recognition of Police Week.

NAME THE CANINESThe Waterloo Regional Police Service needed name for the “furry” recruits joining the Canine Unit. To help find suitable names, the Service reached out to all elementary school and high school students within Waterloo Region to take part in the “Name The Canine” contest. The top three entries were announced online for members of the community to vote on. To find out what names were chosen... watch this video!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7abfLazILQE

AWARDS LUNCHEONIn recognition of their commitment to community and achievement in their roles, Waterloo Regional Police Service members celebrating 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service were acknowledged at a Service Awards luncheon in June 2016. Also recognized at Police Services Board meetings throughout the year, were officers and civilians who went above and beyond and demonstrated excellence in policing.

RANGERS GAME PUCK DROPIn December 2016, 12 new recruits who returned from Ontario Police College received a special welcome on the ice of the OHL Kitchener Rangers game. Chief Bryan Larkin called in a special favour from a friend up north to deliver the game puck as the Chief and the Recruits stood at centre ice for the ceremonial face-off.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1M-_KKa4vI

EVENTS

AWARENESSGIVING TUESDAYIn recognition of Giving Tuesday, two officers from North Division (Pictured Above: Cst. Matt Halliday and Cst. Pete Reynolds) collected monetary donations from their platoon mates and purchased non-perish-able goods to provide to the Food Bank. A remarkable 1,134 pounds of food was collected and their total donation represents the equivalent of 886 meals.

RAK DAYThe Waterloo Regional Police Service surprised some unsuspecting residents with flowers and chocolate at Rivera Forrest Heights Long Term Care facility in honour ofRandom Act of Kindness Day. Random Act of Kindness Day is a community initiative lead by the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) which promotes the power of positivity and encourages a ‘pay it forward’ attitude.

SUPERHERO RUNOn Sunday, May 29th, several members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service soared past the finish line in support of the Superhero Run for KidsAbility. They joined hundreds of people who walked, jogged, ran or wheeled the 2.5 or 5 kilometre course and helped to raise funds and awareness for life-changing services and programs to over 1200 children with special needs. The event exceeded its fundraising goal of $25,000 and collected and impressive $32,548! Great work by our members to show support for a worthy cause and help young people in our community!

911 MEMORIAL GAMESOn October 20, 2016 the fifth annual 911 Memorial Games was held at RIM Park in Waterloo. This is a one day charity sporting event run by members of the Waterloo Regional Police Service and attracts over 120 participants in Co-ed Volleyball, Co-ed Soccer, and Men’s soccer. The attendees were members of the three emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance), as well as two teams from Grand River Hospital who collectively raised over $2000 total for KidsAbillity and the Cambridge Family Early Years Center.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTUf8LB-3Tc

LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUNThe Law Enforcement Torch Run is an annual fundraiser event held in support of Special Olympics Ontario. The Torch Run includes runners, walkers and cyclists who will travel via several routes in Kitchen-er, Waterloo and Cambridge raising awareness and funds for this worthy cause. With a variety of starting points throughout the Region – beginning in the morning - the event concluded at Headquarters with the arrival of the “Flame of Hope”.

RIDE OF YOUR LIFEOver the past eight years, a handful of dedicated members have spent their summers training for the journey to Ottawa. They would travel the entire 620 kilometre route on their bicycles as part of the Ride of Your Life Tour and have raised over $200,000 dollars for cancer programs at Grand River Hospital. This was the final tour for ‘Team 3C’ (Cops Conquering Cancer), made up of 15 police members, two Emergency Medical Service members and one rider from the Grand River Hospital Foundation.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJrn3iTw0A

PRIDE FLAGFor the first time, The Waterloo Regional Police Service proudly flew the rainbow flag in celebration of Pride weekend. A ceremony was held in front of Police Headquarters where the flag was raised by Chief Bryan Larkin and Constable Steve Churm. Pride is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer (LGTBQ) people and helps to publicly promote their diversity and equal rights.

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGNThe United Way supports local agencies that help approximately 200,000 people in our Region every year. Their work is locally driven and focused on the most pressing issues facing our community, including those closest to us in policing. In 2016, Waterloo Regional Police Service members planned events and provided donations to raise $38,827.55 to support a brighter future in Waterloo Region.

