Ottawa police to use outreach teams to diversify recruiting

The Ottawa Police Service plans to relaunch a program which embeds officers in diverse communitiesas a way of enticingpeople of different ethnic backgrounds to join the force.

A dedicated outreach team was createdin 2005, but it was dissolved in 2008 when adecision was made to spread itsresponsibilities among all officers.

On Friday, Staff Sgt. Debbie Millertold the police human resources committeethatpolice need to renew efforts to build relationships withOttawa's diverse populations.

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"We've got get out into our community," said Miller, who leads the Ottawa Police effort to recruit diverse candidates.

After consulting with community groups about the best way to do that, a decision was madeto bring back the dedicated team.

"That's how we find our best candidates, when we can talk to all parts of the community," saidDebra Frazer, director general of corporate services for the Ottawa Police Service.

The outreach team will also work to improve the image of police indifferent communities, Frazer said.

Ottawa competing for diverse recruits

Police are competing with other police services from across Canada for qualified diverse candidates, the committee heard. Ottawa hopes to hire 375 to 500 new officers over the next five years, including 25 in 2018.

Miller said she hopes the outreach program will give Ottawa a leg up on other cities, as well as the OPP and the RCMP,who are all aggressively seeking diverse recruits.

The program willcost about $500,000,but those funds will likely be found insidethe existing police budget, Frazer said.

The service is also working on a census to learn how many of the officers already on the force arefrom minority or Indigenous groups.

The outreach team team will be in place within three months, Frazer said.