REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA
POLICE SERVICE BOARD
PUBLIC AGENDA

Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 9:30 A.m. - 10:30 A.m.

Niagara Regional Police Service - Headquarters

Community Room 1st Floor, 5700 Valley Way, Niagara Falls

To view the live-stream meeting proceedings, please visit

https://calendar.niagarapolice.ca/meetings 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

2.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

3.

DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT/PECUNIARY INTEREST

4.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

4.1

Minutes of the Public Board Meeting held Thursday, May 22, 2025

• That the Minutes of the Public Board Meeting held Thursday, May 22, 2025 be adopted as circulated.

5.

REPORTS FROM BOARD CHAIR

6.

REPORTS FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE

7.

PRESENTATIONS

7.1

Major Crime/Homicide Unit

Presentation on major crime, specific to the responsibilities and enforcement of officers assigned to the Niagara Regional Police Service's Homicide Unit.

• That the presentation be received. 

8.

CONSENT AGENDA

8.1

Inspector General of Policing - Provincial Public Order Maintenance Recommendations

Service report dated June 5, 2025 providing a summary of the Service's compliance with the 12 recommendations that focus on the shared responsibility of police services, police service boards, and the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) to further strengthen Ontario’s public order system, as identified following an inspection conducted between May 2023 and February 2024 by the Inspectorate of Policing to ensure compliance with Provincial Public Order Maintenance requirements.

8.2

RMON - NRPS Request for Operating Budget Amendment

Letter dated May 23, 2025 from Ann-Marie Norio, Regional Clerk, Niagara Region, advising of a resolution passed by Regional Council at their meeting held May 22, 2025 regarding the Niagara Police Service Board's request for an amendment to the Operating Budget to temporarily fund a NRPS secondment to the Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Task Force.

8.3

RMON - Motion Respecting Consolidated General Levy Rate

Letter dated June 4, 2025 from Ann-Marie Norio, Regional Clerk, Niagara Region, advising of a resolution passed by Regional Council at their meeting held May 22, 2025, regarding the establishment of the consolidated 2026 general levy rate.

8.4

Special Fund Acknowledgement/Sponsorship Fulfillment Report - Canadian Mental Health Association 

Email dated June 4, 2025 from Karen Marazzo, Communications & Revenue Development Coordinator, CMHA, acknowledging the Board's special fund donation in support of the “Wellness for All” fundraiser, and providing the Sponsorship Fulfillment Report for the event.

8.5

Special Fund Acknowledgement - Ontario Association of Police Service Boards

Letter dated June 16, 2025 from Executive Director Lisa Darling, OAPSB, acknowledging the Board's special fund donation in support of the 2025 OAPSB Spring Conference and Annual General Meeting. 

8.6

Annual Report - Collection Preservation and Control of Evidence and Property - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 28, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 469-2024.

8.7

Annual Report – Emergency Planning - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated June 3, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 476-2024.

8.8

Annual Report – Internal Task Forces - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 20, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 450-2024.

8.9

Annual Report - Ontario Sex Offender Registry - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 21, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 453-2024.

8.10

Annual Report – Police Response to High-Risk Individuals - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 28, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 489-2024.

8.11

Annual Report – Safe Storage of Police Service Firearms - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 23, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 497-2024.

8.12

Annual Report – Search and Seizure - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 21, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 458-2024.

8.13

Annual Report - Secure Holsters - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 27, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 498-2024.

8.14

Annual Report - Sexual Assault Investigation - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated May 30, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 499-2024.

8.15

Annual Report – Victims’ Assistance - January 1 to December 31, 2024

Service report dated June 5, 2025 submitted in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in Board By-law 461-2024.

• That the information be received.

9.

NEW BUSINESS

9.1

Community Watch in Niagara - Request to Reinvigorate Program

Email dated June 15, 2025 from Cheryl Rowe requesting the establishment of a community/neighbourhood watch program in the Niagara Region.

• That the matter be referred to Niagara Region and the Chief of Police for further consideration regarding the potential implementation of a community/neighbourhood watch program in Niagara.

9.2

Provincial Grant Funding Update - Impact on Police Budgets 

Service report dated June 6, 2025 providing a provincial grant funding update and request for Board approval to write the Ministry of the Solicitor General to acknowledge the benefits of their support for policing grant programs and to recommend improvements for more timely grant notifications to assist with budget planning and risk mitigation. 

• That the Board correspond with the Ministry of Solicitor General (SOLGEN) to urge the provincial government to prioritize sustainable and predictable funding for police services, and to implement improvements to existing grant programs to better support effective community safety planning and fiscal management.

9.3

Budget Planning – 2026 Operating Budget Forecast and Budget Timetable

Service report dated June 6, 2025 requesting Board approval of the draft 2026 budget planning timetable in accordance with the Regional Budget Planning By-law 2019-79, and providing a summary of known budget pressures to-date.  This follows Regional Council's approved motion recommending a 3.5% increase to the consolidated general levy, which would require a 4.5% reduction to the 2026 police base budget, resulting in a reduction of approximately 50 sworn police officers.

• That the Board approve the draft timetable in accordance with Regional By-Law 2017-63 - Budget Control, as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

9.4

Service Partnership Funding Model and Agreements

Service report dated June 2, 2025 requesting the Board approve funding agreements with Crime Stoppers, Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre, Victim Services Niagara and Niagara Safety Village to officiate continued funding support from the NRPS operating budget to each partnering agency. 

• That the Board authorize the Service to enter into Funding Agreements with Crime Stoppers of Niagara (Crime Stoppers); Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre (KFCAC); Victim Services Niagara (VSN) and Niagara Safety Village (Safety Village) to officiate the Service Partnership Funding Model, as appended to the report;

  And further, that Service Counsel be authorized to make minor adjustments to the agreements, as may be necessary, in consultation with Board Counsel.

