Latest news with #AngelaJohnson
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Use of force is up with London police. Here's why they say that's the case
Social Sharing London police officers reported using force on the job 17 per cent more often last year compared to the year prior, according to an annual report shared with the London Police Service (LPS) Board, Wednesday afternoon. The report attributed the increase in use of force reports filed by officers to a rise in the use of conducted energy weapons, more commonly known as Tasers, which the report notes is driven by an effort to train and equip more officers with the devices. As with last year, visible minority groups are over-represented in situations where officers use force, however the report notes there's no evidence of racial disparity in cases where firearms are pointed, drawn or fired, or where Tasers are discharged. "We had 337 use of force reports submitted which were related to 308 distinct occurrences and 448 unique subjects [in 2024]. That would be an increase of 50 reports from 2023 to 2024," said London Police Inspector Angela Johnson, while presenting the report to board members. The report presented by Johnson says 2023 saw 287 use of force reports filed. LPS members are required to file the reports when an officer: Draws a handgun in the presence of a member of the public. Points a firearm at a person. Discharges a firearm. Uses a weapon on another person. Draws and displays a Taser to someone with the intention of achieving compliance Points a Taser at a person Discharges a Taser. Uses force on another person, including through a horse or dog in a way that results in an injury that requires medical care. This is contingent on the officer being aware that the injury required care before going off-duty. Of the incidents in which force was used, the report says, de-escalation was attempted 86 per cent of the time. The rest of the incidents required immediate action. The bulk of the use of force reports filed by officers in 2024 came from situations in which officers pointed firearms at people — a total of 230 times. Still, the most significant year-over-year increase came from Tasers, according to the report. In 2024, Tasers were drawn 100 times, pointed at people or animals 110 times, and discharged 50 times. When an officer fills out a report they can count multiple actions separately, such as drawing, pointing and discharging a Taser or handgun, which explains the large number of reports compared to the total number of incidents. Police attribute the increase, in part, to the push to train and equip more officers with the devices. As the result of a conductive energy weapon expansion program in the police service, 352 officers were qualified to use Tasers in 2024, compared to 242 in 2023. The increase also has to do with the reporting requirements police adhere to, according to LPS Deputy Chief Treena MacSween. She said officers without Tasers more often have to physically restrain suspects, and if no injuries are sustained there is no requirement to report use of force. "If that same situation were to occur and I was trained as a [Taser] operator, I pulled out my [Taser], didn't point it, didn't discharge it, but I displayed it in the presence of a member of the public. If he saw that I had the [Taser] out and ... turns around, puts his hands behind his back, I cuff him ... that would require a use of force report," MacSween explained. MacSween said the LPS plans to continue the expansion of its Taser program, touting the simple presence of one of the devices as an effective de-escalation tool. There was also a marked increase in canine-related use of force, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the total year-over-year increase. That increase is attributed in the report to the canine unit responding to more calls in 2024 than in 2023. Weapons, warrants, intimate partner violence top use-cases The report shows that 41 per cent of cases involved weapons calls, up from 34 per cent in 2023's report. 18 per cent involved the execution of warrants, and 10 per cent involved intimate partner violence. The reasons officers claimed to have used force primarily involved, in descending order -- protecting themselves, protecting the people force was used against, protecting members of the public, and achieving an arrest. Of the 448 unique people identified in use of force reports, police believed 82 per cent of them had possession or access to a weapon at the time force was used. 160 of those instances included the belief the subject had, or was near to, a handgun. One person was killed by police in 2024, according to the report. Last year, police shot and killed an 18-year-old London man, who they say stabbed and killed his then-girlfriend.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Expanded Taser training drives uptick in use of force reports among London police
