Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing

The RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service (RCMP — FNCPS)

Introduction

The new First Nations Policing Policy, announced in June 1991 by the federal government, gives First Nations communities the opportunity to participate with provincial and federal governments in the development of dedicated policing services in their communities. First Nations communities may choose to develop and administer their own police service, or they may choose a police service delivered by a contingent of First Nations officers working within an existing police force. Either way, the new First Nations Policing Policy is designed to give First Nations communities greater control over the delivery and management of policing services in their communities.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police offers First Nations communities a dedicated policing service delivered by a contingent of First Nations police officers working within the RCMP. The RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service incorporates the principles and objectives of the First Nations Policing Policy, including: service levels equivalent to those of non-First Nations communities; compatibility and sensitivity to First Nations culture and beliefs; flexibility to accommodate local variations in policing needs; and a framework which allows for transition to an independent First Nations-administered police service where this is desired by the community.

This document outlines the major elements of the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service. Through discussion between community leaders and the RCMP, a policing service designed to meet the specific needs of your community can be developed using the elements described here. To apply for dedicated RCMP police services, or to bring an existing RCMP policing arrangement under the umbrella of the new First Nations Policing Policy, First Nations communities must contact the federal Ministry of the Solicitor General, and the appropriate provincial or territorial Attorney/Solicitor General, stating their desire to enter into a tripartite arrangement for the delivery of RCMP services. A policing proposal based on the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service can then be developed jointly by your community and the local RCMP, outlining the details of the desired police service.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has traditionally policed First Nations communities pursuant to provincial policing agreements. Services were further enhanced by the former Indian Special Constable Program. Under the new First Nations Policing Policy, the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service will be governed by two separate agreements: a Framework Agreement between the province/territory and the federal government outlining funding and other managerial arrangements; and a Community Tripartite Agreement between the First Nation community, the provincial government and the federal government, outlining the specific details of the community policing service.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is committed to a community policing approach to the delivery of First Nations policing services. Quality policing can result only from the commitment and involvement of the community concerned.

The RCMP will ensure that communities are involved from the start in the design, implementation and on-going delivery of their police services.

If you have any questions concerning the contents of this document, or would like to explore the RCMP policing option in more detail, please contact your local RCMP. They would be pleased to meet with you to discuss the details of the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service and the unique needs of your community.

Elements of the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service

The RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service is based on several service elements designed to be sufficiently flexible to meet the unique policing needs of your community. By discussing your community's circumstances with the RCMP, a policing proposal designed to meet your specific policing needs can be developed.

The basic elements of the RCMP Community Policing Service include the following:

1. Accountability to the Community

Your community will be encouraged to assist in the identification and implementation of community policing initiatives, and bring its policing concerns to the attention of the RCMP commander, through a Community Consultative Group. The Community Consultative Group will comprise a cross-section of members from your community. The precise terms of reference of the Community Consultative Group can be discussed and formalized with the RCMP during discussions and the development of a policing proposal.

The RCMP will provide your Chief and Council or other community governing body with periodic status reports and crime statistics. These reports will identify crime trends and clearance rates on a monthly basis, and highlight other items of specific interest to your community.

The RCMP will welcome comments from community members regarding the service it is providing. Periodic evaluations of the service will include consultation with community members.

2. RCMP Policing Jurisdiction

The RCMP police officers providing the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service in your community will have authority to enforce all federal and provincial/territorial laws. They will also have authority to enforce community laws made pursuant to the Indian Act or other enabling legislation. Enforcement of specific community laws should be discussed with the RCMP during the development of the policing proposal. Where requested, the RCMP can advise or assist your community in developing laws. The RCMP will strive to address any specific enforcement priorities identified by your community.

3. Recruiting, Training, Assigning and Supervising RCMP First Nations Community

Policing Officers Responsibility for recruiting, training, assigning and supervising the cadre of RCMP officers providing the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service in your community will rest ultimately with the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In assigning specific members to a community, the RCMP will take into consideration desired characteristics identified by the Community Consultative Group. The RCMP will make best efforts to ensure that members assigned to a community are culturally compatible with that community.

Your community will be encouraged to participate in the orientation of its RCMP officers by providing an information session on community history, culture and tradition. The orientation will help the RCMP provide services which are appropriate and culturally compatible with your community.

RCMP officers assigned to your community will devote 100 percent of their time to the policing needs of your community. A minimum of 80 percent of their time will be spent within the boundaries of your community.

4. Community Justice Initiatives

The use of community justice committees and healing circles will vary from province to province. If your community has a community justice system in place for local resolution of offenses, the RCMP will work with your community and the courts to ensure the ongoing success of your program.

If your community is not experienced with community-based justice initiatives but is interested in pursuing this option, the RCMP can work with your community and the courts toward introducing a suitable community-based justice program.

