November 12th Webinar - 12pm EST - Modernizing Police Resourcing: Demand, Capacity and Organizational Performance with Madison Charman, John Fast, and Hector Perez. Moderator Lisa Darling
Modernizing Police Resourcing: Demand, Capacity and Organizational Performance with Madison Charman, John Fast, and Hector Perez. Moderator Lisa Darling
Madison Charman is an Organizational Researcher for the Barrie Police Service and a PhD student in Criminology and Social Justice at Ontario Tech University. Wearing hats in both policing operations and academia, she possesses a unique expertise in conducting and implementing practical law enforcement research. Driven by a commitment to evidence-based policy and public safety, she has led and supported research across a diverse portfolio, including youth prevention programming, police legitimacy, intimate partner violence, trauma-informed policing, and the integration of AI and technology. Ultimately, Madison uses her unique position to advocate for data-driven practices that strengthen both law enforcement operations and the communities they serve.
John Fast is a Strategic Planner with the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). Prior to joining WRPS, he earned a PhD in Strategic Management from McGill University, with a focus on technology management. His current portfolio includes overtime optimization and staffing initiatives, and his broader interests span applied econometrics, organizational learning, and social network theory.
Hector Perez holds a PhD in Strategy and Technology Management and is a former Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo. He has more than a decade of experience in project management, evaluation, strategic planning, and corporate analysis. He currently serves as Corporate Analyst with the Niagara Regional Police Service and previously worked with the Hamilton Police Service. His work focuses on strategy development and evaluation, demand analysis, resource allocation, workload studies, and evidence-based policing. Hector serves on the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee and is an active member of several professional and evidence-based policing organizations in Canada and internationally.
November 24th Webinar - 12pm EST - Building a National Police Service: Ensuring Accountability with Capability with Blair Gibbs
Building a National Police Service: Ensuring Accountability with Capability with Blair Gibbs
Blair Gibbs – Director – The Police Foundation
Blair is a leading policy advisor and consultant with expertise in public policy and government relations. For 20 years he has researched and advised on criminal justice, policing and drugs policy in the UK and more recently, in Canada.
He is the founder of The Policy Works, where he supports a range of clients on policy, strategy and public affairs. He was special advisor to the Prime Minister in the No.10 Policy Unit from July 2019 to October 2020 and before that he was senior advisor to the Justice Secretary from 2015 to 2016. Blair was also principal advisor at the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime in London from 2012 until 2015.
His work in North America has involved research on the opioids crisis in Canada, and alcohol and public safety policies for the Stanford Network for Addiction Policy, along with public attitudes research for a variety of clients, and most recently, providing support to the Government of Alberta in Canada to study the impacts of drug policy and to deliver their ‘Recovery Oriented System of Care’ across the province.
February 9th - 12pm EST Webinar – Crisis Communications with Cherri Greeno
In high-pressure situations, how you communicate can define public trust and organizational credibility. Join Cherri Greeno, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Waterloo Regional Police Service, as she shares practical strategies for managing messaging during crises. Drawing on her award-winning journalism background and leadership in national and international communications networks, Cherri will provide real-world insights on media relations, rapid response, and maintaining clarity and control when it matters most.
March 9th - 12pm EST Webinar – Police Governance Under Fire: A Case Study in Saint John New Brunswick
March 9th - 12pm EST Webinar – Police Governance Under Fire: A Case Study in Saint John New Brunswick with Fred Kaustinen
Fred Kaustinen is the founder and principal of Governedge – a police governance consulting firm www.governedge.com.He has been advising municipalities, police boards and commissions across Canada for over 25 years. He is widely considered to be one of the foremost thought-leaders on police governance in Canada, and is a recipient of the Excellence in Police Governance Award from the Canadian Association of Police Governance.
Fred is a former Canadian Army officer who served and on four continents over a 20-year career. He was decorated for leadership and courage during operations in Kuwait in 1991, and later recognized as one of the Canadian Armed Forces preeminent strategic planners.
Fred is a lifelong learner and athlete who has lived and/or worked in every province and territory in Canada. He now calls Toronto home, where he lives with partner in both life and business – Carol.
Fred has been blessed with three wonderful children and two delightful grandchildren that he loves to spoil whenever he gets the chance!
Fred was the Project Lead and principal author of the recent Saint John Police Governance Review, whose lessons are applicable throughout the police governance community. His webinar will share these insights in case study fashion.
British Columbia
Vancouver police tout record-low 2025 crime severity index
New data from the Vancouver Police Department shows that, last year, the city’s overall Crime Severity Index reached its lowest level since tracking began in 1998.
Incumbent mayor Brenda Locke under renewed scrutiny over termination of Surrey police chief - Yahoo News Canada
As questions mount, Locke is refusing to answer any of them, including how much she knew ahead of Norm Lipinski's termination beforehand
Alberta
Downtown police station not currently in Calgary Police Commission’s budget
The mayor’s call for a police station in downtown Calgary has hit another snag – with the Calgary Police Commission confirming that their proposed budget does not currently include a downtown facility. Amar Shah has the details.
