Police Foundations: Investigations and Community Security

This introductory course provides the student with an overview of Canadian Justice Systems with particular emphasis on the history, function, role, and organization of Canadian law enforcement services. The operation of the criminal justice system will be examined along with areas of civil law. Students will analyze contemporary issues affecting the system. Each of the major components from enforcement through the courts and correctional services will be explored.

This is an introductory course in group behaviour and interpersonal relations theory. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing effective communication skills with individuals and groups. Group cohesiveness and group decision-making will be discussed. Interprofessional Education will be explored.

This course introduces the student to the concepts of wellness and provides practical strategies for developing a healthy lifestyle. Students, through lectures, practical experience, and self-evaluation, will address physical fitness, nutrition, self-responsibility, and social interaction. The student will develop strategies to implement an effective personal fitness program which will assist them to succeed in industry entry-level physical fitness tests.

In this course, students will be introduced to academic writing styles with a thematic focus on current issues. This course will help students to express themselves clearly and correctly in written form. Students will critically analyse assigned readings and express their thoughts. The course will also focus on the development of an academic paper utilizing the APA style of documentation.

In this course, students will explore the roles and responsibilities of security guards and other protection services professionals. Students will discuss relevant legislation and investigative authorities, and the importance of respecting the application of authority. This course will prepare students for writing the security guard licensing examination for the province of Ontario.

In this course, the students will be introduced to the roles and responsibilities of the modern-day police officers. The students will broaden their knowledge of the career by examining current issues and industry trends facing the professional police officers. Special attention will be focused on the rules and regulations that governs police officers in Ontario as well as the challenges facing policing in Indigenous communities.

This course is designed to help students identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed in their chosen field of interest. Students will increase their self-awareness, and discuss their career goals and strategies to help achieve them. Career opportunities and entrance requirements for a variety of law enforcement and security agencies will be examined. Students will learn interview skills for behavioural based interviews common to most agencies, and participate in mock in-class interviews.

In this course, the student will learn to locate, interpret, and apply sections of selected provincial statutes, including the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario and its regulations. Students will examine the purpose of each of the statutes, arrest, search, seizure and other special authorities contained in the statutes. Civil law will also be examined as it relates to the workplace. Students will develop and employ strategies and procedures for dealing with a variety of occurrences.

In this course, students will analyze specific elements of selected criminal code offences including criminal traffic related matters. Students will also examine offences against the person, against property, and against public order. Students will research case law and assess its impact on criminal offences and use case law to argue or defend decisions.

In this course, students will examine the concepts of wellness and provide practical strategies for developing a healthy lifestyle. This course will address physical fitness, stress management, coronary heart disease, substance abuse, and athletic injuries. The student will develop strategies to implement an effective personal fitness program and to successfully achieve occupational fitness standards.

This course will introduce students to the field of Sociology. Students will develop a general understanding of sociological perspectives by focusing on the basic concepts of sociology. Topics examined include, culture, socialization, sexuality, inequality, crime, deviance, education, religion, gender, media, globalization and the environment. Furthermore, students will be able to use basic sociological terminology and apply the major sociological perspectives to current social systems in Canada.

This course introduces students to the roles and responsibilities of the Border Service and Correctional Service Officers. Students will examine the similarities and differences between border services and corrections. They will analyze the legislative authorities of each profession as well as the powers and authorities associated. Students through a combination of theoretical lessons and practical exercises will assess various border security and corrections situations to determine appropriate actions and resolutions. Students will also get familiarized with the recruitment process for both organizations.

Through dynamic simulations and self-assessment, students will examine the stigma associated with mental health and how mental health is addressed in the criminal justice system. It is imperative that individuals entering law enforcement are equipped with best practices when interacting with individuals who may be going through a mental health crisis as well as understand the unique challenges that a career in law enforcement may present to one's own mental health.

Students review the political, social, and front-line applications of public safety and emergency management in Canada. Students broaden their knowledge of managing risk, logistics, deployment, and contingency emergency planning. Students examine procedures adopted by various agencies in response to major incidents, including natural disasters, major national and international security events, fires, pandemics, hostage situations, bomb threats and Amber Alerts.

