Section A: OTTAWA POLICE SERVICES BOARD (PSB)

1a) What is your understanding of the role of the Ottawa Police Services Board (PSB)?

1b) If elected, will you seek to be appointed as one of the three City Council representatives?

1c) If so, why would you be particularly appropriate for this appointment?

I am actually going through the Ontario Police Constable Selection Process. I have had interest in the role of police officers for sometime.

2. Do you believe that the PSB has to date improved public trust in the police service by providing effective civilian oversight, thus assuring the community of appropriate police behaviour? Why or why not?

I think the PSB has done a good job. With regards to some of the demonstrations in the City of the last few years the police have handled themselves well. Only enforcing the law when its broken.

3. What policies should the PSB introduce or update concerning the policing of major events, and why?

4. In the spirit of transparency and openness related to public business, would you support:

(a) posting the records of the proceedings of the PSB on the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Web site?

(b) Or should the PSB have its own Web site and the PSB proceedings be posted there?

Section B: POLICY CONCERNS WITH THE PSB

5. In May 2002, the Citizen Panel on Policing and the Community made recommendations concerning aggressive police behaviour toward peaceful G-20 demonstrators in November 2001. According to the Ottawa Police Service's Agenda for Excellence, released in April 2002, the stated objectives of the OPS are:

to uphold the democratic rights of all individuals to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; and

to ensure the safety of demonstrators and the rest of the community at major events.

(a) In your opinion, has the policing of major events since the November 2001 G-20 demonstrations improved?

(b) If not, what needs to be done?

(c) What should be the role of the PSB?

(d) If appointed to the PSB, how will you help?

If appointed I would take the role very seriously to ensure public trust is not lost.

6. Ontario regulations from 1997 make this the only province in Canada to NOT allow third party complaints about police behaviour, i.e. a witness to police wrongdoing cannot file a complaint with the PSB. Ontario regulations from 1997 also put the complaints process entirely in the hands of the police (investigation, hearings, adjudication). This is a clear conflict of interest. The City of Toronto Auditor has been very critical of this situation. Will you push to have the Ontario Minister of Public Safety and Security recognize the need:

(a) for an independent review of complaints against the police?

(b) to allow complaints to be filed by witnesses and others?

 Its something I would certainly consider if it would help with public confidence.

7. More than 200 complaints were made to the PSB in 2002 concerning alleged police misconduct in Ottawa. The Board found that less than 5% were substantiated.

(a) Do you believe this percentage is valid?

(b) If no, will you work to establish an effective, independent and responsive complaints process here in Ottawa?

In my view the number is probably not accurate and would take a hard look at a independent approach.  

8. Pepper spray and tasers have potentially lethal effects. Amnesty International has expressed concerns about their use. As a member of City Council and possible member of the PSB, would you support:

(a) making public the guidelines for the use of either of these weapons? Why or why not?

(b) changing the policy to eliminate use of these weapons by police? Why or why not?

9(a) Do you think that the media sensationalize protest activities and downplay the value of public expression of views in maintaining our democracy?

(b) If so, in what ways can City Council contribute to a balanced perception by citizens of the rights of those who wish to express dissent in public places?

10. The Ottawa police are increasingly videotaping citizens involved in or near demonstrations, possibly violating privacy rights.

(a) Do you agree with this? If so, why?

(b) If you do not agree with this, would you support the PSB, as part of its oversight responsibility, in discouraging the use of intimidating and indiscriminate taping of citizens?

11. The OPS has said that video shot of peaceful demonstrators, not needed for any criminal prosecution, is destroyed afterward. Would you support the PSB requiring a periodic report from the OPS confirming that this destruction of the images has been done within a specified timeframe?

Yes. 

Section C. AGENDA FOR EXCELLENCE (AFX) FOR POLICING MAJOR EVENTS

12. Since the Agenda for Excellence was released as a draft document in April 2002, nothing appears to have been done to finalize the document as policy for the Ottawa Police Service. Since the PSB is responsible for establishing policing policy, whether you are on City Council or on the PSB itself, would you support setting a short deadline for having the very good principles and guidelines in the AFX incorporated as policy for the OPS?

Yes, this happens all too often. Policy creation is dragged out in the hopes it will be forgotten.

13. The Major Events Liaison Team (MELT) unit was created as part of the AFX, and intended to work on improving communications between police and protestors at major events so as to defuse dangerous situations. Initially they appeared to have some success in this role. However they were not present at significant later events where violence has taken place (e.g., eviction of protestors from 246 Gilmour Street in July 2002, Algerian refugees and their supporters tasered at Minister of Immigration's office in May 2003).

(a) Would you be willing to find out more about the status of this unit and support its increased use as per its original mandate?

(b) As the MELT members are only on assignment to this group and the funding is unclear, would you push for the MELT unit to be made a permanent part of the OPS structure, i.e. with a budget and one or more permanent positions?