Ottawa police say translation system in body-worn cameras already helping in the community
Ottawa police are touting the success of their body-worn camera pilot project so far, saying the technology in the systems is helping them respond more quickly to community needs.
AI in body-worn cameras major time saver, Ottawa police tell board
Ottawa police say they are already seeing benefits from the Artificial Intelligence system built into the body-worn cameras, a system the force plans to continue expanding in the coming years.
LGBTQ2+ activists, police say drop in hate crimes not accounting for large number of unreported incidents
The number of reported hate-motivated crimes directed at the LGBTQ2+ community is declining in Ottawa, which would be good news if there wasn't so much uncertainty around the numbers.
Surveillance society? Ottawa police use of AI technologies concerning civil liberties experts
Civil liberties experts are expressing concern about use of AI technologies by Ottawa police.
There’s an app for that: OC Transpo to provide real-time crime reporting
OC Transpo will introduce a new app next year for reporting crime on transit.
Ottawa proposes 3.75% tax hike to pay for transit, police and other priorities
Ottawa City Council unveiled its 2026 draft budget Wednesday morning, announcing property tax and OC Transpo fare increase.
Increase in thefts raises safety concerns at Rideau-Nelson intersection
Capital Current has found that the Rideau and Nelson streets intersection is one of the worst in the city for thefts under $5,000.
Fewer assaults reported in ByWard Market, yet safety remains a concern for locals
Assaults in the ByWard Market are down somewhat still the area feels unsafe to some. They say more needs to be done, especially during the day.
Mending student-police relations in Ottawa schools is underway
The Ottawa Police Service has adopted a new approach to provide resource officers and to strengthen its relations with all Ottawa schools.
“This is my bike!”: Ottawa family races to recover stolen e-bike
To protect you investment, lock your bike in well-lit, highly visible areas with sturdy, immovable racks. Use a high-grade steel lock and secure the frame and wheels properly, ideally with more than one lock. Then register your bike with the free 529 Garage app, which allows police to quickly identify and return stolen bikes to their owners.
Blunt oversight: As knife violence continues in Ottawa, data about the danger is lacking
Eight stabbings have happened Ottawa within the last four months, what action is being taken?
Ottawa police to start wearing body cameras in the fall but longer-term costs uncertain
Ottawa police will press ahead with a body camera trial this fall, though questions remain about the overall costs of a larger roll-out of the devices.
New mounted unit awaits gear, more training before police horses fully deploy
The new mounted unit of the Ottawa Police Service has secured a stable in the south end of the city but awaits further training and equipment — including protective gear the horses will wear when providing crowd control at demonstrations — before fully deploying next month, according to a recent report presented to the Ottawa Police Service Board. Since April,...
New legislation renders OPS special event staffing process non-compliant
The Ottawa Police Service may need to change its administrative process for staffing special events such as professional sports games, festivals and construction sites following a change in provincial legislation. On July 7, the Ottawa Police Service Board’s policy and governance committee received an update on which body has the authority to oversee the staffing of these shifts, which are...
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...
Advocates say disproportionately high number of traffic stops involving Middle Eastern and Black drivers requires accountability
Community advocates say the the report of disproportionate traffic stops by police involving Middle Eastern and Black drivers demands some sort of accountability for the police making the stops.
Professors and workers say if police move to break up uOttawa encampment, ‘they will have to go through us’
Supporters of uOttawa encampment ready to defend students from police action.
$1.6M cost of policing pro-Palestinian protests in Ottawa shocking, uOttawa student says
A police report that talked about the cost of policing pro-Palestinian demonstrations condemned by protesters and students at an Ottawa Police Board meeting.
Ottawa police not investigating Tabaret statue vandalism
Ottawa police not investigating vandalism of uOttawa founder's statue.
Councillor expects backlash over $193M south-end police HQ rising in Barrhaven
After a decade of discussion a new Ottawa police headquarters is under construction in the Barrhaven area. Costs are rising on the project.
