Professional Standards

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) values public trust, and we continually strive to demonstrate a high level of duty of care when conducting our operations.

One of the ways we seek to earn public trust is by ensuring we have levels of oversight that hold our Service and our members accountable. Public complaints may be made by members of the public to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD). The Chief of Police may also initiate internal investigations.

In addition to resolving complaints with formal or informal discipline, the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) has a formal process to resolve less serious complaints through mediation, facilitated discussions, education, training and policy reviews.

These processes often foster dialogue and mutual understanding between complainants and our members and are often a more efficient means of resolving complaints.

A breakdown of complaints handled by the PSU is captured in our Annual Report.

Property Damage Claim

If you feel that the Ottawa Police Service has incurred damage to your property as a result of police actions, you may submit a claim through the City of Ottawa’s Claims Unit or the Ottawa Police Service’s Professional Standards Section as follows:

In order to submit a Property Damage Claim, a letter must be written, containing the following information:

date of claim or notification;
name, address and telephone number of the person making the claim;
date, approximate time, location and police report number (if known) of the incident giving rise to the claim;
apparent cause of the loss or damage incurred (to the extent it is known); and
nature of damage incurred (i.e. personal injury, property damage, loss or property, expenses incurred etc.);
a receipt or invoice for damage incurred.

Submit claims

Submit claims to the Ottawa Police Service Professional Standards Unit:

Mail

Ottawa Police Service
Professional Standards Unit, Damage Claims
P.O. Box 9634, Station T
Ottawa, ON
K1G 6H5

Email

PSS@ottawapolice.ca

Fax

613-760-8127

If you have any questions regarding the Property Damage Claims process, please us.

Complaints Process

The Office of the Independent Police Review (OIPRD) is an independent arms-length agency of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. The OIPRD provides an objective, impartial office to accept, process and oversee the investigation of public complaints against Ontario's police. Complaint forms are available at the OIPRD and on their website, at all Service Ontario locations, all police stations and in many community centres and legal clinics.

Contact the OIPRD:

Toll-free at 1-877-411-4773 (TTY: 1-877-414-4773)
Local phone: 416-246-7071

Related information:

Disciplinary Hearings and Decisions
Ontario Civilian Police Commission
Send a compliment to info@ottawapolice.ca