Police Association of Ontario

🎃👮♂️ Happy Halloween! 👮♀️🎃 As you get ready for a night of costumes, treats, and spooky fun, just a quick reminder to keep safety in mind! Whether you’re out trick-or-treating with the kids or celebrating with friends, remember to be cautious of traffic, look out for one another, and keep the night fun and friendly. Our members will be out there helping to keep everyone safe, so please show them some love! Have a fantastic (and safe) Halloween night.

The Ontario Provincial Police, in partnership with Crisis Centre North Bay and the North Bay Police Service, has launched a campaign to increase awareness about the Safe Streets Act. While giving money to individuals soliciting at intersections might seem helpful, it creates significant safety risks for both motorists and pedestrians. To address this, local police are educating the public on the Safe Streets Act and encouraging contributions to local charities and shelters instead. This approach ensures that vulnerable people receive support while enhancing safety for all #community members.

It's not every day you get to be among the first in the world to try something new. But that's exactly what the London Police Service and Barrie Police Service are doing. Both are testing a pilot project allowing for certain non-emergency calls to be addressed through a secure video chat with a police officer. This initiative aims to enhance the experience for victims of crime while improving efficiency within police services. By handling calls virtually, officers can offer swift, private support, allowing other officers to focus on more urgent, critical situations. https://lnkd.in/g5nfkeuh

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🦃 Today, we're thankful for the bonds that hold us together—family, friends and community. These connections are the heart of what we do and we're grateful for every moment we share in service and solidarity. Wishing you a day filled with warmth and gratitude.

At the Police Association of Ontario, we recognize the deep impact of mental health on our members and the communities they serve. Our commitment is unwavering: to provide support, reduce stigma, and promote #mentalhealth as a priority. Let's be kind to each other and not shy away from these important conversations. Make mental health awareness part of everyday talk. #WorldMentalHealthDay

As Mental Illness Awareness Week continues, we’re highlighting the profound ripple effect #PTSD can have on loved ones. In the summer edition of The Dispatch, we share John and Tina Renaud’s journey—how they built understanding, strengthened communication, and found healing while navigating John’s PTSD. #MIAW

As #MIAW begins, we know that mental illness can affect anyone, and those in the policing profession are at high risk for mental health issues such as #PTSD and operational stress injuries. We encourage you to spend time this week learning more about the barriers and struggles those with mental illness face. It's only through building awareness that we will reduce the stigma of #mentalhealth, making it easier for people to reach out when they need help.

In-depth discussions like this don’t happen often enough—so when we get the chance to sit down and talk about the real experiences of our members, it’s always appreciated and necessary. In this episode, of the OMERS Pension Blueprint Podcast, PAO President Mark Baxter joins a panel discussion for a closer look at the lives of Ontario’s first responders. Hear about the importance of #mentalhealth, the challenges of post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) and the support systems in place for our members.

The Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) went into effect in April after years of consultations, negotiations and unwavering commitment to creating better working conditions for police personnel in Ontario. In our summer edition of The Dispatch magazine, we highlighted the key takeaways you should know about this landmark legislation.

October 5th is the fourth annual Ned’s Wish Heroes Run, a fundraising event that supports retired police and military service dogs across Canada. This year's run is honouring K9 Officer Bingo of the Toronto Police Service who was tragically killed while pursuing a suspect. His sacrifice helped save the lives of officers on the scene that day, including his handler Sgt. Brandon Smith. Both people and their dogs are invited to participate in the 5km race commemorating Bingo.