The Guelph Police Services Board will be holding their last meeting ever in January… because they’re getting a name change! What is the new name of this important committee? That is one of the many details that will be revealed in this meeting’s agenda, which will also cover some of the usual annual business that the Police Board needs to do, as well as some of the regular updates.
NOTE: This meeting takes place virtually at 2:30 pm but it will be broadcast on Guelph Police’s YouTube page.
Human Resources: Member Appointments – There are three new hires included in this report, one permanent and two temporary.
Budget Signing Authorities – This is one of those things that the Police Board has to do at the beginning of every year, the police chief’s submission of the signing authorities for the police budget. The signing authority list is based on position and not individuals. (The full list is on page 12 on the agenda).
Appointment of Acting Chief and Deputy Chief of Police – In another piece of annual business, Chief Gord Cobey will name the acting chief and the acting deputy chief in the event that the people holding those positions are unable to discharge their duties for whatever reason. The two acting chiefs are Deputy Chiefs Daryl Goetz and Steve Gill and the five acting deputy chiefs are Inspectors Andrea Ninacs, Scott Grover, David Doxey, Andrew Goody and Jeimy Karavaelus.
Professional Standards Fourth Quarter Report 2024 – For the last quarter of 2024 there were 17 new public complaints; three of them were referred to Professional Standards, two of those three remain ongoing. While no internal investigations were begun in the fourth quarter, there were six ongoing and half of those ended up resolved. In terms of the Special Investigations Unit, there were three matters referred to the SIU and two of them are still ongoing.
Board Subcommittee Appointments for 2025 – You don’t hear a lot about the subcommittees, but they’re still there and the time has come to confirm those appointments again. For review, the subcommittees are Collective Bargaining, Finance, Policy Review and Performance Appraisal. To see the full like of appointments, go to page 19 of the agenda.
Membership Renewals for 2025: Ontario Association of Police Services Boards and Canadian Association of Police Governance – The Guelph Police Services Board is a member of these two organisers, and obviously there’s an annual membership fee, which is accounted for in the police budget. $11,865 will go to the Ontario Association and $2,220 will go to the Canadian Association.
Board Correspondence Report – There are two pieces of incoming mail, thank you notes to the board from a local business and the executive director of the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition. In the outgoing mail, there’s a letter to Mayor Cam Guthrie, who *is* on the board, about the passage of the police budget at December’s meeting.
Appointment of Board Chair and Vice-Chair for 2025 – As we do when we get halfway through every term, we appoint a new chair and vice-chair, or re-appoint the current chair and vice-chair. Presently Peter McSherry is the chair of the board and Jane Armstrong is the vice-chair.
Guelph Police Services Board Name Change – In the history of minor changes, this may be the most minor of all. After a motion of the committee at this meeting, the “Guelph Police Services Board” will henceforth be known as the “Guelph Police Service Board”. Spot the difference?
Report on Aggregate Disciplinary Measures in 2024 – This is the last time we will get this on an annual basis because the Service will be moving to a schedule of at least two reports per year. According to this report though, there was only one disciplinary measure imposed in 2024.
Chief’s Monthly Update – As usual, Guelph Police Services Chief Gord Cobey will deliver a verbal report about the latest goings on at 15 Wyndham Street South.
Guelph Politico 