Communications and Technology Services Bureau

The Ontario Provincial Police relies heavily on its investment in information technology and telecommunication resources to deliver a variety of services from front-line policing and specialized investigations, through to the many vital administrative support functions.

Information technology is a cornerstone in O.P.P. operations and business processes and is critical to fulfilling the O.P.P.'s vision of “Safe communities and a Secure Ontario.”

Communications and Technology Services Bureau is a large and diverse entity. Some 650 professionals serve the organization through their work in Technologies and Applications Management, Client Management and Support, and Provincial Communications Operations.

Communications and Technology Services Bureau's work is shaped by the needs of communities and citizens, front-line personnel, investigative staff, and its Ministry and policing partners.

Technology and Applications Management

Technology and Applications Management Section is responsible for the acquisition, development, maintenance and support of technology-based solutions for the O.P.P.. Through the provision of data, asset and project management; Public Key Infrastructure (P.K.I.) and digital rights authentication; application and network integrity; geographic information systems; and computer aided dispatch and records management application support, this section works to ensure the cohesive implementation and maintenance of technology to support the business needs of the O.P.P. now, and into the future.

The P.K.I. technology is critical to the O.P.P. in that it provides an enhanced capability to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of electronic information. It provides a uniform way to identify system users, encrypt protected information, and restrict users based on “certificates of trust”. Geographic information, computer aided dispatch and records management systems and applications support the O.P.P.'s six Provincial Communications Centres ensuring that officers can be dispatched to calls for service promptly and information can be captured and accessed quickly and accurately.

The section manages in excess of 4,800 desktop and laptop computers and 328 servers at more than 350 locations and sites. The section has direct involvement in several databases such as the fleet, quartermaster, and weapons vault systems, Professional Standards Complaints system (IAPro), the photo lab system, fatal reporting system, G.I.S. database system, and e-ticketing. Its indirect involvement extends to the Niche R.M.S. system, Win, I.F.I.S., and the Anti-rackets super-text system.

Client Management and Support Section

Client Management and Support Section is the customer service hub of the Bureau. Through its systems support and service desk management units, this section, in partnership with the Ministry, staffs a help desk and deploys systems and other technical specialists to resolve technology based issues. Deployed throughout the province, the professionals in this section are not only reactive; they also provide solutions to answer the O.P.P.'s many hardware and software requirements.

Provincial Communications Operations

Provincial Communications Operations is responsible for the operation and support of the O.P.P.'s six Provincial Communications Centres (P.C.C.). Distributed throughout the province, each of the P.C.C.s provides 7/24 services to members of the public who contact the O.P.P. with emergencies or other calls for service. Section personnel represent the O.P.P.'s interests in the Government Mobile Communications Project, and work closely with numerous vendors to ensure that the O.P.P.'s telephone and radio infrastructure is responsive and contributes to the ongoing safety of the public.