MISSISSAUGA TRANSIT SECURITY TEAM flaps in "under the radar" (Mississauga Musings)

Video "Allow the Ontario Ombudsman into Municipalities!" Please click here to go directly to YouTube

THE TOPIC I WON'T BE WRITING ABOUT TODAY

I've been chomping at the bit to write about Enersource --but--

In my October 12th Blog entry, 'Hazel McCallion: "Sometimes you just have to do your homework"', I stated:

"I'm still waiting on an email response for that "teeny bit" of information. So, in the meantime, here's some Enersource homework to keep readers in the loop."

Well, I'm still waiting. I also have two Enersource videos on hold to be YouTubed but I don't want to post those either until I have this one key item.

And so I wait...

In the meantime, two reader comments happened by yesterday and because both are in response to Blog entries on municipal security guards, I think it appropriate to deal with them here. And it might as well be today because I can't report on Enersource.

COMMENT BY D.M. LEFT LATE LAST NIGHT

First, his words in bold emphasis and in their entirety. Later, my responses regular font.

"Every time I search Google about Mississauga you consistently come to the top of the list! Either your blog gets hit alot or you are really trying to get noticed by someone... which appears to be either 'the' Police or this Mississauga private police you keep bringing up and now there is a new Transit cop shop? Wow, talk about investigative reporting! Keep on it, I'm sure they will keep these Pelco things trained on you or train them to keep an eye out for you! Why would you want such attention though? You best let sleeping dogs lie or the Security Director is going to call in Black Water on you. Good luck with FOI requests, I find that 'act' to be about as reliable in providing anything as simply walking in to ask someone a question like you did. In other words, a total crap shoot and the info you may or may not get isn't technically ever sustainable because nobody from within will take responsibility or accountability to its validity. So whats the point? 'A' for effort though!"

Here we go.

"Every time I search Google about Mississauga you consistently come to the top of the list! "

This tells me that DM isn't just searching for "Mississauga" but other specialized key words instead. Perhaps DM is even a "brother" with similar research goals --Googling the same key words that I do.

I seed my Blog with key words on purpose --as verbal "beacons".

For example, it's no accident that the key words, "Ontario Ombudsman" are permanently attached to the top of each of my Blog entries.

"Either your blog gets hit alot or you are really trying to get noticed by someone... "

I'm really trying to get noticed by someone.

"which appears to be either 'the' Police or this Mississauga private police you keep bringing up"

Actually, I'm trying to get noticed by the Ontario Ombudsman and Ontario's Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services --although the Police would be great too. Or anyone who's Googling for the Ontario Ombudsman and Ontario's Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. (Notice how I just seeded my Blog with "Ontario Ombudsman and Ontario's Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services."?)

"or this Mississauga private police you keep bringing up and now there is a new Transit cop shop?"

DM, it's a mistake to refer to municipal security personnel as "police" as well as a mistake to refer to Mississauga having a "new Transit cop shop". The public concludes that municipal security guards are police and they are NOT. They are security guards --period. No matter how closely their cars mimic police cars or their uniforms and equipment look all police-y, they are security guards.

Municipal security guards are NOT Police Services.

"Keep on it, I'm sure they will keep these Pelco things trained on you or train them to keep an eye out for you! "

It ain't the Pelcos I'm worried about, darlin.

Skipping one sentence for now..

"Good luck with FOI requests, I find that 'act' to be about as reliable in providing anything as simply walking in to ask someone a question like you did."

Hey guess what! The other day I go into Big Yellow and up to the third floor City Clerks' Office and danged if there isn't a new person working in Mississauga Freedom of Information (FOI)! Now there are TWO people working in FOI and the FOI Coordinator actually has someone to coordinate.

"In other words, a total crap shoot"

Oh, absolutely. But I have to say that considering I've dropped down over two dozen FOI's in the last while, the Freedom of Information Coordinator for Mississauga is one class act. It's not her fault when I get "access denied". Even at last Council meeting, Councillor Parrish mentioned how difficult it was for her to glean information from the corporate anal-retentive informational landscape.

[Tuesday, October 16, 2007 clarification: Please note that Councillor Parrish did not refer to Mississauga as a "corporate anal-retentive informational landscape." I take sole credit for that descriptor.]

"the info you may or may not get isn't technically ever sustainable because nobody from within will take responsibility or accountability to its validity. So whats the point?"

What's the point? My Blog is testimony to the fact that "nobody from within will take responsibility or accountability"

DM! You hit it! Your own words!

"nobody from within will take responsibility or accountability"

And that's the point.

To repeat what Ontario Ombudsman stated back in June 2007.

"Millions of Ontarians are at the mercy of a special kind of Big Brother – the hospitals, the long-term care facilities, the children’s aid societies and the like are cleverly guised as “private entities” and deemed off-limits to proper checks and balances.

Big Brother has his hand firmly planted in our back pocket – government revenues his lifeline; unaccountability his refuge."

Bottomline. Big Brother is a BULLY, DM. And you have to stand up to Bullies.

VOICE OF AJAX COMMENTS

And now to comments by Karem Allen, creator of the Voices of Ajax citizen-blog:

Karem writes:

"Citizens need a clear path to deal with complaints and incidents where they feel they have been treated unjustly.

