Latest news with #LondonPoliceService
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
First court appearance for senior London police officer facing assault charges
London Police Service Inspector Ryan Scrivens as seen in a video posted to social media on Dec. 14, 2024. (Source: London Police Service/Facebook) Charged with two counts of assault, the matter of London police Insp. Ryan Scrivens, 48, was dealt with in an Ottawa courtroom Friday morning via zoom. London lawyer Lucas O'Hara appeared for Scrivens telling the court that he has asked for information from the Crown on the case saying, 'I have requested disclosure but haven't received any.' O'Hara waived the reading of the charge in open court. A ban on publication is put in place on identifying the complainant in the case along with witnesses. Scrivens, a 25 year veteran, was charged after a reported incident in Ottawa on Family Day weekend in Februrary. The case was adjourned for about 12 weeks and will be back in court on Sept. 12. Scrivens has been suspended with pay and London police have launched an internal investigation looking into the matter.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Police investigating shooting at west London office building
Social Sharing London police are investigating after finding a bullet hole in the window of a west end office building. Police arrived to a business on the 1800-block of Oxford Street West after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, after an employee called to report the damage. Officers found evidence that a firearm was shot into the building sometime overnight, police said. Nobody was in the building during the shooting, police said, and no injuries have been reported. The London Police Service Guns and Gangs Section has taken over the investigation, which is still ongoing. Investigators are asking anyone who was in the area of Oxford Street West and Westdel Bourne between 11 and 8 a.m. Wednesday, and who may have information, to get in touch with London police. They are also seeking dash-cam, residential or business video surveillance captured in the area during the same timeframe.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘We feel it builds trust': Police back possible return of School Resource Officer program
London police are welcoming new provincial legislation mandating the return of school resource officers. CTV's Reta Ismail reports. It's been four years since a controversial police-in-schools program was paused by the London Police Service (LPS), but the province is introducing new legislation that will require school boards to implement the program. The decision to pause the School Resource Officer (SRO) program was made after some found it could be a source of trauma for racialized groups. A review was launched, led by leadership representatives from the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB), the public-school board, local police services (Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and London), and community leaders from Indigenous, Black, and people of colour communities, according to SRO Program Review Update. 'In 2021, as a result of feedback between police services, community leaders, and school boards, the program was paused until further review,' explained Inspector Pete Testa, LPS, Community Mobilization and Support. Testa said LPS fully supports having officers within the schools, 'We feel that it builds community trust, it provides support for youth, and it provides an opportunity for police to connect with the youth, and support people in vulnerable positions.' The LDCSB issued a statement to CTV News, saying, 'The LDCSB has always had an excellent working relationship with our local police services. We look forward to new opportunities to work together in collaborative ways that help our students and their families.' However, in response to an interview request regarding the return of the program, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) said, 'We will respectfully decline to comment at this time.' The proposed legislation announced May 29 would require school boards to implement a school resource officer (SRO) program, which places officers in elementary and high schools. LPS say they will be having conversations with school boards and stakeholders – when/if legislation passes.
Toronto Sun
10-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY UNLEASHED: Junk justice with Brad Hunter
Guns and drugs discovered during the London Police Service's largest ever seizure of fentanyl in London, Ontario on Wednesday May 28, 2025. Photo by Derek Ruttan/London Free Press/Postmedia Network WATCH: It's a political choice to fight crime, or in Canada – to not fight crime. Sun political columnist Brian Lilley, and Sun national crime columnist Brad Hunter talk about how crime and politics collide. What do YOU think? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or send us a Letter to the Editor for possible publication to Letters must be 250 words or less and signed. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account NHL Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists NHL Toronto Blue Jays
CBC
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Local police services have different plans as province pushes return of cops to schools
As the Ontario government moves to bring police officers back into schools, two local police services share different reactions to the news. While the St. Thomas Police Service (STPS) is on board with the idea of bringing back School Resource Officer (SRO) programs, the London Police Service (LPS) expressed less interest. Nonetheless, both police services said officer engagement with students is an important priority. "I think that this is the right step forward," said Marc Roskamp, the St. Thomas chief of police. "[The new bill] would allow police officers back into the schools and the traditional school resource officer program." Roskamp's endorsement follows closely behind Education Minister Paul Calandra's announcement of the Supporting Children and Students Act, which aims to consolidate ministry oversight over school boards and requires the return of SRO programs if local police offer them. In 2021, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), the largest in the region, paused its SRO program and, in 2024, resolved not to re-initiate it due to concerns from students over surveillance and feelings of unease. The STPS has been vocal in its dissatisfaction with removing SROs and has also reported an uptick in officers being called to schools. Following a firearm scare at a school in January, Roskamp told reporters those incidents have risen by 55 per cent since 2021, with officers now attending schools once every two days. In his eyes, the police are a clear part of the solution to the problem. "Presence is deterrence," Roskamp said. "Whether expected or unexpected, visits to schools might reduce those incidents of violence, and what we're talking about is assaults, sexual assaults, bullying, it's all happening." That's not to imply deterrence is the only goal of officers in schools, he added. "When we're in the schools, it's never been about enforcement or intelligence gathering. It's always been about high fives and smiles and interacting and engaging with youth." Roskamp said his police service is engaged with local school boards and is working to "re-establish, refresh and reimagine the role of the school resource officer." London Police's response to the question of whether they would offer an SRO program to the board included an effort to distance the force from official SRO programs. "We have moved away from the title 'School Resource Officer' and instead focus on broader community engagement," said Peter Testa, head of the LPS community mobilization and support branch. Testa said the LPS has worked closely with school boards in the city to support students, with the goal of promoting positive behaviour and enhancing safety through "mutual respect." He also said the LPS supports boards without the use of an SRO program "by having our officers attending and presenting when requests are made." Regardless of the intentions as stated by police, some students remain opposed to police presence in schools in general. One of those students is Shivani Vimal, who is in grade 11 at the TVDSB's Lord Dorchester Secondary School. "I firmly believe that police officers do not belong in schools. I believe there's a time and place for security personnel, but schools are spaces for learning, growth and trust, and that's just not the place for police officers," she said. A common thread in opposition to officers in schools, especially as stated in the past by previous TVDSB student trustees, is a concern that students from marginalized communities could be made doubly uncomfortable by police presence. "I just feel that it would harm BIPOC students, and it would impact them a lot more than people think," Vimal said. Vimal said the opinions of her peers seem to be divided. However, the prevailing thought is that students "don't want to feel like they're being watched. And they also believe that police officers in schools might just escalate situations." She said she'd rather see funding for social workers and counsellors as a solution, but if the police do return, the process needs to be student-centric and collaborative.