CHRISTMAS IN THE HOSPITAL In the true spirit of the holidays, the Waterloo Regional Police Service and Chief Bryan Larkin paid a spe-cial visit to children receiving care at Grand River Hospital. Chief Larkin delivered toys that had been collected through an ongoing partnership with the Knights of Columbus and brought smiles to the faces of many children and parents that day.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1UiJPERTM8

CORRESPONDANCEEvery year, police members have millions of interactions with members of the public. Some, as simple as saying hello and others - at the height of a traumatic event. Regardless of the circumstances, communication is at the centre of what we do. As a police service, we value consistent and transparent correspondence and work to maintain the trust of the community we serve.

Throughout the year, the Waterloo Regional Police Service receives several letters, emails, tweets, and phone calls from citizens. It is our goal to ensure each one is handled through the appropriate measures and to ensure a satisfactory result. For the purposes of this report, those communiques have been compiled in to two categories. The full complaints report can be accessed by clicking below. A sample of thank-you letters from 2016, which have been vetted for privacy, can also be accessed below.

COMPLAINTSTHANK YOU LETTERS

IN APPENDICES

STATISTICSStatistics are used to inform and provide insight for continuous learning. They can be valuable indicators of police performance and supportive evidence for sound decision making. In this section of the Annual Report we review statistics in the following areas: Police Use of Force, Road Safety, and Crime. For more information on how crime is measured in Canada, the summary below provides more information.

CRIMECrime Trends in Waterloo Region: 2016

The WRPS 2016 Criminal Offence Summary is based on an ‘All Count’ of UCR code violations which are reported to our Service within the year. The results will differ slightly from Statistics Canada’s ‘Most Serious Violation Count’ (MSV) of UCR code violations. Because UCR codes may be modified and/or cleared after the incident occurred and are updated accordingly, the WRPS Criminal Offence Summary re-states the previous years’ numbers to incorporate all the latest information. Click the button below to view the entire spreadsheet, and continue to read about some of the more frequent offences and noticeable trends. Click here to find out more about measuring crime.

IN APPENDICESCRIME STATISTICS FOR WATERLOO REGION

Total Criminal Code Violations (excluding traffic) increased again this year, by 4.8% from 2015. Contributing to this trend were increases in Violent Crime (6.5%), in Property Crime (1.0%), and in Other Criminal Code Offences (15.1%).

Violent Crime, or Crimes Against the Person, increased by 6.5% in Waterloo Region in 2016. Driving the overall increase in Violent Crime were Attempted Murder (up by 2 or 66.7%), Sexual Violations (13.2%), Assaults (7.7%), Violations Resulting in the Deprivation of Freedom (24.4%), and Other Violations Involving Violence or the Threat of Violence (1.4%).

Regarding Sexual Violations, there were 18 more incidents of Level 1 Sexual Assault (5.7%), and Sexual Interference was up by 9 (10.1%). There were 13 counts of Nonconsensual Distribution of Intimate Images, a new UCR code introduced in 2015. There were 10 counts of Commodification of Sexual Activity, another whole new subcategory within Violent Crime. The implementation of the new Child and Youth Advocacy Centre in April 2016 has positively influenced the reporting of these types of incidents. Regarding Assaults, notable increases were in Level 1 Assaults (5.5%) and Level 2 Assaults (10.2%). The increase in Violations Resulting in the Deprivation of Freedom was mainly due to the increase in Forcible Confinement (19.5%). In Other Violent Violations, Robbery was up by 6.9% and Utter Threats to a Person up by 4.9%. Trending in the other direction, Violations Causing Death was the only subcategory of Violent Crimes that declined. Compared to 2015, there were three less 1st or 2nd degree murders, which resulted in an overall drop of -33.3% in Violations Causing Death.

Non-Violent Crime, or Crimes Against Property, rose 1% in Waterloo Region compared to 2015. Some of the crimes driving this increase include Shoplifting $5000 or Under (6.2%), Theft Under and Over $5000 (1.5% and 31.7%), and Arson (19.8%). Investigators indicate the significant influx of addictive substances in our Region fuels drug related crime such as shoplifting and theft. Identity fraud continues to rise (17.8%), as this type of crime is prevalent and targets victims via a host of internet and phone scams with the intent to harvest personal information. Notable declines in Property Crime include Break and Enters (-8.5%), Motor Vehicle Thefts (-1%), and reported incidents of Mischief (-2.8%).

