Ontario Northland partner with OPP
Published:
March 24th 2011Source: By Dave Dale, The Nugget
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The Coach on Patrol partnership trains
Ontario Northland bus drivers to assist the
Ontario Provincial Police and help keep the
roadways safer.
"We've put more sets of eyes on the highway," said OPP North East Regional Commander Joffre Dupuis during a media conference Monday at the bus facility on Wallace Road.
Dupuis said improving the communication network between Ontario Northland's 52 drivers and police in the north east and central regions was a natural progression.
"We're both in the same business, we're in the business of protecting people and making sure they get home safe," he said.
Coach operators learned how to identify vehicles when providing reports of suspected impaired or aggressive driving, as well as reporting criminal activity or collisions. They toured the OPP communication centre to see firsthand who processes reports and how it's done, as well as gained more knowledge about police procedures.
"We've increased safety for the drivers, increased safety for the people on the bus, increased the safety for our members and the safety for the general public," Dupuis said.
Paul Goulet, Ontario Northland Transportation Commission president and chief executive officer, also said the partnership was appropriate.
"Our motor coach operators, like all of the Ontario Provincial Police officers who patrol our Northern highways, assume tremendous responsibility and risk when they venture out against weather and our unique Northern conditions to transport precious human cargo or to safeguard our highways," he said.
Goulet attributed the re-instatement of the program to Tony Wentzell, General Chairperson of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, who brought the issue up last summer during a labour management meeting.
Wentzell said the "ball started rolling" several years ago when an ON coach driver was driving through a motel parking lot and noticed teenagers rifling through cars.
Drivers and police have always had a "silent partnership" keeping an eye out for each other and it was time to "take it to the next level."
He said drivers wanted to know exactly what they could do to help in every situation.
"I think it's going to be a good program," Wentzell said. "A lot of times drivers are not sure what to do . . . this is really going to remove all doubt, it empowers us a little bit."
Goulet dedicated the announcement of the Coach on Patrol program to motor coach operator Marcel Boulianne who was seriously injured Feb. 27 in a collision up north.
"Marcel is still recuperating and has the constant thoughts and support of all of his motor coach and Ontario Northland extended family," he said.
"Marcel, the spirit of this partnership is dedicated to your bravery, your dedication and your well being."
"We've put more sets of eyes on the highway," said OPP North East Regional Commander Joffre Dupuis during a media conference Monday at the bus facility on Wallace Road.
Dupuis said improving the communication network between Ontario Northland's 52 drivers and police in the north east and central regions was a natural progression.
"We're both in the same business, we're in the business of protecting people and making sure they get home safe," he said.
Coach operators learned how to identify vehicles when providing reports of suspected impaired or aggressive driving, as well as reporting criminal activity or collisions. They toured the OPP communication centre to see firsthand who processes reports and how it's done, as well as gained more knowledge about police procedures.
"We've increased safety for the drivers, increased safety for the people on the bus, increased the safety for our members and the safety for the general public," Dupuis said.
Paul Goulet, Ontario Northland Transportation Commission president and chief executive officer, also said the partnership was appropriate.
"Our motor coach operators, like all of the Ontario Provincial Police officers who patrol our Northern highways, assume tremendous responsibility and risk when they venture out against weather and our unique Northern conditions to transport precious human cargo or to safeguard our highways," he said.
Goulet attributed the re-instatement of the program to Tony Wentzell, General Chairperson of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, who brought the issue up last summer during a labour management meeting.
Wentzell said the "ball started rolling" several years ago when an ON coach driver was driving through a motel parking lot and noticed teenagers rifling through cars.
Drivers and police have always had a "silent partnership" keeping an eye out for each other and it was time to "take it to the next level."
He said drivers wanted to know exactly what they could do to help in every situation.
"I think it's going to be a good program," Wentzell said. "A lot of times drivers are not sure what to do . . . this is really going to remove all doubt, it empowers us a little bit."
Goulet dedicated the announcement of the Coach on Patrol program to motor coach operator Marcel Boulianne who was seriously injured Feb. 27 in a collision up north.
"Marcel is still recuperating and has the constant thoughts and support of all of his motor coach and Ontario Northland extended family," he said.
"Marcel, the spirit of this partnership is dedicated to your bravery, your dedication and your well being."
OPP and ONR working together
Published:
March 21st 2011
Source: By Kate Adams - BayToday.ca
Today officials with Ontario Northland and
the North East Region Ontario Provincial
Police (NER OPP) re-launched the Coach on
Patrol (COP) program. A program designed to
support public safety on Northern Ontario
roads and to enhance safety procedures for
drivers and passengers.
Officials say under the program the motor coach operators will be a trained valuable resource tied into the NER OPP Highway Safety Division – Traffic and Marine Unit, which will see the operators monitoring roadways on their routes and reporting any concerns they are having or witnessing that requires police assistance.