We do not seem to have that issue out this way. We have 3rd party security for our parks and such but the complaint process would be in place.

When there is no clear process or complaints wouldn't the councillor be ultimately the best route to go?"

Karem, all I can say is you writing, "We do not seem to have that issue out this way" deals only with appearances. "do not seem" isn't knowing. My own (still preliminary) research into municipal enforcement practices suggests that no one knows what's going down because no one is watching (although there's considerable pretense of watching on the part of the Province.)

Bill 159 --the much-touted "Private Security and Investigative Services Act" exempts municipal security/enforcement guards.

In fact, the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers' Association of Ontario gave a deputation to Queen's Park. Here's a portion of what they lobbied for:

"Municipal Law Enforcement Officers' Association of Ontario that Bill 159, subsection 2(7), be amended to include an additional exemption for peace officers, that specific exemption perhaps to read: 'any person appointed or designated for the purpose of enforcing the bylaws of a municipality, provincial statute or regulation."'

The rest is at MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION" Hansard.

Back in December 2006, I emailed John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing about municipal enforcement oversight practices. He wrote back on January 17, 2007:

"It is the duty of a municipal council to ensure that policies, practices and procedures are in place, and to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality. It is also the duty of the head of council to make recommendations to council on these issues.

In addition, the act also contains a provision that will, once proclaimed, require municipalities to establish a policy to provide direction for the accountability and transparency of municipal operations."

"It is the duty of a municipal council..."

Karem (or anyone else reading this) --unless you go the Freedom of Information route and specifically request the "policies, practices and procedures" for your municipality's security/enforcement division, you can be certain of ZIP.

"Seem to" isn't reality any more than thinking is knowing.

Enersource has proven that a major add-on alteration like "and a nominee of Borealis is among those directors approving" can mysteriously drift into an agreement not only without Council's knowledge but without anyone noticing for more than seven years after the fact.

Enersource has proven that Mayor McCallion and Councillors are at the mercy of... wait, I said I wouldn't get into Enersource just now.

Last, Karem asked:

"When there is no clear process or complaints wouldn't the councillor be ultimately the best route to go?"

What --and have the fates of Ontarians teeter exclusively on how committed a councillor is to a citizen's right to fairness and due process?

LET'S EXAMINE THAT

Bottomline, this new transit security team, according to Mississauga News, Louie Rosella "have been on duty since Oct. 1." mississauga.ca posted their news release several days after the fact.

"New Enforcement Officers to Provide Added Security on Mississauga Transit Oct 09, 2007"

It isn't even the general public that's clued out.

Comments from a law enforcement discussion group on this new Mississauga transit security team include:

"These guys certainly came in under the radar, saw one the other day. Anyone have any more info about them?"

"Under the radar"...

In addition, when you read the City of Mississauga news release, it leaves the impression that this team and the officers are new --as well as separate.

"Mississauga Transit enforcement officers will be working in partnership with area police services and other security units, including the City's Corporate Security unit, to provide added security for our passengers and employees," says Geoff Marinoff, director, Mississauga Transit."

Strip some words back...

"will be working in partnership with [snip] City's Corporate Security unit" (as if they're two unique entities)

Even 680 News left the impression that this new transit team was separate from city corporate security:

"Until now, if a rider refused to pay a fare or if there was a case of violence or theft, a Mississauga Transit bus driver would have to call Peel police or city corporate security officers."

And our own Mississauga News leaves the impression of a new unique unit:

"In the past, bus drivers would either phone police or alert the City's Corporate Security Unit when problems arose. This is the first time enforcement officers have been brought in to patrol the buses and terminals."

I went to the Clerk's Office and checked out the 2007 Budget (Quel Joy) and Council did approve the new Transit Security Team.

transitsecuritybudget

Friday's rifling through the 2007 Budget leaves Zero Doubt.

transitcorpsec
Under "Security Improvements"

"Establish a Transit-dedicated Mobile Security Unit under Corporate Security."

New Transit team/Corporate Security --Same/Same.

Whether you call cigarettes Camels, KOOLs, Pall Malls, Salems, Tareytons, Viceroys or Winstons, they're still "under" the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company umbrella.

Returning to DM's sentence that I skipped over...

"You best let sleeping dogs lie or the Security Director is going to call in Black Water on you."

That's the problem, D.M. --all those sleeping mutts. Citizens need watchdogs more than ever. Motivated ones --with TEETH.

Speaking of watchdogs... did you see the Toronto Star's Freedom of Information results reported in "PM plans own media centre" (GO GET 'IM, TORSTAR!)

I mean, can you imagine?

"That could put the news cameras in the hands of government-employed camera operators, not independent photojournalists employed by the television networks. It suggests the Prime Minister's communications people would send broadcast feeds to the TV networks for their use in reports, or as most politicians prefer, live-to-air broadcast."

For a long time now, I've been wonderin' who's workin' the Rogers broadcasts all busy busy busy behind me during Mississauga Council meetings. It feels like government.

Signed,
The (Citizens need a GTTA-wide seemless security service --"service" not "force") Mississauga Muse
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TOWERpelcoTEXT
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear"
---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)