Results of independent review released

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By Communications Staff
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
An independent review into the arrest of a student in October 2009 in the Social Sciences Building contains recommendations about services and supports for individuals with mental health problems, campus police training, building security and emergency warning systems.
 
The university-commissioned report, which makes eight recommendations, was presented today to Campus Council by Vice-President of Resources & Operations, Gitta Kulczycki and Elgin Austen, Director of Campus Community Police Service (CCPS).
 
Campus Council is a forum where leaders of student groups, employee unions and associations and administrative leaders discuss matters of mutual concern and interest.
 
“This incident and the independent review we commissioned have given us plenty of food for thought,” says Kulczycki.
 
“From the day it happened we have been examining many of the aspects of this case and have already taken steps to build on what we are already doing to respond in the future.
 
“One of the most important steps, I believe, is an increase in our communications to the campus community to help us all recognize students at risk, and point them toward help.  Where a person presents an imminent danger to themselves or others, we have to ensure the right action is taken as early as possible.”
 
The review was conducted by Gwen Boniface, a lawyer and former OPP commissioner. She examined an incident in which a disoriented student was behaving in a manner that caused a number of calls to campus police.
 
When campus police arrived and attempted to speak with the man, he fled to another part of the building where he was confronted by both campus and London police who arrested him. The arrest was caught on video tape, posted on YouTube and was viewed by many people.
 
A review of the amount of force used by police was conducted separately from Western and was overseen by London Police Chief Murray Faulkner.
 
The conclusion, covered in an eight-page report presented in February, said:  “After reviewing all of the witnesses, the officers’ statements, videotape of this incident, and by review of the use-of-force trainers, it is my opinion that the officers used an appropriate level of force based on their training and the use of force model that is used in the province of Ontario.”  
 
The subject of the arrest was taken to hospital and released early the next morning.  He was charged with mischief, resisting arrest, assault, and escaping custody. Approximately three months later, the charges were stayed by a judge who accepted a plan for the student to take part in a mental health diversion program.
 
“We continue to work with this student and his family. His goal is to return to classes and we will be supporting him to do so,” said Kulczycki.
 
“Part of our communication needs to be that students who face extreme stress or other difficulties can receive the supports they need on a timely basis to be successful.”
 
Kulczycki says Western’s first priority must be the safety of people on campus. “If there is a threat to that safety, our officers and London Police officers will take action. Our officers are sensitive to our goals of assisting individuals in difficulty, but again, protecting our community from danger must be their priority.”
 
Kulczycki and Austen provided an outline of the recommendations and the university’s response and actions for members of Campus Council.
 
Here is a summary of the recommendations and university response:
 
1. A recommendation for a campaign to communicate to faculty and staff the fact that, while privacy and confidentiality are highly important, they must not stand in the way of seeking help if there is a safety risk related to an individual’s behaviour.
 
As one means to accomplish this, Kulczycki says Campus Police and the Safe Campus Advisory Partners group (SCAP) have created an information folder that will receive broad campus distribution and offer valuable information and advice for faculty and staff on how to recognize and seek assistance for individuals in trouble.
 
2. A recommendation that the university, through SCAP, finalize a plan for centralized resources for triaging personal safety concerns relating to behavioural issues.
 
Currently, a number of individuals across campus may see telltale signs that someone is heading for serious trouble but there may not be a way to share this information. Campus Police remains the central location for gathering information related to any safety or security concerns, says Kulczycki. Steps are being taken to create a secure method for campus leaders to report specific and major incidents that may lead them to believe a student or other individual is at risk.
 
3. A recommendation for guidelines to allow an independent assessment to ensure a student’s safe return to campus following an incident.
 
Western’s legal counsel, working with SCAP, has been developing these guidelines and they should be completed over the summer.  
 
4. A recommendation that Campus Police continue to review security in the Social Sciences Building as physical changes occur over time.
 
The Social Science Centre has received a thorough review by Western’s Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) coordinator. Plans for the future include an upgrade of the video monitoring system and plans to install perimeter card access that would increase the ability to control access in certain circumstances.  
 
5. A recommendation that Western and Campus Police look at new technology tools to provide information quickly to students.
 
Austen says information in emergencies is now provided through Western’s homepage, mass emails, and public address systems in buildings, as well as on Twitter and Face Book pages. Western is reviewing the possible use of sirens, as well as using digital signs for emergency notification (currently 60 signs are on campus), and increasing the number.
 
6. A recommendation that Campus Police increase efforts to reach out to the diverse communities.
 
Kulczycki says an increasingly international student population, some from countries where police are to be feared, means that there is an opportunity to show the supportive role that officers play on campus and in the broader community.  
 
7. A recommendation that Campus Police officers take part in programs designed for faculty and staff on mental health awareness and education.  
 
Austen says that education on behavioural matters, including de-escalation and verbal tactics, is part of campus police training. As well, as a result of this recommendation, all officers are taking specialized training this month on mental health issues.  
 
8. A recommendation that Campus Police take part in awareness training that would include de-escalation skills to assist in dealing with mental health issues.
 
Austen says his officers take part in training in de-escalation and verbal tactics provided by London Police and that additional training is planned.
 
The report from the independent review by Boniface is available at http://uwo.ca/local_files/downloads/boniface-report-final.pdf
 

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