In 1991, now retired OPP Provincial Constable Scott MacLeod answered a distress call about a man with a gun threatening suicide. Just another addict going to jail was his first thought. Little did Scott know his involvement would be the beginning of a life-transforming event for Joe Roberts. The outcome was positive both for Joe and the police officer. Joe credits MacLeod with saving his life.
Listen to the podcast on the player above, on the OPPA Blog OPPA.ca/Media or on Apple, Google, Spotify and more podcasting platforms. Links to other platforms here.
Background:
Joe feels there needs to be more awareness of positive outcomes between people in mental health crisis and the police and has reached out to the OPP Association to tell his story, in an effort to help bridge that gap in any way he can. This podcast is the beginning of that outreach to create awareness of the good that police do to defuse situations involving people in mental health crisis. A social media campaign on OPP Association socials with Joe is planned in the near future.
Since Joe’s mental health crisis, he has since gone on to become a successful CEO and live a productive life. He is passionate about giving back to the community and raising awareness about mental health and homelessness.
Joe was the driving force behind “The Push for Change”. Joe began pushing a shopping cart across Canada to raise awareness and dollars to end youth homelessness. This national trek started May 1, 2016, from St. John’s, Newfoundland and ended September 29, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia: a 9,064 km, 17-month journey. The shopping cart is a symbol of Joe’s transformation from youth homelessness. The shopping cart for Joe represents the outcome we are trying to avoid for future generations of young people.
OPP Association Director, Rob Jamieson was among the many OPPA and OPP members, along with members of the public, who walked alongside Joe on the Push For Change.
In this podcast episode Rob interviews Joe about his life changing experience with an OPP officer, when his life challenges began, who inspired him to change, and the Push for Change, an event that Joe is carrying on today with his continued awareness and outreach.
If you have suggestions for future podcast topics or topics that can be shared celebrating the good work of our membership in our OPPA magazine “Beyond the Badge” (must be signed in as a member to OPPA website to view), please email communications@oppa.ca
OPP Association President John Cerasuolo spoke with Niagara Falls radio Morning Co-host, News Reporter Geoff Waterfield on 105.1 The River and 101.1 More FM on the topic of Bail Reform on March 17, 2023
Listen to the 8min radio interview on the OPP Association’s Soundcloud by clicking on the player below or clicking the above image.
Communications · OPP Association John Cerasuolo Talks Bail Reform on 105.1FM Radio The River Niagara 17Mar2023
Thank you you to Geoff Waterfield and the All New River Morning Show with Darlene and Geoff for sharing the file.
Congratulations to the Experienced Officer OPP Class #503 members who graduated at a ceremony at OPP GHQ in Orillia on March 16, 2023. OPPA President John Cerasuolo was honoured to attend. From everyone here at the OPPA, welcome to the team! (Photos courtesy of OPP Photographer Jayne van der Veen)
If you are interested in a career with the OPP, they are always hiring. You can find more info at OPP.ca/Careers.
The OPP Association is devastated to hear of the line of duty deaths of two Edmonton Police Service police officers, Constable Travis Jordan, 35 years of age with 8.5 years of service, and Constable Brett Ryan, 30 years of age with 5.5 years of service. Our hearts are with their families, colleagues, friends and the Edmonton community. The officers will always be remembered as Heroes In Life.
The OPP Association have lowered our flags to half staff at OPPA Head Office
The Edmonton Police released a media statement and held a press conference at 12pmET today. It can be watched on Youtube.
Click on image for links to listen on all major podcasting platforms
March is Fraud Prevention Month. Detective Constable John Armit of the OPP Anti-Racket’s Branch of the OPP joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss cryptocurrency, fraud trends in 2022, investment frauds, romance scams, grandparent scams (also known as emergency scams) and training of police investigators for fraud investigations.
Many of these scams can directly affect our members and their families. Awareness is key to avoid being victimized. A number of resources are available to assist front line officers in fraud investigations on the OPP Connections OPP Intranet for those with access by going to the “Tools” menu and typing in “Fraud”. A Fraud Investigators Handbook, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre resource page and the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch resource page can all be accessed there.
Det/Cst Armit is also featured on a CBC and BBC podcast series focusing on romance fraud called Love, Janessa, that we feel is also worth a listen.
Reporting of fraud is encouraged regardless of the scope. For official public info on recent scams visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website. Reporting can be done by phone or online. Click here for information on how to report fraud in Canada.
Listen to the podcast on the player above or on the podcasting platform of choice including Google, Apple and Spotify
For any inquires about this podcast please email communications@oppa.ca
Family of OPP Provincial Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala with OPPA, TPA and ProAction Cops & Kids
The family of OPP Provincial Constable Grzegorz (Greg) Pierzchala joined the OPP Association Board of Directors representative, Vice President David Sabatini, representatives from the charity ProAction Cops & Kids at OPPA Head Office in Barrie, Ontario on Friday, March 10, 2023 for a cheque presentation by the OPPA to ProAction Cops & Kids in the amount of $21,000.00.
The donation is in memory of PC Pierzchala, who was killed in the line of duty responding to a call for a car in the ditch on December 27, 2022.