Data shows how rare incidents like Barrhaven murders are in Ottawa
The community's reaction to the Barrhaven killings shows how rare and shocking incidents like these are in Ottawa. Data on murder rates in Ottawa backs this up.
Concern about security and organized crime as vehicle thefts soar in Ottawa
Capital Current analyzes the concerning rise in car thefts in the city, as well as the measures the police force are taking.
Rising theft in Ottawa raises safety concerns for businesses
“He wasn’t our usual clientele,” Ça Va De Soi sales associate Laly Delaoune said. “But I don’t judge people by appearance, so I’m going to give the same service to everybody.” “He was actually polite, and he was apparently looking for a gift for his mother,” she said. Delaoune offered suggestions to her customer for a suitable present. Within seconds,...
Carleton, uOttawa students set to party face St. Patrick’s Day police crackdown
Ottawa Police and Bylaw officers will be out in force near university campuses to put a limit on St. Patrick Day partying.
Enforcement overhaul: Ottawa Police Board members set to study how to recognize systemic racism and more
Members of the Ottawa Police Service Board are set to undergo new provincial training on topics like multiculturalism and systemic racism.
Nearly 200 brave souls take polar plunge to raise money for Special Olympics
Law enforcement officers, friends, family and community members took turns plunging into ice-cold water at TD Place recently, raising more than $30,000 for Special Olympics Ontario during the annual Polar Plunge.
Police under fire for using force more against Black, Middle Eastern citizens
Robin Browne is calling for the Ottawa Police Services to take action as they continue to use force disproportionately in Black and Middle eastern communities.
Barrhaven is Ottawa’s car-theft hotspot, and residents aim to do something about it
Facing a high rate of car theft, many Barrhaven residents are adding additional security measures to protect their vehicles.
Feeling unsafe: Sandy Hill residents concerned with lack of policing, drug-related crimes around safe injection sites and other services
Residents of Ottawa’s Sandy Hill neighbourhood voiced some strong concerns with under-policing in the area, especially around safe injection sites and other community services.
Hate on the rise: Ontario sees increase in police-reported crimes
Toronto and Ottawa police hate-crimes statistics show rise of uttered threats and hate crimes as a whole in Ontario.
Ottawa police board approves $13.4M budget increase with plan to hire more officers
The Ottawa Police Service wants to hire 555 sworn and civilian positions over the next three years.
Ottawa-Gatineau property crime at an all-time high, most recent statistics show
The Ottawa-Gatineau area had the highest rate of reported incident-based offences in 2022.
Ottawa communities have a need for speed control measures, but are they effective?
Suburban wards are now seeing drivers speeding through residential neighbourhoods as they try to avoid traffic congestion.
Sandy Hill residents hope better policing and planning will prevent post-Panda Game chaos
The Ottawa police say they will have a "significant and sustained" presence in the ByWard Market, Sandy Hill and Old Ottawa South areas for pre and post-Panda Game activities.
City builder: Dr. Gail Beck is a champion of mental health and new police board chair
Dr. Gail Beck is a child psychiatrist at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and now chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board.
Police aren’t the solution to rising crime in Ottawa, experts say
Concerns over an increase in acts of violence and crime continue to rise, and Ottawa communities are left searching for answers.
Police association defies critics, vows to keep flying divisive ‘thin blue line’ flag
The president of the Ottawa Police Association says the group will continue to use the “thin blue line” sign to signal solidarity among officers despite backlash from city officials and advocacy groups that see it as a symbol of racism. The organization came under fire after the emblem was seen on hockey jerseys during a March 10 charity hockey game...
Ottawa council, police acknowledge ‘epidemic’ of intimate partner violence
On International Women’s Day, Ottawa city council passed a motion and declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.
Police attempt to pre-empt St. Patrick’s weekend party trouble with neighbourhood info blitz
Ottawa police are warning against large out-of-control partying during the St. Patrick's Day weekend.