Peace Officers
Peace Officers
Recommendation:That the August 20, 2008, Corporate Services Law Branch Report 2008COL015 be received for information.
Report Summary
This report provides information on the various peace officers employed by the City of Edmonton.
Previous Council/Committee Action
At the June 23/25, 2008, Community Services Committee meeting, the following motion was passed:
That Administration provide a report for the September 8, 2008, Community Services Committee meeting outlining:
1. Discussions between the Provincial Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security, the Office of the City Manager and the Edmonton Police Commission regarding the role of Bylaw and Peace Officers.
2. What organizational and budget implications the new peace officer Legislation poses.
Report
Background
· The Peace Officer Act came into force on May 1, 2007. This legislation did not mandate any organizational changes or necessarily create any new budget implications for the City of Edmonton. It instead gave the City, and other orders of government and quasi-governmental agencies, the opportunity to apply to be authorized employers of peace officers. Attachment 1 is the Program Overview from the Public Security Peace Officer Program Policy and Procedures Manual – January 2007, issued by the Alberta Solicitor General and Public Safety.
· To become an authorized employer of peace officers, the employer must, among other things:
o justify the need for peace officers
o provide a code of conduct for the peace officers
o provide a policy and process for managing and responding to public complaints against peace officers
o ensure the peace officers will complete the prescribed training
o enter into a memorandum of understanding with a police service which deals with communication protocols, including identification of contact persons, information exchange and the respective roles and responsibilities and the cooperation and coordination of services of peace officers and the police service.
Current Situation
· Presently the Corporate Services, Transportation, Asset Management and Public Works, and Planning and Development Departments, as well as the Edmonton Police Service, all employ City peace officers (CPOs) under different authorizations. Many of these CPOs had been appointed as special constables prior to the Peace Officer Act coming into force, and they are deemed to be peace officers under the new Act.
· There are a total of 139 peace officers employed by the City. They are members of 3 different unions – CUPE 30, CSU 52 and ATU 569, with different rates of pay. (Attachment 2) Their duties are particular to the area in which they are employed, although all the jobs have a public safety and enforcement of legislation component. (Attachment 3)
· There are approximately 39 other CPOs doing parking enforcement, arrest processing and photo radar enforcement for the City through companies which have contracted with the City, i.e. Paladin Security, Corp of Commissionaires.
Discussions between the Provincial Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security, the Office of the City Manager and the Edmonton Police Commission
· A letter from Brian Skeet, Assistant Deputy Minister, Director of Law Enforcement dated April 3, 2008, was received by the City Manager. (Attachment 4)
· The letter commented on the number of different areas within the City which are employing peace officers. Concern was expressed that all of these peace officer groups have separate reporting / administrative structures, different ways of doing business and potentially different interpretations of the Peace Officer Act.
· Representatives from the City administration, the Edmonton Police Service and the Province attended a meeting on May 1, 2008. A discussion of the issues ensued, but no resolve was reached and no direction was given.
Current Challenges
Representatives from the Departments employing peace officers have started discussions on how there could be increased cooperation and collaboration between the areas. It was agreed that future meetings will be held quarterly. Areas of discussion at the first meeting included:
· exploring common recruiting or, at least, information sharing in that regard
· having a full time training officer provide training for all City peace officers
· intelligence sharing
· having a common monitoring centre and dispatch
· ordering compatible equipment, i.e. radios
· standardizing policies and procedures
· the potential for having a shared investigative team to deal with public complaints against City peace officers
Attachments
· Program Overview from the Public Security Peace Officer Program Policy and Procedures Manual – January 2007.
· Peace Officer Employee Counts August 2008.
· Typical Duties of Peace Officer positions within the City of Edmonton.
· Letter to the City Manager from the Assistant Deputy Minister, Director of Law Enforcement dated April 3, 2008.
