Photo radar, red light cameras capturing dozens of police officers

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So many Ottawa police officers are getting caught by photo radar and red light cameras, that the Ottawa Police Service has created a separate category to capture statistics for driving-related complaints, according to a new police complaints report.

It is a trend that has been growing for more than a year as the city has rapidly expanded the number of speed and red-light cameras monitoring traffic.

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During the third quarter of 2024, internal complaints rose by 278 per cent from a year earlier, according to the report that is part of the agenda for Monday’s Ottawa Police Services Board meeting. Between July and the end of September of 2024, there were 223 internal police complaints compared to 59 for the same period a year earlier.

The majority of those internal complaint investigations (also known as chief’s complaints) — 221 complaints — are driving-related, including motor vehicle collisions, red light cameras and automated speed enforcement cameras.

“The key driver of the increase in driving related internal complaints is attributed to the number of automated speed enforcement, which continues to rise with the implementation of more cameras throughout the city,” says the report. “As such, the OPS complaint statistics report to the board now includes a category to distinguish driving-related conduct from other forms of improper conduct.”

The Ottawa Police Service has a policy to deal with camera infractions “to hold members accountable and apply progressive discipline when the threshold for exemption under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act are not met”. Police are exempted from certain highway traffic laws if deemed necessary in the course of their duties.

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The vast majority of driving-related complaints (156) were considered unsubstantiated and resulted in no further actions, according to the report. Thirty-six of the driving-related complaints resulted in progressive discipline without a hearing. Others remain under investigation.

The City of Ottawa now operates around 85 red light cameras and 40 speed cameras, which brought in more than $26 million in fines in 2023. The city says the cameras have been effective at reducing speeds, at least while passing the camera.

Earlier this year, the legislation overseeing police, the Police Services Act, was replaced by the Community Safety and Policing Act. Among other things, it allows for officers to be suspended without pay if they are charged with a serious offence while not in performance of duties.

One officer was suspended during the third quarter of 2024, according to the report, which provided no further details. At the start of the period, five officers remained on suspension.

Two Special Investigations Unit investigations — one for serious injury and one for discharge of firearm — were started during the third quarter of the year.

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