York Regional Police
 |
| York Regional Police | |
|---|---|
| {{{logocaption}}} | |
| Motto | Deeds Speak |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1971 |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario |
| Sworn members | 1433 (2010) |
| Unsworn members | 520 (2010) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Facilities | |
| Divisions | 5 |
| Website | |
| www.yrp.ca | |
York Regional Police serves over 1.1 million residents in the York Region, Ontario, Canada, located north of Toronto. The YRP was formed in 1971 from the amalgamation of local forces from all nine local municipalities within York Region.
History
York Regional Police was formed in 1971 when province replaced larger county governments into regional municipalities. With the creation of regional government, local police forces were amalgamated to create one force across the region. The York Regional Police Force was created from the merger of several local police forces in what was then York County:
- King Township Police (1800s)
- Vaughan Township Police (1937)
- Whitchurch Township Police
- Markham Police Department (1931)
- North Gwillimbury Township Police
- Georgina Township Police
- York County Police
- Richmond Hill Township Police
- Newmarket Township Police
- Aurora Township Police
- Stouffville Township Police
The YRP's motto is derived from the motto of the 3rd York Militia Regiment, many of whom also served as local constables in the Home District. The YRP crest is based on the crest from the former County of York government.
Command
YRP' senior command consists of the Chief of Police and two Deputy Chiefs.
The head of the police service is Chief Eric Jolliffe who was sworn in as Chief on December 13, 2010. He replaced retired Chief Armand P. La Barge after he completed 37 years of service. Chief Jolliffe was a former Deputy Chief of the force. The administration and senior command are based at York Regional Police Headquarters in Newmarket, Ontario.
List of Chiefs of York Regional Police
A list of Chiefs of the York Regional police force since its creation in 1971:
- Bruce Crawford (police officer) 1971-1987
- Donald Hillock 1987-1992
- former Aurora Township Police officer
- Bryan Cousineau 1992-1997
- forced to resigned due to charges of breech of trust
- Peter Scott 1997-1998
- Acting Chief after resignation of Chief Cousineau
- Julian Fantino 1998-2000
- former senior Metro Toronto Police officer, Chief of London Police, later as Toronto Police Chief, provincial Commissioner of Emergency Management (Assistant Deputy Minister) and former Commissioner of the OPP
- Robert Middaugh 2000-December 12, 2002
- 34 year career police officer; former Deputy Chief in Halton, Chief in Hamilton-Wentworth
- Armand P. La Barge December 12, 2002-December 2010
- former York Regional Police Deputy Chief and career officer with the force
- Eric Jolliffe December 13, 2010 - present
The Special Investigations Unit
The actions of the York Regional Police are examined by the Special Investigations Unit, a civilian agency responsible for investigating circumstances involving police and civilians that have resulted in a death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault. The SIU is dedicated to maintaining one law, ensuring equal justice before the law among both the police and the public. They assure that the criminal law is applied appropriately to police conduct, as determined through independent investigations, increasing public confidence in the police services. Complaints involving police conduct that do not result in a serious injury or death must be referred to the appropriate police service or to another oversight agency, such as the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services.
Operations
Operations are composed of:
- Administrative Services
- Information Services
- Investigative Services
- Support Services
- Community Services
- Court Services
York Region Police is divided into five geographical districts:
- 1 District - serving Newmarket, Ontario (northwest York Region)
- 2 District - serving Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Ontario (south central York Region)
- 3 District - serving Georgina, Ontario, and Lake Simcoe (northeast York Region)
- 4 District - serving Vaughan, Ontario (southwest York Region)
- 5 District - serving Markham, Ontario and a portion of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario (southeast York Region)
Patrols are divided into 19 patrol areas across York Region.
The Marine Unit consists of 7 members and other volunteers and patrols southern shoreline of Lake Simcoe and other York Region waterways. The Marine Unit belongs to 3 District and is stationed at the Keswick Community Policing Station at Crates Marina on Lake Simcoe. The unit has 6 boats at their disposal.