Other Criminal Code Violations, also considered non-violent, were 15.1% higher in 2016 than in 2015. Differences from the Most Serious Violation counting methodology compared to the All Count methodology used in this Summary are more noticeable in these non-violent offence categories. The two most frequent Other Criminal Code violation types, Failure to Comply with Conditions and Breach of Probation, each with more than two thousand counts, went up 15.9% and 18.1% respectively. Investigators are finding more individuals are being released and re-offending, and some investigative projects are now concentrating on individuals with court ordered terms and conditions to reduce recidivism. Other significant increases were in Offensive Weapons, with Weapons Possession Contrary to Order up by 33.9% and Possession of Weapons up by 31%. Production/Distribution of Child Pornography, which was up 50.9%, is a type of crime significantly influenced by police resources. With the expansion of our Cybercrime Branch in 2017, these numbers are expected to increase even more in 2017. Some of the Other Criminal Code Violations that decreased include Prostitution (-45.5%), Counterfeiting Currency (-25.4%), Offences Against Public Order (-37%), and Proceeds of Crime (-76.2%).

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) offences experienced an overall 5.2% increase. Most of this increase is due to Possession offences including all types of controlled drugs and substances. Violations for Trafficking, Importation and Exportation, and Production were minimal or decreased, with the exception of increases in Other CDSA types. Fentanyl is currently included in this “Other” category of CDSA types, as are Xanax or Alazapan that was seized in a significant pill press investigation. Drug offences are another type of violation that can be significantly influenced by police resources.

Other Federal Statute Violations, specifically Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) offences, were down by 24.2% in Waterloo Region in 2016. This reduction may be influenced by increased use of youth diversions throughout the Region.

Criminal Code Traffic Violations experienced an overall decrease of -13.3% in 2016, driven largely by a significant decrease in Failure to Stop or Remain. In this case, a review of internal coding processes has influenced the change. Notable increases of Traffic Violations include Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle (7.9%), Flight from Peace Officer (35.1%), Impaired Operation of Motor Vehicle or Over 80 mg (8.4%), and Failure to Provide Breath Sample (20.4%).

Moving forward, strategic enforcement, the encouragement of citizen reporting, and public education will continue.

USE OF FORCEIn 2016, Waterloo Regional Police officers submitted 271 Use of Force Reports compared to 222 reports in 2015. An analysis of these reports indicates that officers utilize good judgment and de-escalation techniques when required or authorized to use force, and are in compliance with use of force legislation and procedures.

There were a total of 287,522 occurrences generated in CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) which is an increase of 2.5% from 2015. Of relevance to use of force reporting is the number of arrests made. In 2016, 14,211 arrests were made by officers compared to 13,624 arrests in 2015. This is an increase in 4.3%. Furthermore, in 2016, WRPS officers submitted 271 Use of Force Reports compared to 222 reports in 2015; an increase of 22.1%.

According to the Region Wide Neighbourhood Policing Statistical Report there were 2551 Mentally Ill occurrences reported in 2016, which is a 12.4% increase from 2015. Additionally, there were 1809 Attempt Suicide occurrences reported in 2016, which is an 18.9% increase from 2015. Of all Mentally Ill and Attempt Suicide occurrences combined, 33.5% resulted in arrest/apprehension (1,459/4,360), which contributed to the overall increase in arrests for 2016.

Despite the increase in mental health related arrests, officers used force in only 1.6% of these incidents (23 reports).

If we remove the mental health related arrests/apprehensions from total arrests for 2015 and 2016 the increase in arrests in 2016 is only 2.84%, which is in line with the increase in total CAD occurrences in 2016.

Although calls for the humane destruction of an animal appear to have increased significantly, the 5-year average is 39.4 reports/incidents per year. The incidents of officers discharging a firearm for the humane destruction of an animal are not considered force used against a member of the public and are not referred to again in the remainder of this report.

CEW:

In 2016, the Training Branch trained 175 new users on the X2 Taser Conducted Energy Weapon. It is expected that all frontline officers and those working in Branches where CEWs are assigned will be trained on the X2 CEW by the end of 2017.

