b'A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N TCollective Leadership forCurrent Challengesand By Chief Gary Conn, ChangesinPolicingPresident, Ontario Association of Chiefs of PoliceT helandscapeofpolicingby law enforcement organizations tobypoliceleadersthatsystemic continuestoevolveatother agencies. racismexistsinourprofession anunprecedentedpace.As policing in Ontario continues to(althoughitisbroaderthanjust Issuessurroundingthemove forward as a profession, equity,any one profession and exists at a COVID-19pandemicdiversityandinclusion(EDI)needssocietal level) have all contributed (mandatoryvaccinationforpolicetobeembeddedintoallaspectstowardsarecognitionthatreform personnel,vaccinedeclarationorganizations,includingleadership,and change are inevitable. statusesandvaccinecompliancerecruiting,training,language,sym- Leadership Approaches checks),theupcomingchanges tothelegislationthatgovernsbols, aesthetics, policies, procedures,As we work to address some of these policinginOntarioandmaintainingprograms and organizational culture.challenges,avarietyofleadership publictrustarejustsomeofEnsuringweplaceanEDIlensapproacheswillbenecessaryto thechallengesfacingOntariosoverallourinternalandexternaldevelopandimplementeffective policing leaders.processesandsystemswillhelpinterventions.Ablendofdifferent increase transparency, accountability,leadership styles is helpful for any Thenewlegislationgoverningpolice legitimacy and public trust. Atleader, as it provides options when policing, the Comprehensive Ontariothe same time, it will enable us toworking with a multitude of differ-Police Services Act, attempts to miti- mitigate stereotypes and biases andentpeople.Thisrequiresthatwe gatecomplexsocialtrendsthroughhelp break down the stigma attachedsincerelycareforthepeoplewe theexaminationofalternativetopolicepersonnelsufferingfromwork with. I have often said, People service delivery models and modifiedoperational stress injuries. dont care how much you know until deploymenttacticsregardinguse- they know how much you care.of-force,certainlywithrespecttoFinally, but certainly not least, the thosesufferingwithmentalhealthnegativeportrayalofpolicinghasThe complex problems we face do issues.Thelegislationwillpresentfurther eroded public trust and policenothavestraightforwardanswers. challenges for police leaders. It willlegitimacy. It has contributed to theThese problems call for leadership, place further strains on police leader- reducednumberofapplicantscon- whichwemightdefineasusing shipwithpoliceboardsreviewingsidering our vocation as a profession.onesabilitytoinfluencegroups budgets,lookingforthingstocutThe heightened awareness of move- andsystemstoaddresscomplex and increasing the possibility of out- mentslikethosecallingtodefundneeds. In this regard, I believe that sourcingservicescurrentlyprovidedpolicingandtheacknowledgementa progressive, proactive, collective/6 H.Q. Winter 2021/22'