New Police plan to continue expanding Taser rollout, calling them an effective de-escalation tool London police officers reported using force on the job 17 per cent more often last year compared to the year prior, according to an annual report shared with the London Police Service (LPS) Board, Wednesday afternoon. The report attributed the increase in use of force reports filed by officers to a rise in the use of conducted energy weapons, more commonly known as Tasers, which the report notes is driven by an effort to train and equip more officers with the devices. As with last year, visible minority groups are over-represented in situations where officers use force, however the report notes there's no evidence of racial disparity in cases where firearms are pointed, drawn or fired, or where Tasers are discharged. "We had 337 use of force reports submitted which were related to 308 distinct occurrences and 448 unique subjects [in 2024]. That would be an increase of 50 reports from 2023 to 2024," said London Police Inspector Angela Johnson, while presenting the report to board members. The report presented by Johnson says 2023 saw 287 use of force reports filed. LPS members are required to file the reports when an officer: Draws a handgun in the presence of a member of the public. Points a firearm at a person. Discharges a firearm. Uses a weapon on another person. Draws and displays a Taser to someone with the intention of achieving compliance Points a Taser at a person Discharges a Taser. Uses force on another person, including through a horse or dog in a way that results in an injury that requires medical care. This is contingent on the officer being aware that the injury required care before going off-duty. Of the incidents in which force was used, the report says, de-escalation was attempted 86 per cent of the time. The rest of the incidents required immediate action. The bulk of the use of force reports filed by officers in 2024 came from situations in which officers pointed firearms at people — a total of 230 times. Still, the most significant year-over-year increase came from Tasers, according to the report. In 2024, Tasers were drawn 100 times, pointed at people or animals 110 times, and discharged 50 times. When an officer fills out a report they can count multiple actions separately, such as drawing, pointing and discharging a Taser or handgun, which explains the large number of reports compared to the total number of incidents. Police attribute the increase, in part, to the push to train and equip more officers with the devices. As the result of a conductive energy weapon expansion program in the police service, 352 officers were qualified to use Tasers in 2024, compared to 242 in 2023. The increase also has to do with the reporting requirements police adhere to, according to LPS Deputy Chief Treena MacSween. She said officers without Tasers more often have to physically restrain suspects, and if no injuries are sustained there is no requirement to report use of force. "If that same situation were to occur and I was trained as a [Taser] operator, I pulled out my [Taser], didn't point it, didn't discharge it, but I displayed it in the presence of a member of the public. If he saw that I had the [Taser] out and ... turns around, puts his hands behind his back, I cuff him ... that would require a use of force report," MacSween explained. MacSween said the LPS plans to continue the expansion of its Taser program, touting the simple presence of one of the devices as an effective de-escalation tool. There was also a marked increase in canine-related use of force, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the total year-over-year increase. That increase is attributed in the report to the canine unit responding to more calls in 2024 than in 2023. Weapons, warrants, intimate partner violence top use-cases The report shows that 41 per cent of cases involved weapons calls, up from 34 per cent in 2023's report. 18 per cent involved the execution of warrants, and 10 per cent involved intimate partner violence. The reasons officers claimed to have used force primarily involved, in descending order -- protecting themselves, protecting the people force was used against, protecting members of the public, and achieving an arrest. Of the 448 unique people identified in use of force reports, police believed 82 per cent of them had possession or access to a weapon at the time force was used. 160 of those instances included the belief the subject had, or was near to, a handgun. One person was killed by police in 2024, according to the report. Last year, police shot and killed an 18-year-old London man, who they say stabbed and killed his then-girlfriend. The report also said use of force occurred more often in the downtown area than elsewhere.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stellantis struggles to rebuild supplier trust despite legal win
