These are exciting times for Dakota Ojibway Police Service and the communities we

serve. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the organizational

changes that have recently taken place and provide an update on some of our ongoing

initiatives in relation to our strategic goals and objectives. The Police Service has recently

gone through an organizational restructure affecting the supervisory ranks. With a

continued focus on providing the upmost accountability at the Detachment level, we

have added a second Inspector who will be responsible for the operations portion of the

Police Service. The Other Inspector will be responsible for any matters related to the

Support Services of the organization, such as policy, professional standards, training and

recruitment, records management and information technology. The other change to the

organization is the elimination of the Corporal rank. All the Detachment Commanders will

now hold the rank of Sergeant. Their job function will remain essentially the same, but

expectations will be high and they will be working closely with the Inspector I/C

Operations to ensure optimum service delivery to the communities.

The second exciting initiative, which relates to our goal of expanding policing service to

other DOTC communities, is the transition into Waywayseecappo First Nation. We have

finally confirmed the support of Manitoba Justice for the transition of policing services

from the RCMP to DOPS. We have a transition team in place and have commenced

meetings with the RCMP and Chief and Council to develop a transition plan that will

ensure the community of Waywayseecappo is best serviced during this transition period.

A tentative date of April 1st, 2014 has been set for DOPS to assume primary policing

services for the community. Expect further updates as the transition progresses.

In keeping with another important strategic goal, “to provide effective policing”, DOPS

remains committed to staff development. Although we take advantage of a variety of

training and developmental opportunities, we recently focused on supervisory and

leadership development. It is my goal to ensure that all our sergeants attend the Senior Police Administrator course

(SPAC) offered by the Canadian Police College (CPC). This is a highly recognized course and by the end of 2013 three of

our sergeants will have completed the course with the others scheduled to attend in early 2014. Training dollars are

always tight, so funding to allow for this training has been provided through the Aboriginal Policing Professional

Development Fund. In partnership with the RCMP Foundation and the CPC, the Motorola Solutions Foundation has

donated $100,000.00 towards the creation of the fund, which provides First Nations Police Professionals with

opportunities to take part in much needed specialized police education and training offered by the CPC.

In an attempt to enhance communication at the community level, I will be attending the communities providing a

community presentation updating the community members on DOPS activities and initiatives. Please take note of dates

and times of these presentations when they are posted in your community.

On behalf of all the members and staff of the Dakota Ojibway Police Service, I would like to wish everyone a safe and

joyous holiday season and all the best in the new year.

Meegwetch – Wopida D.A. (Doug) Palson, Chief of Police Dakota Ojibway Police Service

Chief’s Christmas Message

Special Holiday Edition

Vol. 5 Issue 16

December 2013

DAKOTA OJIBWAY POLICE SERVICE NEWSLETTER

MISSION STATEMENT

“Strive to ensure the safety, security, trust and protection of the First Nation Communi-ties: Birdtail Sioux, Canupawakpa Dakota Nation, Roseau River, Sandy Bay and Sioux Valley. Uphold the high-est standards of professional-ism and to honor the cultures, beliefs and traditions of the First Nations families and communities of which the Department services.”

VISION STATEMENT

“Dakota Ojibway Police Ser-

vice commits to be proactive in providing the high standard of public service to the Com-munities and transparency

with respect to cultures, be-liefs, traditions, and history of

First Nations people.”

DOPS Chief of Police

Message

1

Police Commission

Holiday Greetings

1

Employee Profile &

Members in your

Community

2

Crime Prevention

Feature

3

The Police NoteBook 4

Message from MFNPA 4

Editorial Note

(Office Closures)

4

Inside this issue:

Page 1

Dakota Ojibway Police Commission left to

right: Ray Beaulieu—Sandy Bay Ojibway First

Nation; Carl Benn—Birdtail Sioux First Nation;

Gerald Sandy—Canupawakpa Dakota Nation;

Robert Egachie—Roseau River Anishinabe

First Nation; Bill Taylor—Sioux Valley Dakota

Nation.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM

THE POLICE COMMISSION

DOPS Mascot “BOLO”

