b'A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N TContemporary Challengesand ChangesinPolicingfunding. This would include the concepttheOACPthefirstmajorCanadian of cost recovery for services renderedpolicinggrouptoacknowledgethe formassgatheringsatunsanctionedexistenceofsystemicracisminour By Chief Gary Conn eventsandrevenuesgeneratedprofession. The OACP Board remains throughalternativefundingmodelscommittedtoworkingwithand such as automated speed enforcement.R esolutionsandpositionsProtecting Our PeopleexposuresupportingtheAssociationofBlack LawEnforcers(ABLE)onanti-Black racismandtheIndigenousPolice BecauseoftheconstantChiefsofOntario(IPCO)ontruth takenbytheOACParetointerpersonalviolence,afearofandreconciliation,includingthe guiding our advocacy forrevengefromthecriminalelement,residential schools issue. In order to progressive and effectiveintense public scrutiny and overwhelm- address and mitigate these pressing policing.Weanticipateing workloads due to the circumstancesissues, our Anti-Racism Working Group that the Comprehensive Ontario Policeofthisdemandingprofession,someandEquity,DiversityandInclusion ServicesActwillcomeintoforceinofficerswillexperiencecatastrophicCommitteehavebothengagedin 2023 and provide substantial changeseventsthatultimatelyimpacttheirdialogue with our members to identify topolicingandimprovecommunitylivesandlimittheirabilitytoreturnaction items on policies, procedures, safety in Ontario. The philosophical shifttofrontlineduties.Policeleaderstraining, education and service deliv-frompolicingandcommunitysafetyhave and will continue to work withery related to systemic racism which tooneofpartnerships(relationshiptheWorkplaceSafetyandInsuranceallourcommitteescanaddressin building)andcommunitywellness,Board (WSIB), police associations andthis coming year. I am excited that, alongwiththerecognitionthatother policing stakeholders to enhancethrough discussions and collaboration policingisonlyoneelementofasupports,servicesandprocesseswith IPCO and the Ontario Provincial safeandhealthycommunity,hasforpolicepersonneldealingwithPolice, we are developing Indigenous resulted in the provincially mandatedworkplace injuries.Awareness Training for all police lead-municipalCommunitySafetyandThe WSIB is currently exploring aners that will include both an in-class Well-Being plans.increase in compensation from 85 perroom and an Indigenous community centto90percentofReplacewithvisit component. The sustainable funding model forLoss of Earnings, and the Government policing in Ontario continues to placeOrganizational improvement along further strains on police organizationsof Ontario is administering a programwithorganizationalculturechange as police service boards and councilstodistribute$45millionoverthreeshouldnotbeseenortackledasa review budgets for efficiencies, includ- yearstosupportprogramsprovidingseries of short-term solutions. Cultural ing the possibility of services shiftingpublicsafetypersonnelwithaccessand organizational change takes time, fromlawenforcementagenciestoto specialized mental health services.and time is a slow change agent. Our outside agencies. Police leaders haveAdditionally, we have seen a 33-per- professionandvocationhasalways always appreciated fiscal responsibilitycent increase in case managers. Thesetaken pride in being both progressive and the fact that the public will andareallstepsintherightdirection,and inclusive, while being fair, equit-shouldinquireintopubliclyfundedbut the Government of Ontario mustable and impartial at all times.investments regarding our profession.actively lead when it comes to WSIB Subsequently,wehaveadvocatedlegislativeandregulatoryreformin fortheGovernmentofOntariotoorder to enhance WSIB processes forChief Gary Conn is the Chief of collaborativelyworkwithus,policepolice personnel and our organizations.Police for the Chatham-Kent serviceboardsandmunicipalleadersI am proud to have been part of aPolice Service and served as the to conduct an official review into policeboard of directors that, in 2020, madeOACP President in 2021-2022.6 H.Q. Summer 2022'