Attorneys representing Stellantis were in a courtroom in Detroit earlier this month, arguing a case before the Michigan Court of Appeals. That hearing, involving the contract between the company's U.S. operating arm known as FCA US LLC and supplier Kamax, resulted in a decision that went in the automaker's favor. While it's not unusual for automakers to deal with lawsuits, industry watchers say it is unusual for automakers and their suppliers to engage in public fights. But it's not a new story for Stellantis, and the challenges the owner of the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands has had in dealing with its suppliers was on display again this week with the release of a supplier sentiment survey. Automaker advertising: Ford and Stellantis address tariff turmoil with bold 'made-in-America' ad campaigns Here again, Stellantis stood out, ranking last among the automakers surveyed in the 25th annual North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index Study from Plante Moran (OEM is an abbreviation used to refer to automakers as "original equipment manufacturers"). In order, from best to worst, Toyota, Honda and General Motors each saw their scores increase over last year, while Nissan, Ford and Stellantis saw their scores drop. Other automakers, including Tesla, don't participate. The order of rankings is unchanged from last year. Stellantis, however, has had the worst score since 2021 — the same year it was formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group — and going back earlier, the automaker had the worst, next-to-worst or tied-for-worst score since 2008. This year's results also represent the largest gap since 2008 between the top automaker and the bottom one, according to Dave Andrea, principal in Plante Moran's Strategy and Automotive and Mobility Consulting Practice. The results are based on responses from 665 supplier executives from 398 Tier 1 suppliers at a time when the auto industry deals with volatility from changing market conditions and is now facing the uncertainty caused by tariffs. The companies that do well on the survey tend to be known for better communication, responsiveness and treating their suppliers like partners. 'The top three are doing the things better that enable suppliers to better control their costs, achieve equitable cost-sharing and better navigate uncertainty,' according to Angela Johnson, a principal in Plante Moran's Management Consulting, Supplier Relations Analytics. She said suppliers aren't expecting automakers to bear all the costs. Stellantis provided a statement through spokeswoman Jodi Tinson acknowledging that it has work to do: "Despite increasing our engagement activities with our suppliers since Stellantis was formed, we recognize that more work is needed to continue building trust. This remains a priority for Stellantis, and we will continue exploring strategic initiatives while working with our suppliers to focus on improving where it matters most." Regarding the Kamax suit, which stems from an Oakland County court case, the automaker said it was pleased 'a court has once again ruled that our purchase order contracts are enforceable requirements contracts. As we've stated in the past, it is never our intent to use the court system to resolve such disputes; however, certain situations unfortunately require it. Stellantis remains committed to working with our suppliers, so that we can continue to build the vehicles that our customers desire." The recent ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals deals with Kamax's effort in 2023 and 2024 to push the automaker to renegotiate the prices it pays for automotive fasteners because, Kamax said, the costs to produce the parts had skyrocketed. Kamax later said it would stop deliveries but relented following a decision in Oakland County Circuit Court, and the case eventually made its way to the Court of Appeals. It's one of numerous court cases involving Stellantis and its suppliers in recent years. Detroit-based attorney Dan Rustmann, whose firm, Butzel, represents numerous suppliers, called litigation between suppliers and automakers very unusual and typically a last resort. Rustmann, who noted that he represents 'a lot of Tier 1 suppliers,' said that 'in my experience dealing with many different carmakers … anecdotally Stellantis has been the most difficult of any of the customers that I had to deal with on behalf of my clients.' In times of rising costs, for instance, some automakers are more willing than others to provide relief, he said. 'In my experience, Stellantis has not been so willing and that's why they're facing all this litigation and disruption from their supply chain,' he said. Rustmann said his firm's experience aligns closely with the results of the Plante Moran survey. Although Rustmann said he can't make a direct connection to the impact on the end product, meaning the vehicle that a consumer purchases, he said it's common sense to treat others fairly. 'When you treat a supplier poorly and beat them down and don't give them relief when they have a cost increase … you're not going to get the best (technology) from them,' he said. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@ Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis struggles to rebuild supplier trust despite legal win Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Stellantis struggles to rebuild supplier trust despite legal win