Edmonton police target greater female representation in force
Edmonton police are pledging to make their workplace more welcoming and attractive to women as they work to increase female representation within the service.
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon police update employee policy to accommodate kidney donation
Last year, Saskatoon Police officer Chris Martin made the decision to donate a kidney to a friend who needed one.
Police watchdog releases summary of RCMP traffic stop where passenger injured during arrest | CBC News
Manitoba
Seeking Justice: Indigenous people in Manitoba most likely to die in police-involved incidents
Families left devastated without mental health supports, civilian witness has 'no trust' in Independent Investigation Unit, IJF investigation finds
Winnipeg police share details of drug enforcement activities
The Winnipeg Police Service says recent drug enforcement activities are having an impact on downtown Winnipeg safety.
Winnipeg ‘going in the right direction’ with drug enforcement, referrals to community groups: police chief
Winnipeg’s police chief says the balanced approach of enforcement and support in the crackdown on drugs and criminal activity downtown is moving things in “the right direction.” Chief Gene Bowers says Winnipeg’s “unique” approach on drug enforcement – combining police involvement, outreach walks and referrals to community groups – is having the desired effect. “We’ve […]
Ontario
Toronto cop charged by the CBSA
A Toronto police officer has been charged in connection with a firearm investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Port Hope, Ont., police can withhold info on budget for officers on leave | HR Law Canada
Port Hope’s police service does not have to disclose how much it has budgeted for the salaries of officers currently on leave, Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner has ruled. Any record containing that figure would fall outside the province’s municipal access-to-information law because it relates to employment matters in which the police have an interest,
Sault mayor cleared in decision not to rehire former police chief
The Ontario Inspector General of Policing has dismissed a complaint against Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, who was accused of misconduct in the decision not to rehire former Sault police chief Hugh Stevenson.
Toronto police to give update on 2 Canadian soldiers facing 49 charges | Globalnews.ca
Sachintha Fernando, 22, and James Moreau, 29, were arrested on Aug. 11 and face a total of 49 charges, including kidnapping for ransom and forcible confinement.
How are Chow and Bradford planning to keep Toronto safe?
Residents who were surveyed rank crime, policing, and public safety as the second most important issue facing Toronto, after affordability.
OPP officer accused of accessing, possessing child pornography makes first appearance
A longtime provincial police officer accused of accessing and possessing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials had his first court appearance addressed Thursday in Bradford.
Enforcement alone cannot make downtown safe: DRPS - Durham Post
While investments in policing technology enhance our ability to respond to safety concerns, they do not replace the shared responsibility
Bradford or Chow? Toronto police union leader’s answer may not be what you’d expect
Clayton Campbell, TPA president, said “if someone’s a good, honest person that cares about the city, that’s the most important thing.”
Cobourg Police Board orders forensic audit amid serious financial concerns | 93.3 myFM
The Cobourg Police Service Board says it is moving forward with a forensic audit following the discovery of se...
Toronto police Chief on public safety and crime
Toronto’s top cop acknowledged Thursday that there is a disconnect with how residents feel and what the police data shows when it comes to public safety.
Belleville officer ‘improving each day’ after synagogue shooting: chief | Globalnews.ca
A Belleville, Ont., police officer who was injured in a shootout near a synagogue last month is “improving each day,” the chief of police says.
Toronto police officer who shot at man accused in Const. Marc Pinizzotto's death cleared of wrongdoing | CBC News
Former Peterborough Officer Appointed Cobourg Police Deputy Chief — PtboCanada
The Cobourg Police Service Board officially announced it has selected Superintendent and former Peterborough Police Service officer Tina Maier as the next Deputy Chief, announced on Wednesday.
Judge orders suspended police chief to pay $3,000 in costs
Derek Davis dropped a lawsuit against a newspaper company and its owner but he must pay them $3,000, a judge has ruled
Nearly two-thirds of Torontonians think Demkiw is doing a good job
Nearly two-thirds of Torontonians, 65 per cent, believe Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw is doing a good job, according to a new poll.
New Brunswick
Fredericton business groups call for greater action on community safety
According to a trio of Fredericton business groups, few issues have generated as much concern in the capital city than the topic of community safety.
Details of dismissed allegations against former Saint John police chief Robert Bruce that won’t be revisited | CBC News
National
Proposed bill would push RCMP to enforce First Nations law
A Senate committee began the study of a proposed bill that would make RCMP officers enforce bylaws enacted by First Nations.
RCMP strengthens ties with FBI, but critics warn Mounties are too dependent on U.S. - The Globe and Mail
Canada needs a radically reformed national police force better able to push its own complex cases through the courts, law professor says