ROAD SAFETY

SERVICEIn this section of the Annual Report, we present the various methods in which calls for service are generated, the 2016 annual budget, and the total occurrences for Waterloo Region throughout 2016.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of calls are answered in our Communications Centre and responded to by officers. The details of every call are distinct and unique, but each one is to be handled with professionalism and respect. The neighbourhoods of Waterloo Region are rich with diversity and the demand on service is always evolving.

COSTS

Number of Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Occurrences

The creation of any new occurrence number in CAD is considered a “CAD event” regardless of the source. CAD events may be generated from calls coming into the Communications Centre from a non-emergency line, from a 9-1-1 phone line, initiated by an officer or dispatcher, or generated from our on-line reporting system. A call may be cancelled, duplicated from multiple people reporting the same incident, taken over the phone by our resource desk, of a nature requiring a police report to be prepared or concluded with no report being necessary.

Although ordered slightly differently, the same CAD occurrence types compose the most frequent occurrence types generated each year. A large proportion of the most frequent occurrence types are not criminal in nature but rather involve community safety and maintenance of public order that is a significant part of the demand on policing services. Other frequent occurrence types are generated to track workload on our services, for example the 9-1-1 calls made in error.

OCCURRENCES

Citizen generated calls for service are CAD events initiated by a member of our community to which Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) dispatches an officer(s) to respond. The rate of citizen generated calls is an independent measure of patrol’s workload driven by our community. A citizen generated call is identified from our CAD occurrences as those matching specific criteria such as: (1) the source is not “officer”, (2) the dispatch priority is 1, 2, 3 or 4, (3) the event is not cancelled, and (4) the dispatch date and time is not null.

Although ordered slightly differently, most of the same call types remain in the top ten most frequent citizen generated calls each year. A large proportion of the most frequent citizen calls are not necessarily criminal in nature but rather involve community safety and maintenance of public order that is a significant part of the demand on policing services.

2016 Top Ten Citizen Generated Calls Frequency New Call Every…

1.Compassionate to Locate 11,738 45 minutes

2.Bylaw Complaint 9,077 58 minutes

3.Unwanted Person 6,838 1 hour, 17 minutes

4.Theft Under $5000 6,009 1 hour, 28 minutes 5.Domestic Dispute 5,712 1 hour, 32 minutes

6.Motor Vehicle Collision-Property Damage 5,010 1 hour, 45 minutes

7.Driving Complaint 4,851 1 hour, 49 minutes

8.Injured/Sick Person 3,878 2 hours, 16 minutes

9.Dispute 3,496 2 hours, 31 minutes

10.Alarm 3,470 2 hours, 32 minutes

CITIZEN CALLS

ONLINE REPORTINGWhy Report Online? Online Reporting provides a convenient way to report incidents of crime to Waterloo Regional Police Service. This service has been available since October 2012 and includes non-emergency circumstances such as Thefts Under $5000, Property Damage, and Lost and Found Property (Under $5000). Even if you think an incident is insignificant or not likely to be solved, reporting it to police provides an opportunity for WRPS to analyze the information and gain a better understanding of where and what crime is occurring. Online reporting is gaining increased use due to the convenience of quick and easy access 24 hours a day, anywhere with internet access.

What are the Online Reporting Trends? As shown in the chart below, the number of occurrences reported online has increased each year. The number of reports made in 2016 increased 5% over 2015 and is now greater than 2000 occurrences per year. Consistent with previous years, Thefts Under $5000 accounted for 75% of all online reports.

How Does Online Reporting Work? When a user submits an online report they are immediately provided a temporary occurrence number. The report is then submitted to a Constable and upon satisfied review, the user is provided a copy of the completed report in their email inbox which they can keep in their files or provide to other requesting agencies.

How Do I Report Online? To use this service or to find out more, please go to www.wrps.on.ca and click on the yellow Online Reporting button.

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE200 Maple Grove RoadCambridge, ON N3H 5M1

KITCHENER/WATERLOO/CAMBRIDGE+1 519 653 7700

OTHER AREAS:519 570 3000

AUTOMATED ATTENDANT519 650 8500

For current information, employment opportunities and updates visit our website at www.wrps.on.ca.

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