BackOntario Ombudsman André Marin called on the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to take concrete action to support police officers across the province who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide and other forms of operational stress injuries.
Both the OPP and Ministry have been reluctant to acknowledge and tackle operational stress injuries among police and have shown little leadership in implementing proactive, preventive programs to help officers, Mr. Marin concludes in his report, In the Line of Duty.
"Protection of the psychological welfare of police officers is a systemic issue calling for a systemic solution,” the Ombudsman says. “The officers who put themselves on the line to protect Ontario’s citizens deserve assurance that the province has their backs.”
Mr. Marin makes 34 recommendations in the report, focusing on the need to confront the persistent stigma against operational stress injuries in police culture, increase the psychological services available to officers and develop comprehensive, provincewide programs aimed at preventing and dealing with operational stress injuries and suicide.
Please find the full version of the press release as download below.
Source: Ontario Ombudsman
