OACP Exam cheat sheet

Police Services Act (PSA) is Ontario's core policing statute; it creates police services boards, police services, chiefs, officers, and the disciplinary and oversight framework.

PSA s. 42 lists police officer duties: preserve the peace, prevent offences, assist victims, apprehend offenders, execute warrants, and enforce the law.

A police officer must take the oath of office before exercising police powers; the oath affirms lawful, impartial service.

The Code of Conduct, O. Reg. 268/10 under the PSA, defines misconduct including discreditable conduct, insubordination, neglect of duty, and breach of confidence.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is an independent provincial agency that investigates police incidents involving death, serious injury, sexual assault, or a firearm discharged at a person.

The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) receives and manages public complaints about police in Ontario.

The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) hears appeals from police disciplinary decisions and reviews certain police board and chief decisions.

The PSA requires police services to be adequate and effective, covering crime prevention, law enforcement, victim assistance, public order, and emergency response.

A municipal police services board is a civilian governing body; it sets policies, appoints the chief and deputy chief, and ensures adequate and effective policing.

A board may not direct the chief on specific operational decisions or individual investigations; the chief manages day-to-day operations.

The chief of police is responsible for managing the service, implementing board policies, maintaining discipline, and reporting to the board.

The PSA disciplinary process can impose penalties including dismissal, demotion, suspension, forfeiture of pay, and reprimand.

Professional standards units investigate complaints and misconduct allegations and may refer matters to the SIU or OIPRD.

The Code of Conduct's core expectations include integrity, honesty, impartiality, confidentiality, respect, and lawful obedience.

Adequate and effective police services include crime prevention, law enforcement, victim assistance, public order maintenance, and emergency response.

The Ontario Police College provides foundational and specialist training for police officers in Ontario.

Criminal Code s. 495(1) permits a peace officer to arrest without warrant on reasonable grounds for an indictable offence, a found summary offence, or an outstanding warrant.

Criminal Code s. 494 permits any person to arrest someone found committing an indictable offence or freshly pursued after a criminal offence.

Criminal Code s. 25 justifies use of force by a peace officer acting on reasonable grounds in law enforcement, using only as much force as necessary.

Criminal Code s. 34 self-defence requires the defensive force to be reasonable in the circumstances, considering the threat and the parties' roles.

Charter s. 8 protects against unreasonable search and seizure; warrantless searches are presumed unreasonable unless authorized by law and reasonable.

Charter s. 9 and s. 10 protect against arbitrary detention and require prompt reasons, right to counsel, and access to a lawyer on arrest or detention.

Ontario's Mental Health Act allows police to apprehend a person who appears to have a mental disorder and is acting dangerously for assessment.

The Highway Traffic Act authorizes vehicle stops, demands for licence, insurance, registration, and sobriety testing.

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act prohibits possession and trafficking of controlled substances; the Youth Criminal Justice Act governs youth justice.

Arrest sequence: identify self, inform the person of arrest and reasons, caution, provide right to counsel, search incident to arrest, and document.

A search incident to arrest is lawful only after a valid arrest and must be connected to officer safety, evidence preservation, or preventing escape.

Chain of custody requires documenting each transfer of evidence, including who, when, where, and why, to preserve admissibility.

A warrant must generally be executed by knock-and-announce unless exigent circumstances justify otherwise; force must be reasonable.

Vehicle stops require a lawful authority, a safe location, clear directions, and attention to officer safety and traffic hazards.

Mental Health Act apprehension requires reasonable grounds, safety planning, and transportation to a physician or appropriate facility.

Use-of-force reporting is required after any reportable use of force; SIU notification is required for death, serious injury, sexual assault, or firearm discharge at a person.

Notes must be contemporaneous, accurate, complete, and retained; they may be disclosed and used in court.

Force is justified only when necessary, reasonable, and proportionate; officers must continuously assess threat, subject behaviour, and environment.

De-escalation should be used when feasible, using time, distance, cover, communication, and tactical repositioning before force.

Force options include officer presence, communication, physical control, intermediate weapons, and lethal force.

Deadly force is limited to situations where the officer reasonably believes there is a risk of death or grievous bodily harm to self or others.

After prone restraint, monitor breathing and place the person in a recovery position to reduce positional asphyxia risk.

Conducted energy weapons require policy compliance, target-area avoidance, medical follow-up, and reporting.

Firearms safety rules include treating every firearm as loaded, muzzle discipline, trigger discipline, and identifying the target and background.

Critical incident stress responses can follow deadly force or traumatic events; officers should access peer support and debriefing.

Community policing is a partnership model in which police and residents identify and solve local safety problems.

The SARA model is Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment; it structures problem-oriented policing.

Problem-oriented policing targets underlying causes of recurring incidents rather than only responding to each call.

CPTED uses natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance to reduce crime opportunities.

Ontario municipalities must develop community safety and well-being plans with local partners to address priority risks.

The Ontario Human Rights Code applies to police services; discrimination in service delivery is prohibited.

Restorative justice and diversion can address minor offences through accountability, repair, and community participation.

Victim assistance includes referral to services, information about rights, and coordination with victim services agencies.

The Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination based on grounds including race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family status, and disability.

The duty to accommodate requires adjustment to rules or practices for Code-protected needs unless it causes undue hardship.

Bias-free policing requires decisions based on behaviour and evidence, not stereotypes or profiling.

Mental Health Act apprehensions require reasonable grounds, respect for dignity, and transport for medical assessment.

Trauma-informed practice emphasizes safety, choice, trustworthiness, collaboration, and empowerment.

Indigenous peoples face intergenerational trauma and systemic barriers; Gladue principles apply at sentencing.

Crisis intervention training improves recognition of mental health crises and communication with affected persons.

Inclusive communication includes using correct names and pronouns, plain language, and qualified interpreters.

Active listening includes attention, paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, clarifying, and open-ended questions.

De-escalation communication uses calm tone, slow speech, non-threatening body language, empathy, and clear choices.

Ethical decisions must be lawful, policy-compliant, impartial, transparent, and documented.

A conflict of interest exists when a personal interest could improperly influence an officer's duties; it must be disclosed and avoided.

Discretion must be exercised lawfully, consistently, without bias, and with reasons recorded.

Report writing must be factual, chronological, objective, complete, and free of speculation.

Testimony must be truthful and based on memory and notes; officers may refresh memory from notes with permission.

Gifts or benefits that could influence judgment should not be accepted; the Code of Conduct restricts accepting benefits.