CAYUGA—A Haldimand OPP program born from one of the community’s deepest losses is giving police a more structured way to monitor high-risk and non-compliant offenders.
Provincial Constable Paul Dekker, Haldimand OPP’s Offender Management Apprehension Program (OMAP) coordinator, outlined the program during the April 23, 2026 Haldimand OPP Detachment Board meeting.
Staff Sergeant Brennan Brown introduced Dekker’s presentation by noting the position was created after the death of Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala, who was killed while responding to a single-vehicle car accident just north of Hagersville on December 27, 2022.
“The government then looked at how we were reacting and managing offenders in the communities in the province,” Brown said.
Dekker said OMAP grew out of the recognition that police needed to do more to monitor offenders released on conditions and to locate wanted offenders more quickly.
“Obviously, December 27, 2022, there’s a tragic incident where Constable Greg Pierzchala was shot and killed by Randall McKenzie,” Dekker said. “(McKenzie) was also out on release with conditions, and there wasn’t a lot being done to check on him, so we as police recognize that we had to be doing more.”
Dekker described OMAP as “a crime suppression strategy designed to enhance public safety by holding offenders accountable to their release conditions and ensuring timely apprehension of wanted offenders.”
He said the program has two main sides: offender management and apprehension. The offender management side tracks people on judicial releases, probation, and parole, while the apprehension side focuses on wanted offenders.
“The goal is obviously to deter reoffending, enforce release conditions that our people are out on, and to ensure compliance with the offenders,” he said.
Dekker noted he conducts checks on offenders released with conditions such as house arrest, curfew, or a requirement to reside at a specific address. He aims to complete house arrest checks within seven to 10 days. Curfew checks are usually done about every two weeks, while reside-at conditions are checked about once a month.
He said police use dashboards that allow officers to see who is being monitored. One is an offender management dashboard used by the OPP, while another is a provincial bail compliance dashboard for more serious releases, including firearm-related charges or offences such as sexual assault.
Dekker also manages a sign-in binder at the detachment for offenders ordered to report to police, helps oversee GPS ankle monitors, works with probation and parole offices, prepares enhanced bail packages, and assigns officers to “relentless pursuits” for people wanted in intimate partner violence cases.
Asked by Board Vice-Chair Kelly Shaw whether he is the only person checking the system, Dekker said patrol officers can also access the dashboards and complete checks.
“I’m only one person. I’m doing as many checks as I can,” he said, adding that officers must file a report when they complete a check. “Patrol officers can also do these checks as well.”
Nadine LaForme, Board Member, asked how Haldimand coordinates with other jurisdictions if someone is charged elsewhere but moves into the area.
“That’s a good question. This is something that we’re still working on,” Dekker said.
He said he receives release orders for people released in Haldimand County. If a person is released to an address in Brant or Norfolk, he forwards the information to the OMAP coordinator there. If another police service notifies Haldimand OPP that an offender has moved into the area, he can add that person to local checks.
“So it’s not perfect yet, but it’s something that we’re working on constantly because we’re recognizing they need to work more collaboratively with other services,” Dekker said.
Board Community appointee Stuart McAskill asked whether the dashboard is automatically updated when an offender relocates.Dekker said that depends on whether the offender follows their release conditions by notifying police of a change in address or employment.
“If they don’t, we might not know about it right away,” he said. “But eventually, we’ll figure it out and we’ll lay a breach charge because they haven’t abided by their conditions.”
McAskill then asked whether police need a warrant to enter a residence and apprehend someone who has breached conditions. Dekker said police can issue a warrant or try to locate the person, but officers cannot simply enter a residence without lawful authority.
He noted that police “can apply for what’s called a Feeney warrant,” which is a judicial authorization that allows police to enter a private residence to arrest someone when they have reasonable grounds to believe the wanted person is inside.
Dekker said the offender management dashboard had about six people on it when he started in the role and it had grown to about 23 people by the April 23 meeting. The provincial bail compliance dashboard had about four people, while Haldimand’s wanted person list had dropped from more than 100 to about 79.
Ward 1 Councillor Debera McKeen asked whether youth are included in the system.
“I don’t believe there are any youth on there right now,” Dekker said. “But there could be.”
McKeen also asked about the possible use of facial recognition, noting Dekker had described recognizing a wanted person from a photo displayed at the detachment.
“I think this goes above my pay grade,” Dekker said, noting licence plate recognition is already used in cruisers, but facial recognition is a broader discussion.
Brown said the OPP is always looking at ways to leverage artificial intelligence, but privacy concerns and legislation would have to be considered.
Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley asked whether there is a delay between someone being released by the courts and that information reaching Dekker.
“I would have to ask the courts that, but usually it’s fairly quick,” Dekker said.
Board Chair Lorne Boyko thanked Dekker for the presentation and said the work is especially meaningful in Haldimand County.
“Some of the issues, and you identified the one case, are very, very close to our hearts here in Haldimand County,” Boyko said.
Boyko said people on parole or probation have rights, but added that someone should be checking to make sure they are following their release conditions.
“I can see the potential for this department being more than one officer,” Boyko said. “Continue in your efforts … and know that the board is fully supportive of this new position.”