Page 2

Operations Inspector, Conrad DeLaronde, came to Dakota Ojibway Police Service following twenty-three years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and five years with Treaty Three Police Service. Conrad is of Cree and Saulteaux descent, a member of Skownan First Nation. He was born and raised in The Pas, Manitoba. Conrad and his wife Lois have three adult sons, one of whom is police officer and the other two are studying law at the University of Manitoba. Conrad and his wife Lois are extremely happy with being blessed with their first granddaughter being born in September of this year. We are extremely pleased to have Conrad on board with us and look forward his years of experience to recommend and implement operational efficiencies in our police service. The focus of his efforts will be to strengthen our police service delivery model to better serve our citizen’s and communities. D.A. (Doug) Palson, Chief of Police

Employee Profile and DOPS Members in your Community

D.O.P.S. USAR-GSAR Training

DOPS members, along with more than 100 members of

Manitoba’s Urban Search and Rescue team spent three

days training in a large-scale outdoor operation in Ninette,

Manitoba on October 26th, 2013, weekend. The USAR

(Urban Search and Rescue) & GSAR (Ground Search &

Rescue) training specializes in finding people who have

been trapped in collapsed structures. They use dogs and

sophisticated search equipment to locate them and then

heavy equipment like cranes to remove debris. They also

conduct operations to breach, shore up, remove and lift

structural components during an emergency or disaster,

and they do some treatment and removal of victims. The

USAR team stayed site in a self-contained camp and com-

mand post that included all‑season tents, water and galley supplies, and a satellite communications system. Cst. Steve McArthur and DOPS Canine “Mason” attend-

ed the USAR training and Cst. Frank Kaszas attend the GSAR training along with Sandy Bay Fire Department members.

Welcoming New Staff—Inspector Conrad DeLaronde

Cst. Steve McArthur with Mason (courtesy of Brandon Sun) Cst. Frank Kaszas with Sandy Bay Fire Chief & Firefighters.

DOPS Annual In-Service

DOPS 2014 CALENDAR

The Police Service will be releasing

the 2014 DOPS Calendar in Decem-

ber. Look out for your Detachment

members in your community! If you

would like a calendar, please contact

Headquarters at (204) 856-5370 or

see your local detachment.

DOPS Halloween 2013—DOPS had many visitors during the Halloween! Check out some of the kids great costumes!

CRIME PREVENTION FEATURE

Page 3

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas &

A Happy New Year

Jo-Ann Helgason, Crime Prevention Coordinator

Cst. Aldyne Stevenson, Crime Prevention Officer

Crime Prevention Services has once again started up our youth programs in

early October meeting once a week every Wednesday evening in Sioux Valley

and every Thursday after school in Sandy Bay. This is our fifth year with the

Sioux Valley Cadets and forth year with the Sandy Bay Youth Corps.

We have four youth leaders hired in Sandy Bay to assist with activities and a

Cadet Instructor in Sioux Valley along with several volunteers from the ACC

Police Studies class that come out each Wednesday to help supervise and

mentor our youth.

We provide for a variety of activities with emphasis on sports, culture,

education and healthy living. It is an opportunity for youth to learn teamwork

and leadership skills and socialize with other youth in a safe and positive

environment.

DOPS Members attended Rolling River on July 26th. Cst.

McArthur and Police Dog Mason came out and do

presentation and Sgt. McKay provided a demonstration with

the Fatal Vision goggles.

SV Youth having fun in a good and positive way - Shoe scramble, musical chairs and balloon tag!

Sandy Bay Health Centre—Ivan Roulette speaks on nutrition and fitness to SB Youth Corp

Percy Tacan presents the hand drum to SV Cadets

This year’s artwork was done

by Damen Wasicuna a

Grade 6 student at Sioux

Valley School in Sioux Valley

Dakota Nation. Damen is a

very hard worker. He enjoys

playing Xbox, playing all

sorts sports and enjoys

drawing.

DOPS had a Christmas card contest for the grades 5 & 6 the contest was to create our Christmas cards using Traditional Art. We selected two winners; one of the winners was Clinton Southwind from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation; and the other winner was Damen Wasicuna from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. The winners won their class a pizza party. There were many other runner-ups and we thank all the kids who participated.

This year’s artwork was done

by Clinton Southwind, a Grade

6 student at Ginew School in

Roseau River Anishinabe First

Nation. He likes to play games

and hang out with friends.

