Police Response to Persons Who are Emotionally Disturbed, or Have a Mental Illness or a Developmental Disability

Policy No:
02/00-15
Effective Date:

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on the police response to persons who are emotionally disturbed or have a mental illness or a developmental disability.  In addition, section 13(1)(g) requires the Chief of Police to establish procedures and processes in respect of the police response to persons who are emotionally disturbed or have a mental illness or a developmental disability.

Board Policy

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to the police response to persons who are emotionally disturbed or have a mental illness or a developmental disability that the Chief of Police will:

  1. work, where possible, with appropriate community members and agencies, health care providers, government agencies, municipal officials, other criminal justice agencies, and the local Crown to address service issues relating to persons who have a mental illness or developmental disability;

  2. establish procedures and processes that address the police response to persons who are emotionally disturbed or have a mental illness or a developmental disability; and

  3. ensure that the police service’s skills development and learning plan addresses the training and sharing of information with officers, communications operators/ dispatchers and supervisors on:

    1. local protocols; and

    2. conflict resolution and use of force in situations involving persons who may be emotionally disturbed, or may have a mental illness or developmental disability.