It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of KENNETH (KEN) RICHARD, Badge #4114, who passed away on September 21, 2025. Ken served at the Blind River, Kakabeka Falls and Thunder Bay Detachments before retiring as a Sergeant from Thunder Bay DHQ Communications Unit on March 31, 2002.
Ken is survived by his wife Penny and children Chris and Heather.
Visitation:
Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs
Smith Funeral Home
1576 London Line
Sarnia ON N7T 7H2
Service:
Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 1100 hrs
Smith Funeral Home
1576 London Line
Sarnia ON N7T 7H2
smithfuneralhome.ca
Family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial donations to:
Heart and Stroke Foundation
2300 Yonge Street Suite 1200 Box 2414
Toronto ON M4P 1E4
www.heartandstroke.ca
or
Charity of choice
Letters or cards of condolence may be forwarded to:
Mrs. Penny Richard and Family
344 Brittoli Avenue
Sarnia ON N7S 0C9
It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of MICHAEL (MIKE) WILLLIAM SKINNER, Badge #4236, who passed away on September 2, 2025. Mike served at Haileybury and North Bay Detachments, North Bay DHQ In-Service Training Unit, North Bay DHQ Communications Unit before retiring as Sergeant from the North East Region Operations Centre on May 31, 1999.
Mike is survived by his wife Margaret and children Darryl and Geoff.
There will be no service.
Family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial donations to:
North Bay Regional Health Centre – Foundation
50 College Drive
North Bay ON P1B 0A4
www.nbrhcfoundation.ca
or
Eastholme Residence Council
62 Big Bend Avenue
Powassan, ON P0H 1Z0
or
Charity of your choice
Letters or cards of condolence may be forwarded to:
Margaret Milligan and Family
30 Riddle Court
North Bay, ON P1B 8S6
The Association filed two policy grievances relating to how accumulated statutory holiday credits and vacation credits are utilized by members who are working reduced hours on a modified work arrangement and are in receipt of WSIB benefits.
The Association asserted members in receipt of WSIB benefits, who are working reduced hours, should only have credits deducted from their statutory or vacation time banks equal to the number of reduced hours they would have worked when they use a statutory holiday credit or take time off on vacation.
Written submissions were provided by the Employer and the Association to the Arbitrator over the course of several months.
Key to the Association’s argument was the interpretation of the identical language in Article 9.05(b) of the Uniform Collective Agreement and Article 15.02 of the Civilian Collective Agreement stated here:
Effective September 1, 2019, where an employee is absent by reason of an injury or occupational disease for which an award is made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, the employee’s salary shall continue to be paid without loss of credits for the duration of the member’s receipt of WSIB benefits.
In his decision, the Arbitrator determined the purpose of this provision is that of a top-up provision designed to ensure that a member in receipt of WSIB benefits will have their salary maintained so long as they are in receipt of WSIB benefits. The Articles stipulate the member’s salary will be maintained “without loss of credits” which essentially means, in the Arbitrator’s view, that the salary will be maintained without a corresponding deduction being made from any credits, which would include vacation and statutory holiday credits.
The Arbitrator agreed with the Employer that the language in both collective agreements say nothing about how deductions are to be made from statutory holiday or vacation banks when a member in receipt of WSIB benefits and top-up when a member uses a statutory holiday credit or takes a vacation. The Articles speak only to the maintenance of salary. The Arbitrator dismissed the grievance and supported the Employer’s interpretation and practices. The Arbitrator’s full decision and reasoning can be read by clicking on the PDF below.
It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of DOUGLAS (DOUG) RUTLEDGE, Badge #1788, who passed away on September 16, 2025. Doug served at Blind River, Elliot Lake, Barrie, Matheson Detachments and Sault Ste. Marie DHQ before retiring as Sergeant from the Belleville Detachment on February 28, 1990.
Doug is survived by his wife Katie and son retired OPP Detective Sergeant Greg Rutledge (Crime Prevention), his brother retired OPP Staff Sergeant Barry Rutledge (Q.P. Operations Support), and predeceased by his son David and brother in-law retired OPP Superintendent Ed Schroeder (Sault Ste. Marie).