There are two sub-stations serviving smaller communities within York Region:
- Keswick Community Policing Centre
- Stouffville Community Policing Centre
Workforce
The service currently has an authorized strength of close to 1500 sworn members and approximately 500 civilian staff. As well, the York Regional Police is only one of two forces in the GTA with an active air support unit (Durham is the other Police force with one). While the Toronto Police Service does not have an air unit, York's air unit serves their area under a mutual support agreement.
Marked cruisers are labelled with the motto Deeds Speak.
| Make/Model | Type | Status | Origin |
| Ford Crown Victoria | (marked) - regular cruisers | active |  Canada
|
| Dodge Charger | cruiser | active |  United States
|
| Chevrolet Impala | cruiser | active | United States
|
| Chevrolet Malibu | cruiser | United States
| |
| Chevrolet Suburban | SUV | active | United States
|
| Chevrolet Caprice and Caprice Classic | cruiser | 1970s-1980s - all retired | United States
|
| Harley Davidson FLHTP | motorcycle | active | United States
|
| Dodge RAM | van | active | United States
|
| Enstrom 480 (Callsign: AIR1) retired and traded-in for - Eurocopter EC120B (Callsign: AIR2) | helicopter | active |  France
|
| GMC C6500 | RIDE command vehicle | active | United States
|
| GMC Vandura | Forensics unit truck | active | United States
|
| Chevrolet C4500 | support vehicle | active | United States
|
| GMC Savanna 4500 | support vehicle | active | United States
|
| Chevrolet Yukon | SUV | active | United States
|
| Ford Freestar | van | active | United States/ Canada
|
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | SUV | active |  Japan
|
| Farbor/Freightliner Trucks | Command Unit | active | United States
|
| Naawig | marine launch | active | |
| MAR1 - The "WAAWAATESI" 34' (named for the Ojibway word for Firefly) | marine launch | active | Hike Metal Products in Wheatley, Ontario Canada
|
| MAR2 - Seaswirl 26' | marine launch | active | Seaswirl |
| A15 - 18' | zodiac | active | United States
|
| A16 - 10' | zodiac | active | United States
|
| A17 - 'John' | canine boat | active | United States
|
| Volkswagen Beetle | Safety Bug | active |  Germany
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| Airboat | ice rescue boat - operations on Lake Simcoe | active | United States
|
| Cambli International Thunder 1 | Armoured tactical response vehicle | on order | Canada
|
Uniform
Front line officers are dressed in black (shirts, cargo pants (with red stripe) and boots). Winter jackets are either black or reflective orange/yellow with the word POLICE in white and blue at the back. Previous the force wore light blue shirts, typical of most police forces in Ontario.
Hats can be ball caps, but most officers wear standard forge cap and may opt for Yukon hat in the winter. Motorcycle units have white helmets. Black or reflective gloves are also provided to officers directing traffic. Red caps are used by search teams looking for missing persons.
Senior officers have white shirts and a black dress jacket.
Crest
- St. Edward's Crown
- ribbon containing the words York Regional Police
- the shield contains:
Flag
The YRP flag consists of a nautical B signal flag with the YRP crest located in the white portion of the flag.[3]
Ranks
The rank insignia of York Regional Police is similar to that used by police services elsewhere in Canada and in the United Kingdom, except that the usual "pips" are replaced by maple leaves.
Police Senior Officers
The day-to-day and regional operations are commanded by senior officers:
Uniform Non-Commissioned Officers
The on the road enforcement and emergency response is supervised by:
Investigative Non-Commissioned Officers
Investigations are divided into crimes against persons and crimes against property. These investigations are conducted by:
Police Officers
- Constable - first class, second class, third class, fourth class
Civilian Members
- Cadet
- Special Constable(Court Security Officers) - Special Constables are sworn-in pursuant to section 53 of Police Services Act which confers Peace Officer status. Special Constables have the powers of a Police Officer to enforce Federal Statutes and various Provincial Statutes while in the execution of their duties.