Others Approving this Report
· G. Klassen, General Manager, Planning and Development
· L. Rosen, General Manager, Asset Management and Public Works
B. Boutilier, General Manager, Transportation
Page 2 of 2 Report: 2008COL015
Attachment 1
Program Overview from the Public Security Peace Officer Program Policy and Procedures Manual – January 2007
Page 1 of 2 Report: 2008COL015 Attachment 1
Attachment 2
Peace Officer Employee Counts August 2008
Peace Officer designation / UnionJob code / Job Description / 2008 Hourly Rates / Coverage Provided / No of employees
Transportation – Transit Branch
I / ATU 569 / Protective Services Officers (Transit Security) / 27.62 - 30.61 (40 hr week) / 24/7 / 25 + 25 temp
I / ATU 569 / Protective Services Officer (Transit Security – Leader) / 33.35 (40 hr week) / 24/7 / 7
Planning & Development – Development Compliance Branch
II / CUPE 30 / Field Inspector I
(Animal Control Officers) / 27.51 - 28.44 (40 hr week) / 08:00 to 20:00 Summer
08:00 to 18:00 Winter / 15 + 6 temp
II / CUPE 30 / Field Inspector III
(Leads) / 29.61 - 30.54 (40 hr week) / 08:00 to 20:00 Summer
08:00 to 18:00 Winter / 2
I / CUPE 30 / Community Peace Officers / $26.72 - $30.61 (40 hr week) / 08:00 to 20:00 Summer
08:00 to 18:00 Winter / 9
being hired by year end
AM&PW – Parks Branch
I / CUPE 30 / Park Ranger / 25.11 - 25.95 (40 hr week) / 06:00 to 03:00 Summer weekends
01:00 the rest of the year / 8+ 4 temp
I / CUPE 30 / Park Ranger (Leader) / 30.49 – 31.31 (40 hr week) / 06:00 to 03:00 Summer weekends
01:00 the rest of the year / 1
Corporate Services – Law Branch
I / CUPE 30 / Corporate Security Peace Officer II
(Downtown Core security) / 26.72 - 30.61 (40 hr week) / 06:00 to 22:00 Weekdays
08:00 to 18:00 Saturdays
10:00 to 20:00 Sundays / 15
I / CUPE 30 / Corporate Security Peace Officer III
(Team Leader) / 33.35 (40 hr week) / 06:00 to 22:00 Weekdays
08:00 to 18:00 Saturdays
10:00 to 20:00 Sundays / 3
Police
II / CSU 52 / Document Server / 19.71 - 24.73 (40 hr week) / 08:00 to 21:00 / 18
II / CSU 52 / Bylaw Prosecution Assistant Homicide Section / 22.95 – 28.70 (33.75 hr week)
21.68 – 27.12 (40 hr week) / 08:00 to 16:00 / 1
I / CUPE 30
Contract with Corporate Security / Community Service Officers – Community Policing Bureau / 22.78 – 30.61 (40 hr week) / 8
TOTAL Employees with Peace Officer status / 139
Page 2 of 2 Report: 2008COL015 Attachment 2
Attachment 3
Typical Duties of Peace Officer positions within the City of Edmonton
Transportation
Protective Services Officer duties
· Respond to security emergencies, incidents, and general complaints that occur at any ETS facility or on ETS property. Investigate as required. Take appropriate action to address the situation.
· Ensure ETS facilities are secure and patrons are safe by conducting routine preventative patrols of ETS property and reporting immediately any potential or actual risks or losses.
· Ensure ETS customer service needs are met by providing transit information such as required fares or location stops; responding to injury reports within transit facilities; and assisting passengers who are disabled or who become injured while traveling.
· Exercise discretionary law enforcement powers under federal and provincial legislation, the Municipal Bylaws Act and the Transit Bylaw; issue tickets for bylaw violations; arrest and detain violators as required. Follow-up with Edmonton Police Service as required.
· Provide escorts, monitoring and protection for moving and handling cash, fare media, materials or equipment.
· Collect information and evidence to support court proceedings, insurance claims, and Security and Risk Management activities. Give testimony or evidence in court as required.
Planning & Development
Field Inspector I duties
· Patrols designated areas and investigate complaints concerning dogs at large, vicious dogs, or excessive barking; catches and transports a variety of stray or nuisance animals.
· Receives complaints regarding alleged violations of the Animal Control Bylaws; adjudicates on these violations, issuing notices and tags when necessary.
