Durham Regional Police Service

File:Durham 19-901.jpg police car]]

The Durham Regional Police Service is led by:{{cite web |title=Organization Chart | url=https://www.drps.ca/media/slibcusu/drps-new-org-chart-2024-july-2024.pdf |publisher=Durham Regional Police Service |access-date=February 23, 2025}}

• Chief of Police Peter Moreira
• Deputy Chief Chris Kirkpatrick (Strategic &

Operational Support Command)

• Deputy Chief Dean Bertrim (Serious & Organized

Crime Command)

• Deputy Chief Kim Yeandle (Public Safety Command)
• Chief Administrative Officer Stan MacLellan

Durham Regional Police Headquarters is in Whitby, Ontario at the Regional Municipality of Durham Headquarters building. Budgeted expenditures for DRPS in Durham Region's 2020 budget were $241.4 million{{cite web|url=https://www.durham.ca/en/resources/2020-Summary-Durham-Region-Approved-Business-Plans-and-Property-Tax-Supported-Budgets.pdf |page=5 |title=Durham Budget 2020: Approved 2020 Property Tax Supported Budget |publisher=Regional Municipality of Durham |access-date=June 4, 2020}}

In October 2008, the Durham Regional Police Service was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc. and was featured in Maclean's newsmagazine. Later that month, it was also named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers, which was announced by the Toronto Star newspaper.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-durham-police|title=Reasons for Selection, 2009 Canada's Top 100 Employers Competition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324171307/http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-durham-police |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |publisher=Eluta Inc.}}

Durham Regional Police is a member of OALEP.{{clarify|date=June 2020}}

In late May 2019, after a request by the Ministry of the Solicitor General (Ontario), the Ontario Civilian Police Commission issued an order that appointed a retired Toronto deputy chief, Mike Federico, as administrator to oversee the force during the OCPC investigation{{cite news |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Province launches investigation into Durham police chief, police services board |work=CityNews |publisher=Rogers Media |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/05/24/durham-police-investigation/ |accessdate=June 3, 2020}} after some of the senior ranks were alleged to have been corrupt and of an abuse of power. As of May 24, 2019, none of the allegations had been proven.{{cite news |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Province appoints administrator to oversee Durham police amid allegations of 'serious misconduct' |publisher=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/durham-police-chief-misconduct-1.5149785 |accessdate=June 3, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Codi |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Province appoints administrator to oversee Durham police in wake of corruption allegations |website=CP24.com |publisher=Bell Media |url=https://www.cp24.com/news/province-appoints-administrator-to-oversee-durham-police-in-wake-of-corruption-allegations-1.4436726 |accessdate=June 4, 2020}} Federico’s responsibilities were to include "approving promotions and overseeing all internal discipline".{{cite news |last1=McLean |first1=Jesse |last2=Kennedy |first2=Brendan |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Provincial watchdog to probe Durham police, citing 'crisis of confidence' in top brass |publisher=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2019/05/24/administrator-appointed-to-oversee-durham-police.html |accessdate=June 4, 2020}} The allegations were first brought to light in an April 19 report in the Toronto Star; at the time, a lawyer representing Chief Paul Martin said the allegations are "false and defamatory".{{cite news |last1=McLean |first1=Jesse |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Durham police in turmoil, watchdog called in after three veteran officers file complaints about chief and his brass |publisher=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2019/04/17/durham-police-in-turmoil-watchdog-called-in-after-three-veteran-officers-file-complaints-about-chief-and-his-brass.html |url-access=subscription |accessdate=June 4, 2020}} Martin announced on 9 July 2020 that he would be retiring from the Service effective September 2020.{{cite web |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Chief of Police: Paul Martin |url=https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/10072634-surprise-announcement-durham-regional-police-chief-paul-martin-retiring/ |accessdate=July 10, 2020 |publisher=Durham Region}}

The day-to-day and regional operations are commanded by senior officers:

• Deputy Chief
• Superintendent
• Inspector
• Civilian directors and managers

• Detective / Staff Sergeant
• Detective / Sergeant
• Detective Constable
• Senior Constable
• Constable - 1st class
• Constable - 2nd class
• Constable - 3rd class
• Constable - 4th class
• Special Constables

In 2014, the Durham Regional Police Service had an authorized strength of 871 sworn members and 331 civilians.{{cite web |title=Chief of Police: Paul Martin |url=https://members.drps.ca/internet_explorer/whatsnew/highrankstaff_view.asp?ID=13 |publisher=Durham Regional Police Service |date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=June 17, 2020}}

Some of the units within the force are:

