OPP accepts recommendation from inquiry into Elliot Lake mall roof collapse

ORILLIA, ON, Oct. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner J.V.N. (Vince) HAWKES is releasing the following statement in response to the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry looking into the roof collapse at the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake and the ensuing emergency response:

"Our sympathies go out to the families of the two victims who lost their lives on June 23, 2012 and those who were injured. This tragic incident has had a lasting impact on the entire community, including the men and women of the OPP East Algoma Detachment who continue to provide dedicated, professional, community safety services.

The OPP regularly evaluates its operational procedures and training initiatives to ensure we are able to respond to the many challenges we face in our daily work. We accept Commissioner Bélanger's recommendation and have already acted to improve our response to this type of occurrence.

The OPP Field Support Bureau has expanded the availability and training of Major Critical Incident Commanders (MCICs) and Critical Incident Commanders (CICs) who are strategically-deployed throughout Ontario. They now receive mandatory annual training which includes working with special response units like the OPP Urban Search and Rescue, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive Response Team (UCRT). We are also taking steps to ensure local detachment commanders and frontline members are better supported during these extraordinary events.

Each response is as unique as the emergency itself. The OPP learns and adapts from each to develop and enhance our training and our relationships on a path of continuous improvement. I am proud of the way our members mobilized and responded that day, and for those bearing responsibility for supporting the Inquiry and the ongoing criminal investigation."

NOTE: Chief Superintendent Fern LABELLE, Commander OPP North East Region, will be available to the media in Elliot Lake.

www.opp.ca

SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police

A/Sergeant Kelly Daniels 
Community Services Coordinator - OPP Central Region 
Phone:  [phone] (cell)