· Performs dispatching duties at the pound by dispatching calls, releasing dogs to their owners and issuing penalty tickets. Also assists in the feeding and care of impounded animals; destroys unclaimed and diseased animals as assigned and maintains records on these activities.
· Records inspections and information to be used as evidence; may required to present evidence in court on behalf of the City.
Field Inspector III duties
· Assigns, schedules and supervises the work of subordinate Field Inspectors, developing and implementing work procedures and schedules.
· Investigates the more difficult, complex, or sensitive problems arising from enforcement action; prepares evidence for presentation in court, and represents the City while testifying in court. May be required to prepare special reports on specific issues in contention.
· Reviews and recommends amendments to bylaws and departmental regulations.
· Makes bylaw enforcement decisions on such matters as reasonable time allowances for payments or compliance, reasonable allowances when complete compliance is impractical and other similar situations. Explains bylaws and the reasons for enforcement decisions to the public, assisting citizens by advising them on how to meet the requirements of various bylaws.
· Conducts daily checks on impoundment records and the general welfare of impounded animals.
Community Peace Officer duties
· Provide inspection, investigation, and patrol functions for citizen complaints regarding municipal bylaw and provincial Act violations.
· Provide enforcement services for community based problems or concerns requiring a dispatched response.
· Provide enforcement services on public and private property with a focus on litter, dumping, and nuisance conditions.
Asset Management & Public Works
Parks Ranger duties (under review)
· Provides park interpretive service to the user, such as where specific facilities and amenities are located, directions and distance, program information, trail conditions, natural history information, regulations and policy interpretation and general information about the river valley parks.
· Monitoring of trail, park and facility conditions and use throughout the river valley parks system, with regular reporting of conditions to parks services and visitor services.
· Participate as required in the operational management of conservation and preservation areas, and participates in the protection and care of these areas in accordance with operational guidelines.
· Performs survey and customer service functions as necessary in support of the river valley programs and service objectives.
· Provides enforcement of park regulations, bylaws, guidelines and codes of conduct, focusing on public education and awareness. Works co-operatively with park police on security and safety issues within the parks system and supports emergency services as required.
· Provides for park security by opening and closing park facilities, gates, routine checks of facilities.
· Performs support functions to program staff as required and at special events.
· Provides initial investigation of complaints, illegal dumping and cuttings, and encroachment issues as required, and assists in ensuring that required control orders are adhered to.
· Provides for safety and security of parks users and provides first aid services as required.
· Participates in major maintenance programs as required, augmenting existing staff in the performance of major defined tasks.
· Performs minor maintenance functions as required, i.e. maintain system usability, such as local sanitation, minor pruning and tree maintenance to correct unsafe conditions, sign changes, facility condition checks and reports major requirements to parks maintenance services.
Corporate Services
Corporate Security Peace Officer II duties
· Respond to security emergencies, incidents, and general complaints that occur within the areas of authority. Investigate as required. Take appropriate action to address the situation.
· Ensure City facilities are secure and patrons are safe by conducting routine preventative patrols of City property and reporting immediately any potential or actual risks or losses.
· Ensure customer service needs are met by responding to injury reports within City facilities and property.
· Exercise discretionary law enforcement powers under federal, provincial and municipal legislation, issue penalty tickets for violations; arrest and detain violators as required. Follow-up with Edmonton Police Service as required.
· Provide escorts, monitoring and protection for moving and handling cash, materials or equipment.
· Collect information and evidence to support court proceedings, insurance claims, and Security and Risk Management activities. Give testimony or evidence in court as required.
Corporate Security Peace Officer III – Team Leader duties
· Coordinate, assign and supervise the work performed by Corporate Peace Officers.
· Complete and submit accident investigation reports and WCB claims.
· Provide direction on operational issues and concerns, and initiate post-incident debriefings with team members, and other team leaders.
· Coordinate and/or conduct security incident investigations. Ensure that the appropriate level of action and investigation is taken, and that the necessary documentation is filed for reports and evidence. Make recommendations on the appropriate follow up actions, and coordinates those actions.