5. Funding Arrangements

The funding arrangements for the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service are specified in the First Nations Policing Policy. The relative financial contributions of the provincial and federal governments are 48 percent and 52 percent respectively. Financial planning, budgeting, including capital costs and payment for RCMP services will be governed by the Framework Agreement between the appropriate province or territory, and the federal government. First Nations communities will not normally be involved in payment for RCMP services, unless special circumstances exist.

6. Internal Management

The internal management of the RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service refers to its administration and the determination and application of professional police procedures. Responsibility for internal management will rest with the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

7. Minimum Standard of Policing

The standard of policing refers to the quality of services, ethics and degree of professionalism of RCMP officers. Responsibility for determining the minimum standard of policing will rest with the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in consultation with the Province.

8. Level of Service

Level of service refers to the number of police officers providing service in your community, and the hours of available service. Like all elements of the policing proposal, proposed service levels must be approved by your Provincial or Territorial Attorney/Solicitor General, the federal Ministry of the Solicitor General, the community and the RCMP before community tripartite agreements may be entered into.

There are standard methods of determining the appropriate service level for a community. These methods have been generally accepted by provincial and federal governments, and are based on population, historical crime rates and the special needs of a community. Factors such as these will decide the baseline service level for your community.

9. RCMP - FNCPS Models

The extent to which the RCMP-FNCPS unit providing services in your community will act as an autonomous, self-contained unit will depend on several factors in your community, the most important of which are population, degree of isolation, and crime rate. RCMP detachments can be broadly grouped as follows:

a. full detachment - Full detachments are autonomous units with a complete records system and a high administrative burden. Commanders of full detachments may report directly to provincial RCMP headquarters, or they may report to a sub-provincial headquarters.

Members are assigned to the detachment after a lengthy staffing procedure and assignments are relatively long-term. Full detachments function independent of other RCMP detachments.

Full detachments are usually opened where a community requires a service level of at least three police officers, and the community is isolated from other RCMP detachments due to distance or terrain. There are, however, exceptions to this which are based on unique circumstances.

b. satellite detachment - Satellite detachments in a community work in conjunction with a "host" detachment outside the community. Police officers in a satellite detachment provide dedicated police services in the community. The satellite commander reports to the host detachment commander.

Satellite detachments are less involved in the administrative aspects of police work, because the host detachment performs many of the administrative functions for them. Police officers in the host detachment may provide operational assistance to the satellite detachment when required.

In other respects, satellite offices function as independent units. The community deals directly with the members assigned to the satellite detachment. Satellite detachments are generally appropriate where the community is readily accessible by a host detachment, and has a significant population or crime rate, requiring at least three police officers.

c. outside detachment - Outside detachments operate as full detachments, but are situated outside the First Nation community and generally police a wider geographic area than just the community. Members are assigned to the First Nation community by the detachment commander, from the pool of members available at the detachment.

Outside detachments may operate in conjunction with a community service office, located within the First Nation community. The use of a community office can be discussed with the RCMP during the development of the policing proposal. Community offices can be used by the RCMP to maintain a regular, scheduled police presence in the community, where community members can walk-in and talk about specific police concerns.

Outside community policing, with or without a community office is generally appropriate where the level of service needed in a First Nation community is low, due to low population and crime rate, or where several First Nations communities exist in close proximity to one another, and agree on a regional RCMP policing service.

10. Accommodation and Equipment

Accommodation must meet the standards of the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Your community may be asked to supply accommodation to the standard of the RCMP. If no suitable accommodation is available, other accommodation options must be discussed with provincial and federal governments and the RCMP, and included in the policing proposal, along with proposed funding arrangements. Accommodation will vary from community to community, depending on what is available and the detachment model to be established. The equipment necessary for effective policing will be supplied by the RCMP.

11. Protocol With First Nations Police Services

A variety of protocol arrangements with existing First Nations Police Services is possible. If your community is interested in developing its band constables to a point where they can deliver an independent police service, this option can be discussed with the RCMP.

How to Apply

Communities interested in entering into a Community Tripartite Agreement for the delivery of RCMP services should inform their provincial/territorial government and the federal Ministry of the Solicitor General, through a Band Council or community resolution, or some other formal declaration of support. The RCMP will then arrange to meet with your community to discuss policing models and the community's policing needs. Your community and the RCMP will work together to draft a policing proposal outlining the details of the policing service.

Once a policing proposal has been drafted, it should be submitted by your community for discussion and negotiation with provincial/territorial and federal officials. After all parties are satisfied with the proposal, the policing arrangements will be formalized in a Tripartite Agreement.

Conclusion

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has a proud tradition of service to communities. The new First Nations Policing Policy will allow us to build on past experience while delivering a dedicated policing service which accommodates the particular circumstances of your First Nations community. Experience has shown us that truly effective policing must involve the community. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, through its RCMP First Nations Community Policing Service, is ready to work with your community toward a policing model which meets your unique and changing needs.

For more information, please contact:
RCMP Aboriginal Policing Services
Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing Directorate
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0R2

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