b'A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N TLeading with ConfidenceBy Chief Paul Pedersen, President, Ontario Association of Chiefs of PoliceT his issue of HQ Magazinemust speak first and we must listenatalllevels,allranks,swornand wascompiledwithtwobefore we, too, speak. We must learncivilian,stepuptoanswerthecall majorcrisesimpactingfromourcommunities.Wemustduring this emergency.thepolicingprofession:askhonestquestionsofourselves,Our front-line officers have literally (1)policeservicesacrossourfellowpoliceprofessionalsandput their lives at risk to serve their Ontario,andtheworld,facedwithin our profession. There are dif- fellowcitizens.Our911communi-demonstrations and protests aroundficult roads to travel, but travel themcators have demonstrated incredible systemic racism that are challengingwe must. professionalism and compassion. Our us to face some hard realities that,Wetrainforofficersafety,butadministrativestaffhavekeptour despitesomuchgoodworkinthedidweeverimaginethatPersonalpoliceorganizationsgoingandour areasspecificallyofanti-BackandProtectiveEquipmentwouldbeaspolice leaders have led with convic-anti-Indigenous racism, there is stillimportantasbodyarmour?Whiletion and dedication. muchworktobedone,and(2)aweallunderstandtherisksand globalpandemicandaprovincialthreatsthatcomewithfront-lineLeading with Confidencestateofemergencyposedmassivepolicing,thisisthefirsttimethatThe discussion and acknowledgement challenges for policing. we cant see the threat directly andofsystemicracismthathastaken I am proud that the OACP unequivo- thereistheaddedriskoftakingplace recently abroad and at home, cally designated racism, in any form,COVID-19 home to our families. Thatandthechallengeswevefaced asevil.Aspoliceprofessionals,wechanges everything. throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, needtocontinuedenouncingandAsPresident,Ivehadafront- have been great teaching moments fightingagainstracism.Itdrivesarowseattowhatweasapolicefor those of us in leadership positions. wedge between our dedicated policecommunityinOntariohavedoneHereareacoupleofthingsIhave membersandthepublic.Wemustto protect our communities and ourlearned:alsoacknowledgethatthereisstillpolicemembersduringthishealthPeople want certainty andwork to be done to eliminate systemiccrisis. The challenges and pressuresconsistency. In difficult times,racism in our own organizations andonusandourpeoplehavebeenwe must demonstrate confidence inourprocesses.Thatworkstartsenormous. What has also been enor- in positive outcomes. In other withuslookinginthemirrorandmousaretheeffortsofourpolicewords, members of oursaying that, the change starts withpersonnel in contributing to fightingcommunities expect us to lead me. It means that our communitiesthispandemic.Iveseenleadershipwith confidence.4 H.Q. Summer 2020'