Terms of Reference 

Mandate:
The Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) will foster positive relationships between the police and the community.

Objectives:
a)    To support and facilitate interaction between the police and the community.
b)    To provide a forum for obtaining community input about the delivery of police services.
c)    To improve communication between the community and the police.
d)    To identify and provide advice on potential solutions to community issues related to policing.
e)    To receive information concerning Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) programs and operations.
f)    To create dialogue with WRPS concerning public safety issues in the community.

Responsibilities:
a)    To act in an advisory capacity to the Cambridge Division Commander.
b)    To educate ourselves on the day to day issues and situations faced by police officers and to share that understanding with community members when necessary.
c)    To fairly and accurately represent the ideas, opinions or issues of Cambridge residents to the CAC.
d)    To participate in annual Police Week activities to promote the work of the CAC.
e)    To be knowledgeable about current community issues and to participate in meaningful dialogue about those issues.
f)    To provide the Chief of Police with accurate and meaningful input regarding current community issues.
g)    To provide support to issues before the Police Services Board (as necessary).
h)    To recruit new members to the CAC.

Membership:
The CAC will consist of not more than twelve members of the Cambridge community.  Committee members shall be representative of the Cambridge community.
Up to two members of the Police Service will sit on the Committee as non-voting members.

Term:
It is expected that a CAC member will serve one term (defined as September-June) and may continue on the Committee to a maximum of three consecutive terms.
 
Meetings:
The CAC will meet monthly (excluding July & August) on a mutually agreed upon day of the month.  The CAC may set up sub-committees to work on specific projects and include additional resource persons as necessary.

Decision Making:
Ideally, decisions will be made by consensus.  If the Committee is unable to reach a consensus, decisions will be made by a simple majority vote.  

Confidentiality:
The business of the CAC belongs to the Committee and to the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Communication:
The official spokesperson for the CAC is the Chair in consultation/cooperation with the Cambridge Division Commander.

The agenda will be circulated to Committee members by email prior to the meeting.

The minutes will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting.

 Citizens' Advisory Committee Application