Local police must be fit for duty
Waterloo Regional Police employees receiving updated education around substance use
WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Regional Police officers can now consume cannabis off-duty but it’s their responsibility to ensure they return to work fit for duty, according to the service’s updated policies reflecting this week’s legalization of recreational cannabis.
The modified fit for duty procedure, officially authorized Tuesday, is a “robust” response to the historic end of Canada’s 100-year prohibition on recreational cannabis, maintains Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan Larkin.
Departing from the service’s practice of keeping personnel policies confidential, Larkin publicly spoke about the fit for duty procedure changes during a board meeting Wednesday.
The revised rules acknowledge use of recreational cannabis is now legal in Canada, but emphasize its use and abuse is still subject to zero tolerance requirements already in place. They also reinforce an expectation members are accountable for their own preparedness when reporting for duty.
“Make no mistake about it, this procedure is very clear,” said Larkin. “It must be zero tolerance, and the onus is on the member to ensure that they’re healthy, fit and ready to perform whatever function it is within our organization.”
According to the fit for duty policy, disciplinary measures can be taken against any member who is “not fit for duty at work as a result of use of a drug.”
Updated training is underway to educate all employees on what it means to be fit for duty, and how to detect if someone might be impaired by cannabis use, or any substance that can affect the ability to work. According to current labour laws, random drug testing of police members is not permitted.
Unlike other police services, the local organization won’t dictate how many days an employee can consume now-legal recreational cannabis products before reporting to work. The Toronto Police Service released its policy dictating its members can’t consume recreational cannabis 28 days before reporting for duty.
Larkin said local police leaders are instead empowering members to act and prepare for work as professionals.
“The onus is on our members to be fit for duty,” he said. “We have tremendous faith, we have tremendous confidence, and we have tremendous respect for our employees who come to work and take their job seriously.”
That said, the chief added, the service acknowledges there are times when police employees suffer from “real life” challenges, including substance abuse, and the organization aims to provide wraparound services to address those issues.
To coincide with the legalization of cannabis, Waterloo Regional Police have also launched a campaign called #HIGHstakes to bring awareness to the dangers of driving while high.
“Cannabis is now legal, but driving impaired is not,” Larkin said in a news release. “Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada and we are committed to keeping our roads free from any type of impairment.”
Regional police have 304 officers trained in standardized field sobriety tests and are able to recognize impairment by alcohol and drug use. The police service also has 14 drug recognition experts trained to identify drug impairment and more officers are expected to be trained by the end of the year.
As part of the campaign, RIDE programs will also be launched throughout the region.
“Drugs can impair your ability to drive safely, slowing your reaction time and your ability to make decisions,” said Larkin. “If you drive high, you’re not only risking your own life, but the lives of those you’re sharing the road with.”