The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC; French: Commission civile de l’Ontario sur la police), previously known as the Ontario Police Commission and the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services, is an independent quasi-judicial agency. It is one of the 13 adjudicative tribunals overseen by the Ministry of the Attorney General that make up Tribunals Ontario. The OCPC hears appeals, adjudicates applications, conducts investigations and resolves disputes regarding the oversight and provision of policing services in Ontario. [1]
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | Tribunal |
| Jurisdiction | Province of Ontario |
| Headquarters | 25 Grosvenor Street Toronto, Ontario |
| Minister responsible | |
| Parent agency | Tribunals Ontario |
| Key document | |
| Website | tribunalsontario |
The role and authority of OCPC was mandated under the Ontario Police Services Act.[2]
On April 1, 2024, the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA) came into force and the Police Services Act was repealed.[3]
Structure
editThe OCPC has two divisions: Adjudicative and Investigative. The divisions operate independently under one Registrar.
The Adjudicative division is led by the Associate Chair and, until the Police Services Act was repealed, primarily dealt with appeals of disciplinary matters, proposals to amalgamate, reduce or abolish existing municipal police forces, budgetary disputes regarding police services, and other functions.
The Investigative division is led by the Executive Chair and dealt with investigations, inquiries and public complaints concerning the conduct of chiefs of police, police officers, special constables and police services boards.[4][5][6]
Responsibilities
editThe OCPC hears appeals, adjudicated applications, conducts investigations, and resolves disputes regarding the oversight and provision of policing services. The Special Investigations Unit[7] primarily investigates police-involved incidents of death, serious injury, and sexual assault.
Requests for other types of services can also be made by the Ontario provincial government.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Ontario Civilian Police Commission". Tribunals Ontario.
- ^ "Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.15". 24 July 2014.
- ^ "Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 1, Sched. 1". March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-Toronto deputy police chief to step in". CBC. May 24, 2019.
- ^ "Province appoints administrator to oversee Durham police in wake of corruption allegations". CP24. 24 May 2019.
- ^ "Administrator appointed to oversee parts of Durham Regional Police amid watchdog investigation". Global News. May 24, 2019.
- ^ "Ontario Civilian Police Commission". Archive Org.
- ^ McLean, Jesse (17 April 2019). "Administrator appointed to oversee parts of Durham Regional Police amid watchdog investigation". The Toronto Star.