Celebration of Life:
Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 1300 hrs to 1600 hrs
Belleville and District Shrine Club
160 Catharine Street
Belleville ON K8P 1M8
Family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial donations to:
Shriners Hospital for Children
1003 Decarie Blvd
Montreal Quebec H4A 0A9
www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/canada
Letters or cards of condolence may be forwarded to:
Mrs. Katie Rutledge and Family
44 Burns Avenue
Belleville ON K8R 1G2
It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of ROBERT (BOB) CAREY, Badge #4023, who passed away on September 7, 2025. Bob served at Peterborough and Pembroke Detachments before retiring as Senior Constable from the Rolphton Detachment on September 30, 1992.
Bob is survived by his wife Connie and children Tamara, Tanya, Colleen and stepson Mark.
Celebration of Life:
Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 1300 hrs to 1600 hrs
Town Hall
54 Rue de L’Eglise
Rapides des Joachims
Quebec J0X 3M0
Family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial donations to:
Les Maisons Des Jeunes du Pontiac
54 Rue de L’Eglise
Rapides des Joachims
Quebec J0X 3M0
Letters or cards of condolence may be forwarded to:
Mrs. Connie Carey and Family
372 East Water Street Unit D
Lock Haven Pennsylvania 17745
We’ve added a new Civilian Staffing Form to our website, specifically designed for members working in the Provincial Communications Centres (PCCs).
How to Submit a Staffing Form:
- Locate the banner at the top of the OPPA website page and click on the link that says: ‘Staffing Shortage Form’
- On the Staffing Shortages Form page, click “Select a Form”
- You will then see two options: ‘General Staffing Form’ and ‘Civilian Staffing Form – Provincial Communications Centre’
- Select the form that applies to you
- Fill out all fields and click “Submit” at the bottom
Your form will be automatically sent to the OPP Association.
If you experience any difficulty, please contact communications@oppa.ca
Reminder:
Please complete a staffing form whenever there’s a shortage at your Detachment or work location. This helps the Association monitor issues and take prompt action with the employer.
PCC Civilian Members: Please use the new form.
All Other Members: Continue using the General Staffing Form.
This year OPPA 5 Branch will have several executive positions up for election, including the Vice President, two Director positions, and four Branch Representative positions.
We are proud of the work we do, and we’re always looking to grow in strength and diversity.
Currently, our team is all male, and I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage more women to step forward and be part of a team that works tirelessly on behalf of our members. Your voice, experience, and leadership are not only welcome—they’re needed.
I will be posting an Expression of Interest formally in the near future.
Let’s build a team that truly reflects and represents the people we serve.
Sincerely,
Dwight Young, OPPA 5 Branch President
Retired Sudbury Detective Sergeant Jordan Buchanan joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to speak about his service with Sudbury Police and his secondment to OPP GHQ working with the early start up of the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System, known as the ViCLAS, in the 1990’s. He also touches on his experience as a Forensic Polygraph Examiner, and his newly released fictional novel “Past Ghosts Echoed” that is based on real cases and policing in Sudbury. Some of the themes of the cases in the book relate to an unsolved line of duty death of a police officer, using DNA to solve a cold case and a biker gang investigation. To learn more about Jordan and his work visit his website jordanbuchananauthor.com.
It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of DANIEL JOSEPH MITCHELL, Badge #2926, who passed away on August 30, 2025. Daniel served at Port Arthur, Upsala, Geraldton, Shabaqua and Belle River Detachments before retiring as Senior Constable from the Essex Detachment on February 28, 1995.
Daniel is survived by his wife Vivian and children Cameron and Tracy.
A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial donations to:
Ontario Police Memorial Foundation
200-2075 Kennedy Road
Toronto ON M1T 3V3
Letters or cards of condolence may be forwarded to:
Cameron Mitchell and Family
8 Sheppard Drive
Victoria Harbour ON L0K 2A0
It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of NOEL READMAN, Badge #3213, who passed away on July 30, 2023. Noel served at the Smithville Detachment before retiring as Senior Constable from the Burlington Detachment on August 31, 1995.
Noel is survived by his children Rob and Mike and predeceased by his spouse Sharon.
A Celebration of Life has already taken place.
Family has requested in lieu of flowers memorial donations to:
Juravinski Research Institute
711 Concession Street
Hamilton ON L8V 1C3
Family has requested no condolences at this time.