9.5

Ontario Police Video Training Alliance (OPVTA) - 2025 Business Plan

Service report dated June 4, 2025 requesting the Board approve the 2025 OPVTA Business Plan, which reinforces both the NRPS and Board commitment to public safety and organizational excellence through the continuance of developing and distributing police learning materials to over 26,000 police officers representing 68 member agencies.

• That the Board approve the 2025 Ontario Police Video Training Alliance (OPTVA) Business Plan as outlined in the report. 

9.6

Ontario Police Video Training Alliance (OPVTA) - 2025-2026 Membership Agreement

Service report dated June 4, 2025 requesting the Board authorize the Chief of Police to enter into contractual agreements in relation to OPVTA memberships to allow member police services access to police video training materials and services provided by the Niagara Regional Police Service.

• That the Board authorize the Chief of Police to enter into the contractual agreement in relation to the Ontario Police Video Training Alliance (OPVTA) 2025-2026 membership, and to make minor adjustments as may be necessary in consultation with the Board Solicitor.

9.7

 Multi-Function Device Renewal and Replacement Lease Contract 

Service report dated June 2, 2025 requesting the Board approve extending the Service's Multi-Function Devices lease contract with Ricoh Canada Incorporated for an additional five years, which is consistent with the Region's Vendor of Record (VOR) approach, and will continue to provide the Service with competitive pricing, ongoing efficiencies, and access to vendor-managed support.

• That the Board approve a five-year extension of the current lease contract between the Niagara Regional Police Service and Ricoh Canada Inc., for the supply, installation, and support of Multi-Function Devices and the Separate Agreement as appended to the report.

9.8

Repurposing of NRPS Sergeant and Constable Positions

Service report dated June 4, 2025 requesting the Board approve the repurposing of one Sergeant position from the Member Support Unit to the Emergency Planning Unit and one Constable position from Community Services Program to the Member Support Unit, in support of frontline operations and better alignment with the Service’s goal of enhancing public safety and ensuring frontline policing receives adequate support when/where needed. 

• That the Board approve the repurposing of the authorized Sergeant position from Member Support to the new Emergency Planning Unit Sergeant position and the Constable position from the Community Services Program to the Member Support Unit, as provided for in the 2025 operating budget.

9.9

Approval for Public Donation to NRPS Canine Unit

Service report dated June 2, 2025 requesting the Board approve a donation from the estate of Irene May Gladwell to the NRPS Canine Unit. This will be the third and final donation from said estate to enhance the safety and security of Niagara citizens, while in keeping with the approval criteria set out in Article 9 of Board By-Law 424-2024 - Solicitation and Acceptance of Public Donations, Sponsorships or Private Sector Funding Arrangements.

• That the Board approve a public donation from the estate of Irene May Gladwell in the amount of $20,965.14 to the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Canine Unit.

9.10

Special Fund Requests - June 2025

Service report dated June 3, 2025 requesting the Board approve the following Special Fund requests:

1. Police Week - $2,000;
2. Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) - $3,000; and 
3. Future Black Female Summer Games - $1,000.

• That the Board authorize the Special Fund donations as outlined in the report and approve payment in the requested amounts.

9.11

Police Service Board By-Law Amendments - Chief of Police Performance Evaluation System

Correspondence dated May 30, 2025 from Deb Reid, Executive Director, Niagara Police Service Board, recommending amendments to the By-law governing the Chief of Police Performance Evaluation System to clarify and streamline the evaluation process by reordering the procedural steps.

• That the Board adopt the amended by-law as appended to this report.

9.12

Police Service Board By-law – Discipline of Service Members

Correspondence dated June 13, 2025 from Deb Reid, Executive Director, Niagara Police Service Board, providing a draft by-law regarding the discipline of Service members as required for compliance with the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA), and its Regulations.

• That the Board adopt the draft by-law as appended to the report; 

  And further, that the Board Chair and Executive Director be authorized to make any supplementary administrative amendments to the by-law, that may be required following any additional clarification of the CSPA and its Regulations that may be received by the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

10.

OTHER NEW BUSINESS

11.

IN CAMERA REPORTS

11.1

Agreement Extension Award - Police Towing

At its May 22, 2025 Confidential meeting, the Board considered a Service report dated April 30, 2025 requesting the Board approve extending the Agreement with Parkway Towing Inc. to set out service provisions regarding the towing of NRPS fleet vehicles and NRPS authorized towing and storage of public vehicles only.  The following motion was passed:

"The Board approved the Contract Extension Agreement between Parkway Towing Inc. and the Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Service Board for the period of June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, with an option to extend the term of the agreement for one additional year; and requested their decision be reported publicly. Carried."

11.2

Special Investigations Unit

Service reports detailing the findings and action taken pertaining to the investigations undertaken by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Niagara Regional Police Service for the incidents referenced below:

1. Case Number 24-OCI-360 – Incident of August 27, 2024;
2. Case Number 24-OCI-441 – Incident of October 17, 2024; and
3. Case Number 24-OCI-466 – Incident of October 31, 2024.

• That, in accordance with Board direction, the Board's decision(s) and/or in camera report(s) be made available to the public.

12.

MOTION FOR CLOSED SESSION

• That the Board move into Closed Session for consideration of confidential matters pursuant to Section 44 of the Community Safety and Policing Act, namely for subject-matter related to potential litigation, human resources matters, information supplied in confidence by the Ministry of the Solicitor General and from vendors for contract awards, as well as legal matters that are subject to solicitor-client privilege.

13.

ADJOURNMENT