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Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service facts for kids

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"NAPS" redirects here. For the United States Naval Academy's preparatory school, see Naval Academy Preparatory School. For a Native American private school in New Mexico, see Native American Preparatory School.
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Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
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Agency overview
Formed 1994
Operational structure
Headquarters 309 Court Street South
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Officers 203
Civilians 30
Elected officer responsible
  • The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Agency executive
Facilities
Divisions 34

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service (NAPS) is the police force for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN). NAPS helps keep communities safe across a huge area of Ontario. This area is covered by Treaty 9 and Treaty 5.

As of 2020, NAPS has 34 police stations in different NAN communities. It has 203 officers, and about 60% of them are Indigenous. This makes NAPS the largest Indigenous police force in Canada. It's also the second-largest in North America!

NAPS looks after an area that is about two-thirds the size of Ontario. That's as big as France! The police service gets its money from both the government of Ontario (48%) and the government of Canada (52%). The current Chief of Police is Roland Morrison, who started in 2019.

How NAPS Started

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service began on January 14, 1994. It was created through an agreement between the governments of Canada, Ontario, and the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation. The main goal was to create a police service run by Indigenous people. This service would provide policing that was effective and respectful of local cultures.

In the first few years, police officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) who worked in First Nation communities joined NAPS. By 1999, NAPS had taken over policing duties from the OPP in many communities.

Challenges NAPS Faces

NAPS officers work hard to keep their communities safe, but they often face big challenges. Many of their police stations are old and don't meet modern building standards. Sometimes, officers have to live in crowded homes or don't have proper housing in the communities they serve.

For example, in 2006, a fire at the Kashechewan First Nation police station caused serious damage. It also led to an officer being badly hurt while trying to help people. In 2008, the Kasabonika First Nation station had to close because it didn't have running water. Officers had to use a wood stove for heat and prisoners used buckets instead of toilets. Prisoners even had to be flown to another town, which was very expensive.

These problems show that NAPS has often been underfunded. This means they haven't had enough money for new buildings or proper equipment. However, a new funding agreement in 2018 helped a lot. It allowed NAPS to hire 79 new officers and upgrade important systems. Even with these improvements, NAPS still works with a tight budget.

A Sacred Calling Documentary

A Sacred Calling is a short film that shows the difficulties of policing remote communities in Northern Ontario. It highlights how not having enough money makes these challenges even harder. The film was made by RoseAnne Archibald, who was the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. She hopes the film will encourage the Canadian and Ontario governments to provide more support. The documentary shows real situations, like officers living in motels and using simple tools to secure cells.

NAPS Locations

NAPS has 34 police stations, called detachments, in different communities. The main office, or headquarters, is in Thunder Bay. NAPS also has regional offices in Cochrane, Sioux Lookout, and Thunder Bay.

How NAPS is Managed

NAPS is managed by a board of directors. This board includes a representative from each Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Tribal Council. There is also an independent review board that makes sure NAPS is doing its job well and is accountable to the communities it serves.

Chiefs of Police

NAPS has had several Chiefs of Police since it started.

Name Start of Term End of Term Notes
Roland Morrison September 2019 Current He is a member of the Chapleau Cree First Nation. He is the first chief to have started as a front-line officer and worked his way up.
Terry Armstrong September 3, 2013 September 2018
Robert Herman January 23, 2013 September 3, 2013 He was an acting chief and used to be the Police Chief for the Thunder Bay Police Service.
Claude Chum January 1, 2011 January 23, 2013 He is a member of the Moose Cree First Nation.
Robin Jones November 11, 2009 January 1, 2010 She was an acting chief and the first female chief of police for NAPS.
John C. Domm July 2008 November 11, 2009 He is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
Paul Russell Trivett January 2006 July 2008
Wesley Luloff 1994 2005 He was the longest-serving chief of police for NAPS.

Police Vehicles

NAPS uses different types of vehicles to do their work:

They used to have:

Police Ranks

Like other police forces, NAPS has different ranks for its officers:

  • Constable
    • Detective Constable
  • Sergeant
    • Detective Sergeant
    • Road Sergeant
  • Staff Sergeant
  • Administrative Sergeant
  • Regional Inspector / Regional Commander
  • Deputy Chief
  • Chief of Police

Special Units

NAPS also has special teams that focus on specific types of crime:

  • Guns and Gangs Unit
  • Provincial Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy
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