Stellantis struggles to rebuild supplier trust despite legal win Show Caption Hide Caption Stellantis: The automaker's history, legacy Explore the history of Stellantis, the automotive giant formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. Stellantis ranked at the bottom of an annual survey of supplier relations. Toyota, Honda and General Motors saw their scores improve. Attorneys representing Stellantis were in a courtroom in Detroit earlier this month, arguing a case before the Michigan Court of Appeals. That hearing, involving the contract between the company's U.S. operating arm known as FCA US LLC and supplier Kamax, resulted in a decision that went in the automaker's favor. While it's not unusual for automakers to deal with lawsuits, industry watchers say it is unusual for automakers and their suppliers to engage in public fights. But it's not a new story for Stellantis, and the challenges the owner of the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands has had in dealing with its suppliers was on display again this week with the release of a supplier sentiment survey. Automaker advertising: Ford and Stellantis address tariff turmoil with bold 'made-in-America' ad campaigns Here again, Stellantis stood out, ranking last among the automakers surveyed in the 25th annual North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index Study from Plante Moran (OEM is an abbreviation used to refer to automakers as "original equipment manufacturers"). In order, from best to worst, Toyota, Honda and General Motors each saw their scores increase over last year, while Nissan, Ford and Stellantis saw their scores drop. Other automakers, including Tesla, don't participate. The order of rankings is unchanged from last year. Stellantis, however, has had the worst score since 2021 — the same year it was formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group — and going back earlier, the automaker had the worst, next-to-worst or tied-for-worst score since 2008. This year's results also represent the largest gap since 2008 between the top automaker and the bottom one, according to Dave Andrea, principal in Plante Moran's Strategy and Automotive and Mobility Consulting Practice. The results are based on responses from 665 supplier executives from 398 Tier 1 suppliers at a time when the auto industry deals with volatility from changing market conditions and is now facing the uncertainty caused by tariffs. The companies that do well on the survey tend to be known for better communication, responsiveness and treating their suppliers like partners. 'The top three are doing the things better that enable suppliers to better control their costs, achieve equitable cost-sharing and better navigate uncertainty,' according to Angela Johnson, a principal in Plante Moran's Management Consulting, Supplier Relations Analytics. She said suppliers aren't expecting automakers to bear all the costs. Stellantis provided a statement through spokeswoman Jodi Tinson acknowledging that it has work to do: "Despite increasing our engagement activities with our suppliers since Stellantis was formed, we recognize that more work is needed to continue building trust. This remains a priority for Stellantis, and we will continue exploring strategic initiatives while working with our suppliers to focus on improving where it matters most." Regarding the Kamax suit, which stems from an Oakland County court case, the automaker said it was pleased 'a court has once again ruled that our purchase order contracts are enforceable requirements contracts. As we've stated in the past, it is never our intent to use the court system to resolve such disputes; however, certain situations unfortunately require it. Stellantis remains committed to working with our suppliers, so that we can continue to build the vehicles that our customers desire." The recent ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals deals with Kamax's effort in 2023 and 2024 to push the automaker to renegotiate the prices it pays for automotive fasteners because, Kamax said, the costs to produce the parts had skyrocketed. Kamax later said it would stop deliveries but relented following a decision in Oakland County Circuit Court, and the case eventually made its way to the Court of Appeals. It's one of numerous court cases involving Stellantis and its suppliers in recent years. Detroit-based attorney Dan Rustmann, whose firm, Butzel, represents numerous suppliers, called litigation between suppliers and automakers very unusual and typically a last resort. Rustmann, who noted that he represents 'a lot of Tier 1 suppliers,' said that 'in my experience dealing with many different carmakers … anecdotally Stellantis has been the most difficult of any of the customers that I had to deal with on behalf of my clients.' In times of rising costs, for instance, some automakers are more willing than others to provide relief, he said. 'In my experience, Stellantis has not been so willing and that's why they're facing all this litigation and disruption from their supply chain,' he said. Rustmann said his firm's experience aligns closely with the results of the Plante Moran survey. Although Rustmann said he can't make a direct connection to the impact on the end product, meaning the vehicle that a consumer purchases, he said it's common sense to treat others fairly. 'When you treat a supplier poorly and beat them down and don't give them relief when they have a cost increase … you're not going to get the best (technology) from them,' he said. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@ Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stellantis struggles to rebuild supplier trust despite legal win
