Mandate
The Police Response to Persons in Crisis (PRPC) Committee reports to the OACP Executive, and falls under the Police Operations Pillar.
The purpose of the PRPC is to act as an advisory body for consultation, information, and recommendations to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police with respect to police response to persons in crisis across the province.
The Mandate is to provide consistency by recommending measurable evidence based common approaches and core components of crisis response initiatives, and advocate for legislative change, with a focus on collaboration and multi sectoral involvement.
In order to achieve this Mandate and to ensure equitable representation, the committee has ensured its Executive that it is reflective of the province in which we serve.
Further, the Mental Health Community of Practice (MCOP), identified as the working group for PRPC, is comprised of key stakeholders representing organizations/agencies and police services engaged in the delivery of community safety and well-being initiatives related to mental health.
Key Areas/Priorities
Through consultation with police and community agencies across the province, the committee has identified three areas of focus:
1. Promote a standardized response to police interaction with persons in crisis in targeted areas:
- Training
- Documentation
- Police- Hospital transition processes and protocols
- Identifying evidence based promising practices
2. Improved service delivery for persons in crisis:
- Person centered, trauma-informed approach
- Input from persons with lived experience, including Indigenous, black, and other racialized communities
- Improve police-hospital transition processes
- Transition from custody to community
3. Multi-sectoral collaboration and advocacy:
- Review of the Mental Health Act
- Promote awareness of funding opportunities
- Clarification of police authorities related to police hospital transitions
- Intersections of criminal justice system and mental health
- Alternatives in apprehension practices
- Use of Special Constables
- Streamlined access to community supports
- Alternate sites emerging in health care and police authority to utilize these in mental health apprehensions
Leadership
Chair: Inspector Sarah Ridell, York Regional Police
Vice-Chair: Lisa Longworth, Provincial Mental Health Lead/Program Analyst, Ontario Provincial Police
Administrative Support: Inspector Sheri Meeks, Belleville Police Service