Protecting our communities.
Part of our communities.
Ontario police personnel are key pillars of the communities they serve, at work and at home.
Now, they need your support.
The Facts
Ontario police personnel deal with operational stress injuries, burnout, and other serious mental health challenges.
Police personnel need to know backup is available when they need it most.
Here are the facts.
35%
of Ontarians want a greater police presence in their communities
11.5%
fewer officers per 100,000 people between 2009 and 2019
2,000+
vacancies for police services in Ontario this year
1/5
of first responders develop PTSD in their lifetime
30%
have had suicidal thoughts
3-5
police suicides happen in Ontario every year
When police services are short-staffed, police personnel stop proactively seeking help, and their mental health issues spiral.
We need to invest in the vital work they do. We need to ensure their communities continue to thrive. We need to give them the mental health support they deserve.
our Priorities
Everyone Needs Backup
All Ontario police personnel, no matter what community they serve, should have access to evidence-based mental health support and resources.
Invest in Community Safety
Ontario has a diverse range of communities who deserve to know that their calls will be answered and help will be dispatched when needed. Ontario’s police personnel need dedicated and sustainable funding specifically earmarked for hiring new staff to work in front-line areas of need.
Who We Are
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) is the official provincial representative body for over 28,000 sworn and civilian police personnel from 45 police associations across Ontario. A unifying voice for advocacy in policing, the PAO provides its member associations with representation, resources, and support.
The PAO is involved in a variety of activities at the provincial level on behalf of Ontario’s sworn officers and civilian police service employees. Through lobbying and representation with government principals, the PAO has made significant advances on a number of critical pieces of legislation which impact on our membership and the community that they serve.
