Decision INV-24-46: Inspector General finds Niagara Regional Police Service and Board failed to comply with policing requirements associated with an Ontario police service’s 911 call-taking and dispatch functions and Quality Assurance process

A complaint was forwarded by the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) to the Inspector General under section 108 of the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. The complaint alleged that the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) failed to dispatch officers after receiving a 911 cellular call in the early morning hours of August 30, 2024. The caller was found deceased several hours later and the last number called from his phone was 911.

The Inspector General found non-compliance with respect to the requirement to provide adequate and effective policing in relation to call-taking and dispatch and the implementation of a Quality Assurance Process. To prevent future non-compliance, the Inspector General issued directions requiring revisions to silent-call procedures, enhanced training, strengthened supervisory oversight, and improvements to quality assurance policies and procedures.

Outcome: IG found non-compliance and issued directions to the Chief of Police and NRPSB to prevent future non-compliance; ongoing report back to the IG on implementation of the direction required.