Close to 2,250 t-shirts were sold to colleagues and the public to raise the funds in a campaign organized by Toronto Police Service Sergeant James Makhlouf of the Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), who knew PC Pierzchala. “We trained at the same Jiu-Jitsu gym and bonded over being cops,” said Sgt. Makhlouf. “The night it happened, I could see the pain in people’s eyes at the gym and I just needed to do something so we could remember Greg.”
Sergeant. Makhlouf suggested a t-shirt campaign – selling t-shirts with Constable Pierzchala’s badge and name printed on them. T-shirt campaigns have been done in memory of other officers in the past, so Sgt. Makhlouf thought it would be a great way to remember his friend.
He reached out to Toronto Police Service 31 Division Detective Phil Bevilacqua, as Phil had experience running similar campaigns. Detective Bevilacqua jumped on the idea. He arranged the shirt design and the provider FM Promotions in Vaughan, Ontario. The company covered their production costs, and all profits were donated to ProAction Cops & Kids in the officer’s memory. “Phil just started to pump it out. I had a spark and he turned it into a fire,” said Sergeant Makhlouf.
Sergant Makhlouf contacted the OPPA to get their permission and to ask for the family’s permission to run the campaign, which they all agreed would be a wonderful tribute to PC Pierzchala. When trying to decide where to donate the proceeds raised from the T-shirt Campaign, Sgt. Makhlouf thought about who Cst. Pierzchala was.
“Greg was more than just an OPP officer. He liked the outdoors and sports, and he was a great supporter of kids. I had been working with Ruban (PC Nibruban Ganeshalingam) who runs the ProAction Snow Patrol and thought of ProAction,” said Sergeant Makhlouf. Sergeant Makhlouf suggested to VP David Sabatini, that funds raised from this campaign could support ProAction Cops & Kids. The OPPA and Cst. Pierzchala’s family thought that it was an amazing fit. T-shirts in memory of Cst. Pierzchala were available to order until Friday, February 10th 2023 and could be ordered online.
All proceeds from the campaign will support a ProAction program or programs chosen by the Pierzchala family, in a way that they feel best honours Greg and supports all the things he was passionate about.
The OPP Association and the family of PC Pierzchala all expressed their gratitude to the organizers of this campaign, and everyone who supported it.
“We thank everyone for this generosity in memory of our fallen hero. We all feel Greg’s loss and feel that this money will assist Greg’s legacy to never be forgotten,” stated VP David Sabatini.
Toronto Police Association was in attendance at the presentation representing their members, and conveyed their gratitude to all involved in the campaign.
“When a police officer dies in the line of duty, we all feel it deeply. We share in your grief and will always be there to support you,” Toronto Police Association Director Mike Harris stated to PC Pierzchala’s family.
The family and ProAction Cops & Kids are in contact to decide which programs will be funded to bring cops and kids together in skill-building and mentoring programs to create trust, respect and safer communities.
Women in Leadership at the OPP Association Director Lynn Neale, CAO Lisa Shipley, Director Terri Hubbert
Thank you to all the women who work tirelessly on the front lines and behind the scenes to support public safety in Ontario. The contribution of each and every woman is valued today and every day.
March 8, 2023 is International Women’s Day. It is a great opportunity to celebrate and educate. This year’s theme is “Embrace Equity”. Learn all about the difference between equality and equity on the International Women’s Day official website.
The OPP Association is proud of the women who are a part of our organization, who mentor and lead in leadership roles like our Chief Administrative Officer, Provincial Directors, our Branch Executive and Branch Representatives, our staff members and our membership at large. Together, we embrace equity every day, and are always striving for excellence.
We wish all women celebrating this day best wishes in your personal and professional lives.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Click on image for more info and to make an online donation supporting bicycles for kids!
The “James Bay Epic Fat Bike Ride” is March 7th, 8th and 9th, 2023 – from Moose Factory to Attawapiskat by Fatbike! 300kms over 3 days, fully supported.
It will be cold, lots of snow and ice.. welcome to EPIC! Promoting health and wellness and funds for bicycle programs for youth in the communities of Moose Factory, Moosonee, Fort Albany, Kashechewant and Attawapiskat.
You can join virtually and ride where you live. You choose your time and distance. More info and to make a donation online click on this link.
The OPP Association is supporting Social Work Week 2023. Every day, Social Workers support people in navigating complex systems. This Social Work Week, let’s recognize the many facets of Social Work practice that enhance the Mental Health and well-being of people, families and communities. The hash tag for 2023 is #MobilizingMentalHealth and further information can be found at oasw.org/socialworkweek.
The Before Operational Stress (BOS) program provides public safety personnel with theoretical, practical, and experiential learning to enhance their resilience and mental health. It is the only empirically supported resiliency program in Canada that builds mental health resiliency, skills, and knowledge about managing the stress related to traumatic experiences. This is a proven effective program to reduce stress and mental health injuries related to workplace trauma and stress.
This training is available to all OPP members.
Attached are documents outlining the program delivery, and instructions on how to register for the program. The program is available at no cost until March 15, 2023.
For OPP members, please let your leader know if you participate in the training so that your PLDP/PDP’s can be updated and they’ll support you in how to update your WPIS.