Bob Thomson's response to the Citizen Editorial on the Ottawa Witness Group
 

The Ottawa Citizen doesn't think the Ottawa Witness Group is objective because it doesn't watch protesters and is composed of activists.

The Witnesses have deliberately focused on the monitoring of police actions at protests because some police have violated their own internal norms during protests. This is a deliberate and specific focus, because of legitimate fears that a climate of non-accountability could lead to worse abuses. It is also a realistic focus, given the lack of any independent resources available to the public for the monitoring of police accountability, as recently affirmed by the Deputy Chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board.

Recent misleading public statements on CBC Radio by the Chief of Police about the Ottawa Witness Group raise concerns about Police discomfort with public watchdogs. If all were transparent and well behind the thick blue lines, why would a group of largely middle-class human rights activists be of any concern.

Gratuitous 50,000 volt tazering of non-violent or already handcuffed and prostrate individuals is not a matter to be taken lightly. Neither is soaking protesters with cancer causing pepper spray for 90 seconds when the protesters were incapacitated after 7 seconds (we counted!). The problems of a flawed Police complaints process which lacks credibility is yet another cause for concern. As is intimidation of demonstrators through massive intrusive videotaping of crowds, lack of identification on officers accountable for the use of force (be it appropriate or inappropriate), arrest of protest leaders after the protest is over with charges later dropped by the Crown because they lacked credibility, the use of City cleaning crews by the Police to harass protesters, the release of angry police dogs into crowds with children. Refusal to release the policies that guide officers in the use of force could also be construed as a concern. I could go on.

The Ottawa Witness Group does not, as the Citizen states, "demand that officers stop carrying pepper spray or stun guns". We ask that they not use these weapons in an abusive manner. Herein lies our difference with the Citizen and some elements of the Police. We aren't trying to replace the Police, just hold them to their own policies and regulations and the norms of a democratic society when they step over the line - which is too often in our experience.

Nor do we claim that all Police officers are unprofessional. To make its own point, the Citizen Editorial does not mention those substantial sections of our report which outline what the Police have done well. To say that our "report lacks credibility because it refuses to acknowledge how difficult crowd management can be", is blatant misrepresentation.

If a few Police officers are brutal, as the Citizen acknowledges happens on occasion, there needs to be accountability.  If the formal and legal processes of Police accountability were working, there might be no need for the Ottawa Witness Group.

Let your readers judge what we say and do for themselves. Our report is available online at 2nd_Annual_Report_2002-03_OWG