By Scott Foster
While other emergency services are undergoing considerable changes, the only new thing about Ottawa’s police department is the name.
As of Jan. 1, the former Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service officially became Ottawa Police Service.
The name change was made according to the provincially legislated City of Ottawa Act.
Bill 143 began the amalgamation of police services that started in 1995 when the former municipalities of Ottawa, Gloucester and Nepean joined forces.
Other municipalities joined on a few years later, switching over to municipal policing from provincial policing.
Areas of responsibility and jurisdictional boundaries of the new police service will continue to replicate those of the old service.
The only amalgamation-related item left for the new police service is the introduction of a new corporate identity.
This means a new logo will be featured on uniform shoulder patches, squad car decals, equipment, and signage.
The new logo will be unveiled by mid-year.
A police service team is developing a plan to phase in the new name and logo.
The team will emphasize safety, visibility and recognition when it makes recommendations on the new identifiers.