OPP Inspector Mark Andrews says it is great to have the extra eyes on the road and he is pleased that the program has been retooled and re-established. He says the operators have been thoroughly trained on what to look for and how to report it.
“The whole concept of this program was initiated back around 1999-2000, what was missing was the training component and the follow up component. And the idea was put forth back in ’99 but it really didn’t have the follow up or the have the legs it needed to do what we have done this time,” he explains.
“So we looked at the program; why didn’t it prosper and saw the weaknesses and we’ve enhanced that with the training, the reporting mechanisms the tour of the provincial communications centre, and all of those things that I think that’s why this program now will have the legs and flourish.”
Andrews it is important for travelers have a certain comfort level when traveling and publicising the program drives home the message that this is a safe way to travel.
“This kind of cooperative and how to call with the panic buttons that are being installed on the bus for the drivers, those direct contact numbers that we provided them, the training on how to watch for things, to look and to let us know and have that communication directly with the communication centre it will just enhance the safety.”
“The
reason that we are being so open about this
to the public is we want anyone to know, who
may be riding on a bus to know, that it’s a
fact that it’s a safe way to travel.”
“The communication (and) cooperation between our two organizations is very effective.”
Tony Wentzell, Local Chairman, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference for Ontario Northland motor coach operators, says a recent incident spurred on both agencies to re-examine the program.
“One of our drivers was driving through a motel parking lot, going to his room and parking the bus for the night, and he noticed some kids rifling through cars, so he just drove the bus through called the OPP who came and caught the kids in the act.”
“He had mentioned after that, that you know we very often call things in to the police and we’re kind of like a silent partner with them anyways so it was time to maybe look at re-examining this and getting a little more official.”
“The provincial police have told us that as many eyes they can get out on the road they really appreciate and giving us a little training and a little bit of insight as to what’s really important for them just make their job easier and make the highways a little safer.”
Calling motor coach operators unsung heroes who face adverse conditions day in and day out, Paul Goulet, President and CEO of Ontario Northland says the formal agreement will help further safety on the highways.
“I think it is incredibly important, it was informal now we’ve re-established and formalized it, but when you think our drivers are out there adverse northern conditions transporting students, seniors citizens, our family members in weather that we probably wouldn’t drive in -- now to have a formal partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police looking out for each other I think it’s incredibly important.”
Officials say under the program the motor coach operators will be a trained valuable resource tied into the NER OPP Highway Safety Division – Traffic and Marine Unit, which will see the operators monitoring roadways on their routes and reporting any concerns they are having or witnessing that requires police assistance.
OPP Inspector Mark Andrews says it is great to have the extra eyes on the road and he is pleased that the program has been retooled and re-established. He says the operators have been thoroughly trained on what to look for and how to report it.
“The whole concept of this program was initiated back around 1999-2000, what was missing was the training component and the follow up component. And the idea was put forth back in ’99 but it really didn’t have the follow up or the have the legs it needed to do what we have done this time,” he explains.
“So we looked at the program; why didn’t it prosper and saw the weaknesses and we’ve enhanced that with the training, the reporting mechanisms the tour of the provincial communications centre, and all of those things that I think that’s why this program now will have the legs and flourish.”
Andrews it is important for travelers have a certain comfort level when traveling and publicising the program drives home the message that this is a safe way to travel.
“This kind of cooperative and how to call with the panic buttons that are being installed on the bus for the drivers, those direct contact numbers that we provided them, the training on how to watch for things, to look and to let us know and have that communication directly with the communication centre it will just enhance the safety.”
“The
reason that we are being so open about this
to the public is we want anyone to know, who
may be riding on a bus to know, that it’s a
fact that it’s a safe way to travel.”“The communication (and) cooperation between our two organizations is very effective.”
Tony Wentzell, Local Chairman, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference for Ontario Northland motor coach operators, says a recent incident spurred on both agencies to re-examine the program.
“One of our drivers was driving through a motel parking lot, going to his room and parking the bus for the night, and he noticed some kids rifling through cars, so he just drove the bus through called the OPP who came and caught the kids in the act.”
“He had mentioned after that, that you know we very often call things in to the police and we’re kind of like a silent partner with them anyways so it was time to maybe look at re-examining this and getting a little more official.”
“The provincial police have told us that as many eyes they can get out on the road they really appreciate and giving us a little training and a little bit of insight as to what’s really important for them just make their job easier and make the highways a little safer.”
Calling motor coach operators unsung heroes who face adverse conditions day in and day out, Paul Goulet, President and CEO of Ontario Northland says the formal agreement will help further safety on the highways.
“I think it is incredibly important, it was informal now we’ve re-established and formalized it, but when you think our drivers are out there adverse northern conditions transporting students, seniors citizens, our family members in weather that we probably wouldn’t drive in -- now to have a formal partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police looking out for each other I think it’s incredibly important.”
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