Police Foundations (LAW)

Career Preparation and Fitness Leadership offers students the opportunity to be prepared for the recruitment and fitness standards required for careers in policing at the municipal, provincial, or federal levels. This interactive course also introduces students to the requirements set by a wide range of law enforcement careers such as Border Security, Ministry of Natural Resources, Court Security, Private Security, Military Police, By-Law Enforcement, Transit Enforcement, alongside the rapidly expanding areas where non-uniformed personnel provide analytical and support services across public safety. Students are prepared for the fitness requirements used in law enforcement through reviewing the concepts of physical fitness and wellness within both personal and professional contexts. Students will participate in activities that will provide them with understanding of the concepts of physical fitness and wellness, within a framework that fosters self-responsibility for both personal and professional outcomes. Note: Career Preparation & Fitness Leadership is a highly interactive course and participation in self-guided activities is required. Each fitness lab has learning and/or activity requirements that are graded. Students with accommodations related to physical mobility and participation in activities are strongly advised to approach their faculty member and Accessible Learning Services before the start of the course to discuss accommodations or alternative options for completion of the learning requirements. An online delivery of this course is also available with a high degree of self-directed fitness activities.

This course merges elements of law enforcement and issues within Diversity and Indigenous communities. This course begins by exploring the basic concepts of diversity, multiculturalism, and human rights from a Canadian context. From there, Canadian human rights legislation is reviewed, and the role policing plays in upholding these rights. Students will further gain an understanding of cultural and religious diversity, in addition to such topics as mental health issues and developmental disabilities. This section of the course concludes by examining the level of cultural competency within Canadian police services and their efforts to diversify the face of policing. The next section of the course focuses on the colonization of Indigenous people and the resulting socio-economic issues. The historical foundation between Indigenous and European cultures will set the tone for past and present relationships. Treaty and land claims generally misunderstood by the Canadian public are explored, in addition to the plight of the residential school system. Inequalities still exist for this population group in the areas of social services, education, labour market, health, and the criminal justice system despite being the fastest-growing portion of Canadas population.

PFD260 focuses on stressful interactions where an officer may be required to use force to gain control of a situation. Students will build a legal foundation by examining the statutes and case law associated to the use of force. They will be exposed to basic tactics, communication strategies and physical control techniques that can be used in tandem to gain control of a violent or potentially violent situation. Students will conduct case studies on real-world examples, where they incorporate legislation, case law, use of force theory, communication strategies and academic research.

Criminology seeks to understand the underpinnings of criminal and deviant behaviour. Students examine this behaviour through sociological, biological and psychological perspectives. Students apply this knowledge in critical examination of Canadian and global crimes and statistics. A contemporary look at victimology and restorative justice is also provided.

Crime prevention is no longer the sole responsibility of the law enforcement community. Law enforcement has evolved from a traditionalist model to todays community- based model. It is through collaboration, engagement and mobilization of community partners and stakeholders, we achieve the greatest impact on reducing crime and victimization. The importance of forging trusting and mutually respectful relationships with community is key to the success of any crime prevention strategy. Increasingly, the police have an integral role in mobilizing community, stakeholders, and others in developing and implementing effective crime prevention strategies to ensure continued safety and security within our communities. In this course, students analyze theories and strategies for community policing, the importance of engagement and mobilization and effective crime prevention strategies for all communities. Students will learn about the relationship of community trust towards mobilization and ultimately crime prevention and community policing in todays context. Students will also learn about and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship of data analytics to crime prevention and community safety.

Students develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to interpret and apply sections of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario and its regulations. As well, students practise locating topics in the act and regulations; master the definitions required to interpret traffic law; and apply the law concerning police authorities, drivers licences, permits and rules of the road. As well, students develop and use strategies and procedures to manage an accident scene.

This course examines selected federal and provincial statues that have been deemed important, and that have not been covered in other courses. Procedures for arrest, use of force, and entry into premises under the federal and provincial statutes studied will be examined. The course is divided into the following key topics: Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, The Cannabis Act, Provincial Offences Act, Liquor License Act, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Mental Health Act, Blind Persons Rights Act, The Child, Youth and Family Services Act, Family Law Act and the Residential Tenancies Act.

The ability to conduct interviews in a skillful and effective fashion is a critical requirement for law enforcement and public safety professionals. In this interactive course, students explore the interview process and examine the professional practices and areas of legal knowledge required for successful questioning of witnesses, persons of interest, and criminal suspects. The course examines case law related to investigative interviewing, along with the procedures and rules used by law enforcement professionals when conducting interviews. Students are introduced to a range of applied techniques used in the field, including the PEACE and REID models, cognitive witness interviewing and the non-accusatory interview technique. Students also review examples of high profile interviews to assess the interviewing styles and techniques used by skilled investigators.

This course prepares to examine future careers across public safety and law enforcement, including opportunities in border security, by-law enforcement, special constables, corporate security and the private sector. Throughout the course, students create career related documentation and innovative multi-media products that demonstrate their professionalism, as well as researching career opportunities in multiple areas across both the public and private sectors.

With societal change, the field of public safety, and specifically law enforcement, continues to evolve and adapt to new circumstances and expectations from the public. This course is an examination of current and emerging challenges facing the field of law enforcement. Through analysis of literature and resources related to topical issues in law enforcement, students will conduct research, critically analyze topical issues, and develop viable solutions to identified issues. A key component of this course is critical thinking. Critical analysis prepares students to examine topics with objectivity and intellectual rigour. Through examination of facts in relation to evidence-based research, theories and professional practices, students will develop informed opinions/positions on various subjects studied throughout this course and present proposed solutions through varying assignments. Course materials are drawn from a variety of current events, case studies, social media, and other media sources. These resources will enhance students? ability to identify and critically assess the contemporary law enforcement landscape. This practical application of real world, evolving issues facing law enforcement today challenges students to critically examine contemporary issues, to problem solve, and develop real world solutions. *note that the subject matter/course material evolves annually to reflect timely/topical/contemporary issues in the field of law enforcement.