Features Back of the Book
Transformative policing: Reflections on the past 35 years

Almost 35 years ago, I and the other 74 members of the Toronto Police Service’s Recruit Class 88-05, received our badges from Chief Jack Marks, graduated from Charles O’ Bick College and were deployed to the stations to officially start our careers. We were part of a new generation of police constables honoured to take the torch from those who proudly served and protected Canadian communities over the twentieth century and carry it forward into the new millennium!

Our recruit class reflected the demographic changes that were taking place back then across Canada, with more women, minorities and Indigenous officers who spoke more languages and possessed more post-secondary education. Our recruit class also held the core values that had underpinned the best traditions of Canadian policing; compassion for all, selfless service to the community, and a willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice.

It was these qualities that led to so many glass ceilings being broken by our generation. Each individual success story was only possible with the support of our brother and sister members from all backgrounds, ranks and roles; members who refused to be a bully and wouldn’t be bullied into being bystanders but instead became active allies, leaders and champions to promote and protect the rights of all.

Gone now is the uniform and equipment circa 1989; revolvers, speed loaders, wooden batons, three-cell flashlights, and leather Sam Brown belts. Yet it was our generation of Canadian cops that piloted new Star Trek-like equipment, including a suite of less lethal force options, breathable micro-fibre uniforms, lumbar-friendly web belts, paramedic quality first aid equipment, body-worn cameras, drones, robots, and the most powerful of all tools – a rechargeable data-enabled smartphone that puts the world’s accumulated knowledge at every cop’s fingertips.

The massive metal patrol cars with the clunky radio and no air conditioning gradually evolved into state-of-the-art, ergonomic vehicles that served as mobile offices with the computing power to operate as hi-tech command posts. Civilian members led the design, implementation and evaluation of many of these innovations, and as such, they are no longer seen as a “support” to core policing but have become “mission critical” to the future of policing.

The summer of 1989 birthed a generation of officers with great responsibility and the incredible opportunity to meet constant changes and challenges throughout our careers.

Criminals also rapidly evolved over the past three and a half decades by using 3D printed guns, committing digitally enabled crimes in the deep web, and pushing devastatingly deadly designer drugs that are destroying whole Canadian communities. It sometimes seems we are caught up in a hopeless never-ending mouse trap game and an ever-escalating arms race. At such times, the very best of our police service members dig deeper personally, work smarter collectively, and partner more effectively externally because they care deeply for their profession and the public they are sworn to serve.

We protect beyond deciding what level of force to use as we are increasingly equipped and enabled to save lives by spraying Narcan, applying tourniquets, and referring people to a growing array of online and in-person social service agencies. We became less isolated and reactive by learning to better integrate our operations with other compassionate, courageous, committed professionals such as school guidance councillors, mental health nurses and violence interrupters. Our willingness to invest in upstream prevention operations is improving community safety and well-being while reducing the financial and social costs of policing. We are slowly (re)building public trust and community confidence in our institution.

Despite all the hi-tech operational advances since 1989, there have been far too many outcries from marginalized, racialized communities that were being over-policed and under-served—concerns that needed to be addressed. Our IT-enabled, high-five-worthy occupational health and safety successes are also cold comfort to the truth that our institution could have prevented more of our colleagues from enduring physical degradation and developing moral injuries, with some tragically taking their own lives. We are more determined and capable than ever to “do no harm” to our communities while doing a better job of healing our members in body, mind, heart and soul.

The summer of 1989 birthed a generation of officers with great responsibility and the incredible opportunity to meet constant changes and challenges throughout our careers. We also simply couldn’t have done it without Blue Line Magazine. From the glossy, yellow-bordered paper magazine in the guardroom that I would read prior to parade, to today’s digitally interactive version that arrives without fail in my inbox, Blue Line has been faithfully by our side, documenting our successes and advances, identifying new technological and operational innovations, and, most importantly, partnering with us in building a safer, more just, and more inclusive society.

Policing and Blue Line have accomplished so much together over the last 35 years. I can’t wait to see what we can co-produce together over the next three to five years and beyond!

Peter Sloly has had three successful careers: as a professional athlete, a partner at Deloitte, and a police officer who rose through the ranks to become chief of the Ottawa Police Service. Sloly is a progressive police leader, a passionate public servant, and an experienced private sector executive.