Attorneys representing Stellantis were in a courtroom in Detroit earlier this month, arguing a case before the Michigan Court of Appeals. That hearing, involving the contract between the company's U.S. operating arm known as FCA US LLC and supplier Kamax, resulted in a decision that went in the automaker's favor. While it's not unusual for automakers to deal with lawsuits, industry watchers say it is unusual for automakers and their suppliers to engage in public fights. But it's not a new story for Stellantis, and the challenges the owner of the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands has had in dealing with its suppliers was on display again this week with the release of a supplier sentiment survey. Automaker advertising: Ford and Stellantis address tariff turmoil with bold 'made-in-America' ad campaigns Here again, Stellantis stood out, ranking last among the automakers surveyed in the 25th annual North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index Study from Plante Moran (OEM is an abbreviation used to refer to automakers as "original equipment manufacturers"). In order, from best to worst, Toyota, Honda and General Motors each saw their scores increase over last year, while Nissan, Ford and Stellantis saw their scores drop. Other automakers, including Tesla, don't participate. The order of rankings is unchanged from last year. Stellantis, however, has had the worst score since 2021 — the same year it was formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group — and going back earlier, the automaker had the worst, next-to-worst or tied-for-worst score since 2008. This year's results also represent the largest gap since 2008 between the top automaker and the bottom one, according to Dave Andrea, principal in Plante Moran's Strategy and Automotive and Mobility Consulting Practice. The results are based on responses from 665 supplier executives from 398 Tier 1 suppliers at a time when the auto industry deals with volatility from changing market conditions and is now facing the uncertainty caused by tariffs. The companies that do well on the survey tend to be known for better communication, responsiveness and treating their suppliers like partners. 'The top three are doing the things better that enable suppliers to better control their costs, achieve equitable cost-sharing and better navigate uncertainty,' according to Angela Johnson, a principal in Plante Moran's Management Consulting, Supplier Relations Analytics. She said suppliers aren't expecting automakers to bear all the costs. Stellantis provided a statement through spokeswoman Jodi Tinson acknowledging that it has work to do: "Despite increasing our engagement activities with our suppliers since Stellantis was formed, we recognize that more work is needed to continue building trust. This remains a priority for Stellantis, and we will continue exploring strategic initiatives while working with our suppliers to focus on improving where it matters most." Regarding the Kamax suit, which stems from an Oakland County court case, the automaker said it was pleased 'a court has once again ruled that our purchase order contracts are enforceable requirements contracts. As we've stated in the past, it is never our intent to use the court system to resolve such disputes; however, certain situations unfortunately require it. Stellantis remains committed to working with our suppliers, so that we can continue to build the vehicles that our customers desire." The recent ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals deals with Kamax's effort in 2023 and 2024 to push the automaker to renegotiate the prices it pays for automotive fasteners because, Kamax said, the costs to produce the parts had skyrocketed. Kamax later said it would stop deliveries but relented following a decision in Oakland County Circuit Court, and the case eventually made its way to the Court of Appeals. It's one of numerous court cases involving Stellantis and its suppliers in recent years. Detroit-based attorney Dan Rustmann, whose firm, Butzel, represents numerous suppliers, called litigation between suppliers and automakers very unusual and typically a last resort. Rustmann, who noted that he represents 'a lot of Tier 1 suppliers,' said that 'in my experience dealing with many different carmakers … anecdotally Stellantis has been the most difficult of any of the customers that I had to deal with on behalf of my clients.' In times of rising costs, for instance, some automakers are more willing than others to provide relief, he said. 'In my experience, Stellantis has not been so willing and that's why they're facing all this litigation and disruption from their supply chain,' he said. Rustmann said his firm's experience aligns closely with the results of the Plante Moran survey. Although Rustmann said he can't make a direct connection to the impact on the end product, meaning the vehicle that a consumer purchases, he said it's common sense to treat others fairly. 'When you treat a supplier poorly and beat them down and don't give them relief when they have a cost increase … you're not going to get the best (technology) from them,' he said. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@ Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis struggles to rebuild supplier trust despite legal win
