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Ottawa police say they are looking for new ways to monitor and prevent non-work-related internal database searches after some officers were sanctioned for accessing confidential information for personal reasons.
The request for information came after reports of officers searching databases for information about women they’re attracted to. One officer was demoted for 18 months.
The current police system is not designed to automatically flag misuse from authorized users, according to a report from Chief Eric Stubbs tabled at a police oversight board meeting on Monday.
Instead, audits have “primarily been complaint-driven, investigation-driven, or conducted through specific compliance programs.”
“Most of the control mechanisms currently available to flag irregular access patterns and inappropriate access to information by members are largely reactive in nature,” said the report, which came in response to four board questions.
It goes on to say that going forward, internal audits will give a more regular and proactive review of system access.
“We expect there to be improvements,” board vice-chair Coun. Marty Carr said following Monday’s meeting.
“At the heart of it, public trust is what’s important,” she added.
The report said Ottawa police are “developing or modernizing” a number of policies and that members have been given “explicit direction” about proper database use. They are also looking at a range of technology, including artificial intelligence.
Stubbs said he is awaiting recommendations from Ontario’s police oversight agency before implementing additional measures.