- Station Duty Officers
- Police Communicators
- Auxiliary Constables (approx. 120 members circa. August 2007) Pursuant to Section 52 of the Police Services Act, a Chief of Police can appoint Auxiliary Constables to act as volunteers. An Auxiliary Constable is not a Peace Officer but has the authority of a police officer only if he or she is accompanied or supervised by a police officer and is authorized to perform police duties by the chief of police.
Communications
Communications is the branch of the York Regional Police responsible for receiving all 911 and non-emergency police calls. Under the supervision of Information Services, Police Communicators are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The communications center is located within police headquarters in Newmarket, Ontario. Staff currently work 12 hour shifts, with four days on, followed by four days off. The communications staff are non-sworn members of the York Regional police, however, the bureau is under the direction of an Inspector and a Staff Sergeant.
Weapons
| Make/Model | Type | Status | Origin |
| Glock 22 or 23 | pistol | active |  Austria
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| Berretta Centurion 96D | pistol | active |  Italy
|
| Remington 870P | pump action shotgun | active | United States
|
| Beretta 5mm | Semi-Automatic Pistols | sold to Belleville Police Service | Italy
|
| Colt Canada C7 rifle | rifle | active | Canada
|
Emergency Response Unit
The E.R.U. (Emergency Response Unit)is the YRP SWAT team formed in 1980. The ERU is a group of specialized operators. The Units primary mandate is to deal with high risk situations beyond the safe operating limits of Police Officers with their normal equipment and training. The ERU provides assistance during any high risk situations, by performing the following;
i) Containment ii) Apprehension of an Armed and/or Barricaded Persons iii) Hostage Rescue iv) Explosive Forced Entry v) Explosive Disposal vi) High Risk Search Warrants vii) High Risk Vehicles/Trains/Aircraft Assaults
In 1988 demand for the Emergency Response Unit was on the rise. Various operational obligations including the fatal shooting of an armed suspect by the ERU during a hostage rescue in Richmond Hill highlighted the need for additional members. In 1989 the Emergency Response increased to 11 members.
In 2001 the York Regional Police established a Shared Service Agreement with Durham Regional Police, which allows for reciprocal tactical support in the event of large scale or long duration deployments. York Regional Police provides Tactical Team and Hostage Rescue Team support to South Simcoe Police Service upon their request.
Following September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, the increased awareness of terrorist threats provided the greatest single incentive for growth and investment of Tactical Teams in Ontario since the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Quebec.
The Emergency Response Unit roster was expanded in 2002 to an undisclosed number. The roster includes both snipers and explosive technicians.
The ERU has full Explosive Forced Entry capability which is mainly used in its Hostage Rescue and Armed/ Barricaded operations. The ERU is regularly involved in High Risk Search Warrant Service within York Region and the Greater Toronto Area as well as number of high profile Joint Forces Operations within the province Of Ontario.
The York Regional Police ERU conducts its own strenuous selection process with the applicants mainly being from the departments’ uniform divisions. The unit also trains its own candidates in most required disciplines and is one of the founding members of the Ontario Tactical Advisory Body (OTAB).
Members of the Emergency Response Unit currently hold positions within OTAB (Ontario Tactical Advisory Board) and CETA (Canadian Explosive Technicians Association) as well as membership in the NTOA (National Tactical Officers Association) and IABTI. (International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators).
The ERU Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) has number of operational robotics in its inventory, used in variety of high risk incidents including post blast investigations.
Emergency services
York Regional Police is part of York Region's Emergency Services and works with:
Community Services
"Bucky" the Beaver is the forces mascot and used community events.[4]
Bobby the Bear, Morris the Moose and Bucky the Beaver represent York Regional Police at various special events.
References
External links
