LECA offers several ways to resolve complaints involving less serious allegations of misconduct.
The Early Resolution (ER) Program is a way for complainants and respondent officers to voluntarily resolve complaints in a quick and effective manner that encourages open communication. The goal of ER is to arrive at a resolution that is mutually satisfactory.
Informal Resolution can be attempted at any time during LECA complaint process. The complainant, the respondent officer and the police chief or OPP Commissioner must all agree.
The decision to recommend Informal Resolution depends on the circumstances of each complaint. LECA will advise the police service that Informal Resolution may be an option to explore prior to launching a complaint investigation. Informal Resolution may also be recommended at the conclusion of a conduct complaint that is substantiated as less serious.
Mediation may be proposed in situations where the parties are willing to resolve the matter with the assistance of a neutral third party. As with Informal Resolution, the complainant, the respondent officer and the police chief must all agree. This process is coordinated by LECA.
If LECA approves mediation, an LECA staff mediator or a mediation service approved and contracted by LECA will be engaged to determine whether the case can be mediated. If the complaint cannot be mediated, it will be returned to the police service or LECA for investigation.
If it is determined that the case can be mediated, the mediation will be conducted. If the mediation is successful the parties will sign an agreement, which must be approved by the Complaints Director. The complaint case will then be closed as “Informal Resolution via Mediation.”
A decision not to participate in mediation will have no impact on a complainant’s or respondent officer’s rights in the complaints process.
Community Mediation
LECA encourages the use of community mediation, a facilitative and transformative model of conflict resolution that best suits the goals of LECA’s mediation program. It encourages individuals in conflict to share their recognition of each other’s perspectives and provides an opportunity for both the complainant and the respondent officer to learn from their interactions. Mediators are impartial and work in the interests of the parties involved in a conflict.
LECA accesses mediation services on an “as required” basis by selecting a mediation service from the Ontario government vendor of record roster for each assignment. Mediation services are chosen based on location and availability to undertake the mediation quickly.