Clinton is a very respectful

student.

Christmas Card Competition

Fleming School

Rolling River Demonstration

Damen Wasicuna

DOPS attended Fleming

High school and gave a

presentation on the dan-

gers of drinking and driving.

The demonstration was

about the influence of alco-

hol on the senses and to

show the dangers of driving

while impaired.

Ginew School

DOPS Members, Cst. Leblanc

and Cst. Beaulieu, attended

Roseau River (Ginew School)

and participated with the kids

on community floor hockey.

Roseau Detachment Members

also participate in the local

Hockey Academy.

Clifton Southwind

DAKOTA OJIBWAY POLICE SERVICE

3rd Floor Rufus Prince Building

5000 Crescent Road West

(Mailing Address)

P.O. Box 37

Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3B2

Office: (204) 856-5370

Fax: (204) 856-5389

Email: dops@dops.org

Website: www.dops.org

Birdtail Sioux Detachment

P.O. Box 44

Beulah, MB ROM 0B0

E911: (204) 568-4621

Fax: (204) 568-4552 ****

Canupawakpa Detachment

P.O. Box 40

Pipestone, MB R0M 1T0

E911: (204) 854-2953

Fax: (204) 854-2364 ****

Roseau River Detachment

P.O. Box 190

Dominion City, MB R0A 0H0

E911: (204) 427-3383

Fax: (204) 427-3389 ****

Sandy Bay Detachment

P.O. Box 644

Marius, MB R0H 0T0

E911: (204) 843-7700

Fax: (204) 843-7702 ****

Sioux Valley Detachment

P.O. Box 130

Griswold, MB R0M 0S0

E911: (204) 855-4400

Fax: (204) 855-4402

Safety Tips for Christmas Trees - When purchasing a real tree, check for freshness by tapping it on the ground—dropping needles indicate a dry, highly flammable tree. - When purchasing an artificial tree, make sure it says “fire resistant”. The label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. - Place your tree away from fireplaces and radiators. Heated rooms dry out fresh trees, keep the stand filled with water by topping it up daily. - Never use lighted candles on or near the tree. - Remove a real tree within 10—14 days; otherwise it can start to dry out and pose a fire hazard. Tips for Safe Winter Driving 1. Reduce your speed when driving in less than ideal conditions 2. Keep a safe following distance 3. If you are in a skid, relax, release the brake and accelerator, look into the direction you want to go and steer 4. Keep your headlights on DAY and NIGHT 5. Always have all your fluid levels properly stocked (windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, gas, etc.) 6. SIPDE – Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide and

Execute. 7. Use your sun visor or sunglasses when driving on sunny days 8. Beware of icy spots – bridges, overpasses, inter sections and shady spots 9. Accelerate and decelerate gradually! 10. Be a defensive driver!!!

Route maps, safety information and road condi-

tions are available on the website at

http://www.manitoba.ca/mit/roadinfo/index.html

Highway Information Services at 945-3704 or Toll Free 1-877-627-6237 for a recorded announcement of Winter Road conditions.

Wishing you … Good times,

Good friends, And a world of holiday happiness!

Manitoba First Nation Police Association

President: Jason Colon

Vice-President: Matt Nicholson

Secretary/Treasurer: Amy Roulette

Editorial Note

Please note: DOPS Headquarters Administration office will be closed commencing Friday, December 20, 2013 at 3:00 pm and will re-open on Monday, January 6, 2014 at 8:30 am.

DOPS HQ Staff and Members would like to wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas

and the very best for the New Year!

PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE……… HAVE A DESIGNATED PERSON DO THE DRIVING.

WINTER ROAD INFORMATION

http://www.manitoba.ca/mit/roadinfo/index.html Please call Highway Information Services at 204-945-3704 or Toll Free 1-877-627-6237 for a recorded announcement of Winter Road conditions.

Page 4

WEATHER OR RADIO CHANNELS Always check the weather channel or radio to see what weather conditions will be headed to your community. The weather network provides up to date weather forecasts, weather systems, storms and snowfall amounts for your area. Their website has an online streaming and downloadable weather APPS that informs you on existing weather conditions. You can visit them at: www.weathernetwork.com Your Winter safety could be dependent on the weather. DRIVE SAFELY!