Preamble: Emergency incidents (natural and otherwise) are increasing in quantity and most certainly in complexity. Emergency preparedness is an increasing priority for police services. Public expectations about the police ability to emergency incidents have also grown and the police can not afford to lose public trust by mismanaging emergency incidents. 

WHEREAS Ontario police services need to enhance the ability to plan for, mitigate, respond to and recover from emergency incidents; and

WHEREAS Ontario police services need to adopt systems that allow for greater interoperability as it relates to emergency preparedness; and

WHEREAS there is presently no single common approach to emergency preparedness in Ontario despite the need for a standardized system that encompasses command, communication, operations, planning, logistics and finances; and

WHEREAS the Incident Management System (IMS) is an evidenced-based proven emergency preparedness system that provides solutions for all the issues and needs outlined above; and

WHEREAS IMS has been adopted by FEMA, 8 of 10 Canadian Provinces, the CACP Emergency Preparedness Committee, and several Ontario based police services; and

WHEREAS the MCSCS Office of Emergency Management Ontario produced a doctrine that adopts IMS as the best emergency preparedness system to achieve its desired end state of “seamless interoperability”.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police formally adopts IMS as the recommended emergency preparedness system for its member police services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the OACP will work with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ Emergency Management Ontario and other municipal, provincial, and federal stakeholders to ensure that Ontario police services are supported by appropriate emergency preparedness standards, training, resources, and funding.

Resolution source:
A/Commissioner M. McDonell & Staff Superintendent P. Sloly, Co-Chairs, Emergency Preparedness Committee