Few subjects are as integral to the police and security roles as those of arrest, the use of force, and search. In these vital areas, the circumstances under which arrest is justified are discussed, together with the related topics of the use of force in arresting, the immediate search of the person arrested, and the rights of the person arrested. The protections available to the person arresting, and the various situations under which the accused person must be released or may be detained are studied. The broad function of the search of a person, place or vehicle with or without warrant is examined and the law as it pertains to the lawful use of force, and the limits placed on that use. In no other subject is the impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms so strongly felt, and such impacts are discussed as the topic arises.

This introductory course will provide students with an overview of the role that Forensic Science applications provide in the field of policing. Students will focus on topics that will provide a broad sense of the importance of Forensic Science. Topics will include history of forensic science, types of physical evidence, continuity and contamination issues, laboratory analysis, note taking and crime scene sketching. There will be a faculty guided lab component associated to this course.

In this course, students will examine issues surrounding ethical decision-making in policing and law enforcement through scenario-based learning and the review of cases involving police and correctional/security misconduct. Students will be exposed to critical judgment exercises and sound ethical decision-making protocols. Students will also learn principles of leadership and followership and will explore the implications of law enforcement personnel being held to a higher standard as public role model.

This course starts students on the road to mental resilience by providing an overview of common mental illnesses, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, and the factors that may influence these illnesses. This course also focuses on the role that stress plays in daily life and provides strategies to deal with stress. In addition, students will learn alternative ways to exercise and continue to focus on planning and documenting their journey to increase their physical well-being. The proper procedure to achieve the standard required for successful completion of various professional tests will also be explored.

This course will enable the student to explain and analyze the historical, philosophical, and contemporary application of statutes affecting youth in conflict with the law. This course will also enable the student to examine and analyze, in the context of the Youth Criminal Justice Act and other relevant legislation, the detention, interviewing, and processing through the court structure of young offenders. The student will learn to summarize and appraise disposition alternatives that may be employed with a view to aiding and rehabilitating a young offender while facilitating public safety and victim response, if applicable.

This course is designed to prepare the participant to intervene in conflict and crisis situations. The conflict situation will be examined from its inception through intervention by law enforcement. Various problem-solving skills and non-violent intervention techniques will be discussed along with intervention strategies directed toward specific incidents. The student will be taught to recognize behaviour patterns that may lead to violent encounters and the appropriate legal responses. Emphasis will be placed on officer safety through awareness and preparation.

This course will introduce students to the field of cyber security including the prevention of cybercrime. Students will learn how the basic elements of computer systems, networks and related devices can be exploited for illegal and illicit purposes or strengthened to protect assets and systems. Students will also learn about cyber incident response and how cybercrimes are investigated.

In this course, students will acquire knowledge about interpersonal communication skills and strategic planning through a compliment of theory and simulation role plays. Students will have the opportunity to apply these skills in the development of their own personal communication style in order to respond appropriately to a variety of situations that may occur in their workplace. Emphasis will be placed on strategic communication and planning, which include active listening, rapport building, conflict resolution and threat mitigation. Specialized topics will include death and dying, crisis, trauma and suicide alertness.

In this course, students are introduced to the history of community policing and the theory and application of Ontario's Community Mobilization and Engagement Model. Problem-solving methods and alternative dispute resolution strategies will be examined. Students will explore issues relating to community safety and well-being planning; engaging the public; upstream intervention strategies, such as situation tables and crime prevention; and the role of the community in policing. In addition, students will become familiar with strategies and elements of volunteerism.

In this course, students will examine the requirements of a continuing investigation. They will learn the rules of evidence and develop the ability to apply said rules in the collection and presentation of evidence in a court of law. Forensic requirements, statute law and other related issues will be emphasized.

As a continuation for lifelong commitment to fitness and success in meeting the requirements for the bonified physical and occupational requirements, the student participates in a practical setting to develop skills necessary to meet the physical demands of careers in policing or correctional services.

Develop a code of behaviour based on the principles of the Police/Public Interaction Training Model. Related basic control tactics are explored and refined.