OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique and OPP Association President John Cerasuolo are guests on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the highlights of 2024 for the Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Provincial Police Association. Topics discussed are the new Uniform and Civilian Collective Agreements, the rise in assaults on police, bail reform, the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance, Ontario Police Suicide Memorial, the Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial, National Peace Officers' Memorial Run, the Ride to Remember, member mental health and much more.

If you have any questions about this episode, or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Registered Nurse Michelle Marr works for Headwaters Healthcare Centre in Orangeville as a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) Nurse in partnership with Dufferin OPP Officers.

Michelle joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the success of the Dufferin MCRT program and assert her wish for sustainable funding.

Dufferin County has one of the highest call volumes for mental health calls in Ontario.

The Dufferin MCRT have not been able to deal with all of the calls due to not having 24/7 coverage.

The Dufferin MCRT have dealt with 600 calls and made 1539 referrals in the first 11 months of 2024, reducing significantly the number of hospital visits for people experiencing mental health crisis. This not only helps members of the public, it helps to prioritize hospital emergency resources, as well as valuable police resources who traditionally have to remain at hospital with persons apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

If you wish to contact Michelle or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Dr. Frank Stechey is a renowned Canadian forensic dentist who has been involved in several criminal investigations assisting the Ontario Provincial Police, as well as police services throughout Ontario, Canada and internationally. Dr. Stechey shares some insights on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association about what police officers, health care and social services workers can look for to prevent, do interventions and solve child abuse, sexual assaults, homicide cases and more. Dr. Stechey was a key member of the forensic dentistry team identifying victims after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. He discusses the victim indentification process used in the aftermath of 9/11 and opens up about some of the life long trauma that he endures from his valued service.

If you would like to be in touch with Dr. Stechey or are interested in some of the articles and training materials that are referenced in the podcast please reach out on email to communications@oppa.ca .

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.