Supt. Isobel Granger to lead new Respect, Values and Inclusion (RVI) Directorate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 7, 2020   12:54pm 

(Ottawa) –Today, Chief Peter Sloly announced the launch of the Ottawa Police Service’s (OPS) Respect, Values and Inclusion (RVI) Directorate that will incorporate a whole-of-service approach to issues like workplace harassment, discrimination, human rights issues, as well as ethics, equity, diversity and inclusion principles.

The RVI Directorate addresses the major concerns raised by both OPS members and Ottawa community members for a more progressive and inclusive police service and is a significant investment in advancing the Ottawa Police Services Board’s strategic priorities.

“I am also pleased to announce that this new directorate will come under the command of newly-promoted Superintendent Isobel Granger. I want to congratulate Isobel on her promotion, which recognizes her longstanding and ongoing contributions to policing and community policing locally, nationally and internationally,” said Sloly. “She is a leader in the policing world and her investigative background, policing experience and great respect in our local community will be a major benefit to our service as we move forward. I have every confidence in her ability to lead this important and new directorate.”

OVERVIEW

The OPS Executive Command began planning the implementation of the RVI Directorate in late 2019 to help improve in the areas of workplace harassment, discrimination, human rights issues, ethics, diversity and inclusion. The new Directorate will build on the existing work of both the Respectful Workplace Program and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Project.

Under the command of Supt. Granger, this Directorate will work to ensure overall member inclusion and to promote better practices, policies and decision-making that is fair, respectful and equitable.  The Directorate will have a significant amount of leadership strength and experience in Director Deborah Aarenau with Respect, Ethics and Values and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director David Snoddy.

“The Board welcomes this decision by the Chief. We continue to see examples of members who do not exemplify the values of the Ottawa Police Service. Their actions quickly erode public trust and confidence and this needs to stop,” said Ottawa Police Services Board Acting Chair Sandy Smallwood. “It only takes a few to tarnish the reputation of many. We are extremely proud of the members of the Service who serve this community day-in day-out with the highest degrees of respect, professionalism, and integrity. This new Directorate will help support them in the work they do in the community and among their peers.”

HOW IT WILL WORK

RVI will be divided into two sections:

• Respect, Ethics and Values (REV) Section: Will be led by Director Deborah Aarenau and will focus on respectful workplace and ethics and will be mandated to implement proactive and responsive strategies to improve professional, ethical, values-based behaviour in all members and in the OPS as a whole.
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Section: Will be led by Director David Snoddy and will focus on how we can bring the broader membership together by implementing inclusive practices, as well as leading and incorporating systemic change throughout the organization. The EDI Action Plan, previously approved by the Board, will be the guiding strategy for the Section. 

Under the RVI Directorate, the newly formed REV Section will work to support professional, ethical, values-based behaviour in the OPS, and the new EDI Section will support the Ottawa Police with proactive and responsive strategies to better serve our communities.

GOING FORWARD

“Recently, the Service has been challenged by several incidents that do not exemplify our values as an organization or the expectations of the public. It is clear we have work to do to improve our culture and the RVI Directorate is designed to provide the supports and expertise we need to address and avoid these challenges in the future. We need a strong, holistic set of practices that will ensure that incidents, like the ones we have been witnessing recently, do not occur. We need to be united in this approach, and we need everyone to contribute to its success,” said Chief Sloly.

“Policing is a profession of both honour and courage. Every day we come to work for the sole purpose of helping those in need. We need to raise the bar on what we expect from each other, because that, in turn, will translate into how we serve and protect this city,” added Chief Sloly.

If you have questions, please email this new RVI Directorate at RVI@ottawapolice.ca. 

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