Police grilled over G20 conduct

BY PETER ZIMONJIC

Speakers at the Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community accused the Ottawa police last night of using intimidation and "violence" at the G20 summit in November. The four-member panel was formed on Feb. 14 to listen to concerns about policing during the summit and to find ways to promote trust between citizens and the police.

Last night's panel included former Ottawa mayor Marion Dewar and Kenneth Binks, a former Ontario superior court judge.

About 50 people showed up for the chance to make a 10-minute presentation, but the most colourful speakers were the Raging Grannies, wearing button and flower-laden hats.

Granny Ria Heynen said she has attended many protests over the years, but the police lines at the G20, in which officers pounded on their plastic shields, scared her. Ms. Heynen also accused police of detaining protesters who had yet to do anything illegal.

Eleanor Barrington attended the Nov. 17 protest with her 12- year-old daughter. She said the police acted like "bad guys."

"How can we expect our children to see police as protectors of the peace when they commit such aggressive assaults right in front of families at demon- strations?" she asked.

Denise Veilleux, a middle-aged protester, said she was thrown to the ground and handcuffed for trying to stop a police officer from dragging a teenager across the ground.

Ms. Veilleux also accused the police of intimidating a teenage girl by telling her, once she was arrested, that she would be detained for one full week Deputy police Chief Larry Hill also attended the meeting but stood behind the actions of his officers.

"We've heard a lot of emotion tonight, and some people have come here with some pretty strong views," he said.

"We're here to listen to what people have to say and to make sure to find way to enhance our operations in the community at large."

The panel will hold further hearings Nov. 26,28 and March 2 at City Hall.