Diverse hiring can’t solve systemic issues in Ottawa policing, advocates say
While the Ottawa Police Service is highlighting the diversity of its newest class of recruits, some advocates fear broader representation in law enforcement won’t necessarily lead to positive changes for racialized community members. The Ottawa force’s newest class has 36 recruits speaking 14 languages including Tamil, Sinhalese, Hindi, Marathi and Kurdish, the OPS stated in a Feb. 27 news release. ...
Councillor calls on city to fix Ottawa’s most accident-prone intersection
An Ottawa councillor is demanding urgent improvements to an intersection in his ward that the Ottawa Police Service has identified as the most accident-prone in the city. According to an annual report on collisions — there were nearly 20,000 in 2024, the data shows — the highest concentration of crashes occurred at the intersection of Hunt Club Road and Riverside...
It’s the law: Ottawa Police Service Board developing diversity plan
The Ottawa Police Service Board is developing a diversity plan to comply with a 2019 provincial act requiring police boards to create and adopt plans that ensure police services reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Ottawa Police Service predicts large budget increase amid staff additions, body cameras
The budget for the Ottawa Police Service may see a significant increase next year, driven in part by additional hiring, salary increases and a plan to equip officers with body cameras.
Ottawa police preparing plan in wake of inquest into death of Abdirahman Abdi
The Ottawa Police Service says it is working on a plan to address the recommendations a coroner’s inquest into the death of Abdirahman Abdi, who died in 2016 following a violent police interaction.
More staff needed before expanding community policing, says chief
Ottawa police are confident that they will be able to expand into the city’s communities soon in response to concerns about rising levels of crime, though police staffing issues will need to be resolved first.
Ottawa police data shows “consistent increase” in intimate partner violence
The Ottawa Police Service responded to more than 6,600 intimate partner violence incidents in 2024 and has warned of an upward trend in such calls.
As hate vandalism incidents rise in the city, an Ottawa artist challenges stereotypes around graffiti
With an increase in hate graffiti complaints, the City of Ottawa is working to combat this. At the same time, local graffiti artists are fighting against hate in their own way by using art.
Thefts soar in Ottawa’s crime hotspot Rideau-Vanier Ward
Rideau-Vanier reported the highest reported theft cases in Ottawa, according to a Capital Current analysis of the Ottawa Police’s crime data.
Some downtown Ottawa convenience store owners say it’s not worth the risk to sell alcohol
Weeks after the Ontario government allowed convenience stores to sell beer, wine, and coolers, many store owners in Ottawa are taking a cautious approach, saying they have concerns about the impact on safety and the potential for increased shoplifting.
Ottawa councillors want more provincial help as police crack down on stunt driving
City councillors are pushing for updated provincial legislation to help police efforts to combat stunt driving
Ottawa police using force against black and Middle Eastern individuals in disproportionately high rate: report
Black and Middle Eastern people were more likely to be subjected to use of force by Ottawa police officers in 2023, with no improvement over numbers from 2022, according to a report by the police made public by the Ottawa Police Services Board. The report revealed that police used force against 310 individuals last year, including 81 perceived as Black and...