The Toronto ombudsman has reported that the police registry created to assist officers in supporting individuals with various needs and conditions has experienced communication failures and poor management. The vulnerable persons registry, launched in 2019, was intended to allow individuals to provide personalized de-escalation strategies to police in order to aid officers in supporting those with emotional, psychological, medical, and physical conditions during emergencies. However, the ombudsman found that no one within the police service has taken responsibility for the registry, and the unit assigned to oversee it denied being in charge. As a result, the registry has seen limited use, with only 305 people currently having their information entered.
In his first investigation into the Toronto police, Kwame Addo, the city’s ombudsman, discovered that there is no promotion of the registry within the police service. Additionally, there is no central point of contact for registrants, no review of communication improvement strategies, and no oversight to ensure that staff are performing their duties. Despite these shortcomings, the Toronto police have stated that they will work to implement all of the ombudsman’s recommendations. However, the police force intends to eventually transfer the operation of the registry to a third party.
The lack of communication and poor management within the Toronto police’s vulnerable persons registry has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the program in supporting individuals in need. With only a small number of people having their information entered in the registry, it is clear that there is a need for greater promotion and oversight of the program. The failure of the police service to take responsibility for the registry and ensure that staff are fulfilling their duties has highlighted the need for immediate reform and accountability within the organization.
One of the key issues identified by the ombudsman is the lack of a central point of contact for registrants, which has hindered communication and coordination between individuals on the registry and the police service. Without a dedicated team overseeing the registry and ensuring that communication is effective, there is a risk that individuals in need will not receive the support they require during emergencies. By implementing the ombudsman’s recommendations and transferring the operation of the registry to a third party, the Toronto police can improve the program’s effectiveness and ensure that vulnerable individuals receive the assistance they need.
Moving forward, it will be important for the Toronto police to prioritize communication and management of the vulnerable persons registry in order to better support individuals with various needs and conditions. By increasing promotion of the registry, establishing a central point of contact for registrants, and ensuring that staff are fulfilling their responsibilities, the police service can enhance the program’s impact and effectiveness. It is essential that the Toronto police take ownership of the registry and work towards implementing the necessary changes to better support vulnerable individuals in the community.
