Legislated Responsibilities
Pursuant to Ontario's Police Services Act, the Kingston Police Services Board is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services in the municipality and is required to:
- appoint the members of the municipal police force;
- generally determine, after consultation with the chief of police, objectives and priorities with respect to police services in the municipality;
- establish policies for the effective management of the police force;
- recruit and appoint the chief of police and deputy chief of police;
- direct and monitor the performance of the chief of police;
- establish guidelines for dealing with complaints made under Part V of the Police Services Act, as well as to review and receive regular reports on the chief of police's administration of the complaints system under Part V (the Office of the Independent Police Review Director website at http://www.oiprd.on.ca/ provides information on the public complaints system);
- determine and monitor the annual police budget to ensure cost efficiency; and
- participate in collective bargaining with representatives from the police associations.
Although the Kingston Police Services Board has significant legislated responsibilities, the Police Services Act also strictly prohibits its involvement in day-to-day police operations. The act provides that police services boards may give orders and directions to the chief of police but not to other members of the police force; however, the act also stipulates that a board shall not direct the chief of police with respect to specific operational decisions or the day
to day operation of the police force.
Board members are subject to the provisions of the Police Services Act and related regulations, including O.Reg. 421/97, Members of Police Services Boards' Code of Conduct. Board members must work together to balance the interests of the local community with the standards for adequate and effective policing set by the
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