Treaty Three Police Service facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Treaty Three Police Service |
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| Motto | Serving the People and Communities of the Treaty # 3 Area |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 2003 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Legal jurisdiction | Aboriginal/Regional |
| Operational structure | |
| Sworn members | 85 |
| Elected officer responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Facilities | |
| Stations | 2 Sub Divisions several satellite detachments |
The Treaty Three Police Service (T3PS) is a police force in Ontario, Canada. It started in August 1999 as a plan by the Grand Council of Treaty 3. The T3PS officially began its work on August 5, 2003. It was Canada's newest police service run by a First Nation community itself.
Officers of the Treaty Three Police are called First Nations Constables. They have the same powers as other police officers. They help keep the peace and protect people and property. The T3PS works in all First Nations communities that signed Treaty Three. These areas were previously policed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). The T3PS handles most investigations. For very serious crimes, they can ask the OPP for help.
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How the Treaty Three Police Service Started
The Treaty Three Police Service officially became a police force on April 1, 2003. It took over all policing duties on reserves from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). This happened in the area covered by Treaty 3.
Current officers were re-trained and joined the new service. In the spring of 2003, a group of 12 new recruits went to the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, Ontario. They learned how to be police officers there.
What the T3PS Aims to Do
The T3PS has a special board that created its main goals. These goals are written down in the official documents.
- To give good police service to the First Nations communities. This service is also culturally sensitive. This means it respects the traditions and ways of life of the people.
- To explain the roles and duties of the police service. It also shows how the First Nations communities work with the police.
- To provide police services that help create peaceful and healthy communities. This includes keeping the peace and protecting people and their belongings. They do this by preventing crime, teaching the community, and enforcing laws.
The motto of the T3PS is "policing for the people by the people." This means the police serve the community and come from the community.
Who Works at Treaty Three Police Service
The main office of the T3PS is in the City of Kenora. It is located on Round Lake. This is where the Chief of Police and other leaders manage daily police work.
The T3PS has different ranks of officers. Sergeants manage the daily work in each sub-division. Constables are the officers who work directly with the public. They are the first responders. After finishing police college and a training period, new officers start as Fourth Class constables. They can then move up to First Class constable within three years. This depends on their experience and how well they do their job.
The Treaty Three Police Service currently has 85 sworn officers. They are hiring more officers as they can. Some officers have worked for other police forces before. These include the OPP, Lac Seul Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service. Many officers grew up in the local area.
How Officers Get Around
The T3PS uses several types of vehicles to help officers do their job. They use Chevrolet Impala SS cars, Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs, and Chevrolet Sierra trucks. In the past, they used Ford Crown Victoria cars, Ford Expedition, and Ford Excursion SUVs.
They also use boats and Polaris UTVs (Utility Task Vehicles). These different vehicles help officers reach all parts of their patrol area.
Police Technology
The T3PS uses the same personal equipment and radio systems as the OPP. They also use similar computer systems and training programs. This helps them work easily with the OPP. It also allows for good cooperation with nearby police forces.
The T3PS also uses updated OPP radio equipment. Since 2008, Treaty Three Police has been part of a large communication network. This means an officer in Kenora can quickly talk to almost anyone in the province. They can do this through the Provincial Communications Centers.
Uniforms and Gear
The T3PS changed its uniforms when it started. The old uniforms from the OPP program were replaced. Now, officers wear a navy blue uniform. It is a bit lighter than the OPP uniforms.
The T3PS has its own special symbol. A local person created this symbol. It is used on the officers' shoulder patches. Black armor vests and ball caps with the T3PS symbol replaced the old OPP hats and blue armor. The officers' duty belts and equipment pouches also have a new design.
The police cars were originally white. They were then changed to brown Impalas and Tahoes. Now, the fleet has over 20 vehicles. These include Chevrolet Impalas, Chevrolet Tahoes, and Toyota RAV4s. All of them are painted black with gold designs. The T3PS also started buying GMC Sierras to save money.
In 2003, a special dress uniform was introduced. This was for the graduation of the first 14 officers. This uniform is all black with gold trim. It has a military-style collar instead of a tie. This collar looks a bit like the uniforms worn by First Nations Chiefs during the signing of Treaty 3.
Where the T3PS Works
The Treaty Three Police Service helps about 18,550 First Nations residents. They serve 28 First Nation Territories. These areas are in the Kenora and Rainy River districts.
The area they patrol is very large, about 55,000 square miles. Because of this, the T3PS is divided into two main "sub-divisions." There are also smaller satellite detachments. These were kept from the old OPP program. The Kenora Sub-division is now run from the new Headquarters on Round Lake. The South Sub-Division is located near Couchiching First Nations.
Police Stations
The main office for the Treaty Three Police Service is in Kenora. The Kenora Sub-Division is also in the same building.
The South Sub-Division opened in March 2011. It is located on Couchiching First Nations land. Before that, it was housed at the Emo OPP Detachment.
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Kenora Sub-division
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South Sub-division/Couchiching Detachment (Fort Frances area)
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Funding Challenges in 2013
In March 2013, the Treaty Three Police faced money problems. They had to let some officers go because of a lack of funding. The local Member of Parliament, Greg Rickford, said the Ontario Government was to blame. He said money was put into a fund to hire officers. But there was no plan for what to do when that money ran out.
To keep the police service going, the Police Chief and the Chiefs of the communities tried to cut costs. They reduced wages and removed paid maternity leave. This went against an earlier decision to make officers' pay equal to OPP officers.
The Treaty Three Police Officers Union did not agree with these changes. They wanted the police board to follow their current contract. The police management and community Chiefs said that if costs were not cut, or if they didn't get more money, they would have to close the police service. This was to prevent the First Nations from getting into more debt.
Officers were given 45 days' notice that they might lose their jobs. However, the agreement states that 12 months' notice is needed to close the service.
After these announcements, people started a social media movement to support the officers. They questioned the decision to change the union agreement so quickly.
Later, the Chiefs changed the police board members. The new board worked to get proper funding. The Chief and Deputy Chiefs resigned. The layoff notices were then taken back. The new board and officers started working together to find a solution. They aimed to get better funding while staying within the budget.
By April 2014, talks were still ongoing. The board was also working to hire a new Chief of Police. The T3PS was also hiring more officers to get back to its full strength. Less than a year later, Louie Napish returned to the T3PS as Chief of Police. By the fall of 2014, the police board became a civilian board. This means it was made up of community members, not just Chiefs.
Images for kids
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The official badge of the Treaty Three Police Service.
