Voluntary Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (VADRP)
As of July 1, 2011, the Ottawa Police Service’s Voluntary Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (VADRP) will be administered by the
Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN), an independent, third party, Ottawa-based non-profit organization.
The VADRP provides a system of alternate dispute resolution to the Ottawa Police Service in its handling of public complaints against members, as well as internal personnel issues. In addition, it offers members of the public and of the police service, the opportunity for a timely, effective, private, and voluntary resolution of a complaint.
The Ottawa Police Service is interested in what complainants have to say and recognizes the impact of negative police interaction. The VADRP’s intent is to improve police/community relationships and allow for open and honest discourse between parties.
For more information, please contact the VADRP Program Coordinator, Marie Coady at
CoadyM@ottawapolice.ca.
From left to right: Marie Coady, VADRP Program Coordinator, Dr. Evan Hoffman, Executive Director of CIIAN, S/Sgt. Michel Marin, Professional Standards Section, Steven Gaon, VADRP Roster Mediator, and Richard Moore, VADRP Roster Mediator.
Frequently Asked Questions about the VADRP
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A: VADRP is a process to resolve public complaints which allows the officer and the complainant to share their perspectives on their interaction face to face. Explaining perspectives often settles a lot of misinformation about what happened and the motive for what happened.
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A: Personal interaction between the parties becomes less directive and more participative and allows the discussion of issues in a non-threatening environment. Positive discussions may lessen the impact of the negative interaction that resulted in the complaint.
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A: Complainants often appreciate when an officer takes the time to meet with them and they are able to participate in a more personal resolution of their complaint, as opposed to a formal investigation where results are delivered through written communication.