{{div col}}

• Air support unit
• Auxiliary unit (auxiliary constable)
• Canine unit
• Case management unit
• Central cellblock unit
• Communications-911 unit
• Community services unit
• Corporate communications unit
• Courts unit
• Crime analysis unit
• Diversity unit
• Domestic violence investigative unit
• Drug enforcement unit
• E-crimes unit
• Emergency measures/labour liaison unit
• Explosive disposal unit
• Facilities management unit
• Financial services unit
• Firearms unit
• Fleet services unit
• Forensic identification unit
• Fraud unit
• Freedom of information unit
• Gun and gang unit
• General occurrence auditing unit
• Health, wellness and safety unit
• Homicide unit
• Hostage negotiators
• Human resources unit
• Information technology unit
• Legal services unit
• Marine unit
• Major incident command
• Mental health unit
• Offender management unit
• Patrol support unit
• Polygraph unit
• Prisoner transport unit
• Professional standards unit
• Property unit
• Public order unit
• Quality assurance unit
• Regional youth unit
• Robbery unit
• Records unit
• Senior support unit
• Sexual assault and child abuse unit
• Strategic planning unit
• Surveillance unit
• Tactical support unit
• Technical services section
• Threat assessment unit
• Traffic services branch
• Victim services unit
• Volunteer unit
• Warrant liaison unit

{{div col end}}

The force is organized into several divisions:

• West Division - Serving Ajax and Pickering
• Central West Division - Serving Whitby and Western Oshawa
• Central East Division - Serving Oshawa
• East Division - Serving Clarington, Oshawa and Scugog
• North Division - Serving Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge

The Durham Regional Police Service is one of two Greater Toronto Area police forces with police aviation capabilities, the other being the York Regional Police. They operate one Bell 206B-3 helicopter (callsign "AIR1") and delivered in 2003.{{Cite web|url=https://www.helis.com/database/cn/44470/|title=C-FASU Bell 206B-3 Jet Ranger C/N 4568}} DRP Air Unit began in 2000 with a leased Bell Jet Ranger helicopter after shared a helicopter with York Regional Police{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/private-helicopter-given-to-york-police/article4159057/ | title=Private helicopter given to York police | newspaper=The Globe and Mail | date=12 January 2000 | last1=Alphonso | first1=Caroline }} for a two years pilot trial {{cite web | url=https://verticalmag.com/news/durham-regional-police-asu-reaches-10000th-flight-hour/ | title=Durham Regional Police ASU reaches 10,000th flight hour }} and was the Greater Toronto Region first police force to operate helicopters.{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5856270/durham-regional-police-helicopter-20-years/ | title=Durham police mark 20 years with their helicopter: 'We're always watching' | Globalnews.ca }}

Some vehicles bear the motto "Leaders in Community Safety".

The Tactical Support Unit is responsible for handling dangerous situations not handled by regular uniformed officers. The Durham Regional Police TSU also has a mutual-aid agreement with the York Regional Police Emergency Response Unit. In the event of a large-scale event, or an incident that could take a significant amount of time, both departments provide assistance to one another.

The marine unit is responsible for the enforcement of three bodies of water in the region: Lake Ontario, Lake Scugog, and Lake Simcoe. They also police the area of and around Beaverton, Thorah Island, and parts of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Members of the marine unit are specially trained for marine enforcement and rescue duties, including ice rescue. The unit is attached to the traffic enforcement unit.

The Durham Regional Police Marine Unit also has a mutual aid agreement with the Toronto Police Service for Lake Ontario as well as side-scan sonar and ROV, and with the York Regional Police for Lake Simcoe as well as side-scan sonar and diver services. In the event of a large-scale event, or a call-out that could take a significant amount of manpower, these police services provide mutual assistance to one another.

The Marine Unit consists of one officer, active during the summer months. Durham Police do not patrol the water ways during the off season and winter months.

Additional SAR support provided by [https://paramarinesar.ca/ PARA-Marine Search and Rescue], and COMRA Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Forces 424 Squadron (air support from CFB Trenton).{{cite web |title=Welcome to PARA Marine SAR |url=https://paramarinesar.ca/ |access-date=June 17, 2020}}

• a 26-foot Zodiac RHIB (2011) with two 200 hp Mercury outboard engines - transported by trailer to Lake Scugog and Lake Simcoe
• a 34-foot Hike Metal Products patrol with two 260 hp supercharged diesel Volvo engines, search and rescue vessel (2004) - named "David Edwards"

The DRPS crest is used on vehicles, headgear and uniforms, and consists of St. Edward's Crown over a round blue shield with the legend "Durham Regional Police" in white, encircling a red maple leaf overlaid with gold scales of justice. The crest is based on that of the former City of Oshawa police department, with the maple leaf and scales replacing the city's coat of arms.

Officers are issued Glock .40 caliber pistols.{{cite web |title=Frontline Officers - Tools of the Trade |url=https://members.drps.ca/internet_explorer/whatsnew/whatsnew_view.asp?Related_With=Items_Of_Interest&ID=16763&Scope=Division&Scope_ID=4&Last_ID=999999999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619085930/https://members.drps.ca/internet_explorer/whatsnew/whatsnew_view.asp?Related_With=Items_Of_Interest&ID=16763&Scope=Division&Scope_ID=4&Last_ID=999999999 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |publisher=Durham Regional Police Service}}

• Region of Durham Paramedic Services
• Fire Services in Durham Region

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.drps.ca/ Durham Regional Police Service]

{{Law enforcement agencies in Canada}}

Category:Law enforcement agencies of Ontario

Category:Regional Municipality of Durham

Category:Whitby, Ontario