The Niagara Parks Police Service is a special constabulary maintained by the Niagara Parks Commission in Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1887, the Niagara Parks Police Service has a unique status among Ontario special constabularies in that its members are armed and trained at the Ontario Police College.[2] As special constables, Parks Police officers only have authority on or in relation to property owned by the Niagara Parks Commission, in contrast to municipal or provincial police officers, who have authority province-wide.
The Service is funded entirely by the Niagara Parks Commission, an agency of the Province of Ontario, and operates with an annual budget of approximately $3.6 million.[3]
The Niagara Parks Commission was established in 1885 and charged with maintaining the land and buildings immediately surrounding the Canadian side of the Horseshoe Falls.[5] The Parks Police Service was established three years later, and initially consisted of two police officers.[1] The Parks Police Service was originally incorporated and authorized as a police force, but at some point during the mid-20th-century, it was re-organized as a special constabulary.[1]
In 2010, the provincial government and Niagara Regional Police Services Board considered discontinuing the Parks Police Service, citing concerns about a lack of accountability for special constables.[6] At the time, special constables were not under the jurisdiction of the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), meaning that Parks Police officers who fired their guns or were involved in interactions that ended in the death or serious injury of a suspect would be investigated by another police force rather than the civilian watchdog.[6][7]
In 2019, the authority of the SIU was expanded to include "special constables employed by the Niagara Parks Commission."[8]
Also in 2019, the Parks Commission fired then-Police Chief Mark McMullen after an internal HR investigation into a traffic stop the previous summer.[9] Inspector Paul Forcier was subsequently appointed as his replacement.
In 2022, a Parks Police officer shot and killed a man armed with bear spray and an edged weapon.[10] The subsequent SIU investigation found that the officer had acted in self defence, and no charges were laid.[11]
Police chiefs
There have been 15 chiefs of police over the course of the Service's history. The current Chief of the Niagara Parks Police Service is Paul Forcier.[12]
The Niagara Parks Police Headquarters is located at 6075 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Ontario, directly across from the American Falls in the former Administrative Building of the Niagara Parks Commission.[16]
Specialized units
The Niagara Parks Police Service employs three specialized units: the High Angle River Team (HART), a part-time unit which consists of officers specially trained in high angle rescue techniques;[17] the Marine Unit, which patrols both the upper and lower Niagara Rivers alongside the Niagara Regional Police; and a Canine Unit consisting of one handler and a dog trained in search and rescue and explosives detection.[18]
During peak tourist season the Service employs up to 40 students as provincial offences officers, responsible for the orderly flow of traffic and parking offences. These officers supplement 2 full-time provincial offences officers who are employed year-round.[1]
Equipment
Uniforms
A Niagara Parks Police Service shoulder flash worn by special constables.
Parks Police officers wear traditional police navy blue uniform shirts and cargo pants with red trouser piping, while provincial offences officers wear baby blue uniform shirts. Special constables have the option to wear a peaked forage cap with a yellow band, and all members have ballcaps with the Service's crest. Members wear gold shoulder flashes which read "Parks Police," "Provincial Offences Officer," or "Communication Officer" based on their role.
Weapons
Despite their special constable status, Parks Police officers have the unique authority to carry firearms, pepper spray, and tasers. In addition to this equipment, officers carry handcuffs, and telescopic batons.[15] Seasonal provincial offences officers are not trained or authorized to carry any form of weapon, but full-time provincial officers carry batons and pepper spray.[1]
Fleet
The Niagara Parks Police Service uses the Ford Police Interceptor Utility as a primary patrol vehicle. The Service also has a fleet of Giant bicycles, a Chevy Silverado pickup truck used by the High Angle Rescue Team, and a Ford F150 pickup truck used by the Canine Unit.
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