QUESTIONNAIRE
Candidate's Name: Terry Kilrea
Candidate for: Mayor

Section A: OTTAWA POLICE SERVICES BOARD (PSB)

1a) What is your understanding of the role of the Ottawa Police Services Board (PSB)?
The Ottawa Police Services Board should work with the police to make sure the police have the tools and the best equipment to do the job of keeping the Citizens of Ottawa safe!!!
1b) If elected, will you seek to be appointed as one of the three City Council representatives?
I would as I feel our citizens safety is a strong priority.
1c) If so, why would you be particularly appropriate for this appointment?

I am a strong supporter of law and order and feel our citizens deserve a no nonsense approach. I will give my full support to the mandate of the Ottawa Police.

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 do not feel civilian oversight has any place in overseeing police activities. There is a system in place and civilians do not have the experienced training police have. The police have public trust and have done a great job!!!!! During the G-20, police did a terrific job. To suggest the demonstrators were peaceful is a joke!!! They had tear gas, broke windows and wore masks. These so called demonstrators were hooligans and thugs. I commend the police for their professional behavior and keeping our citizens safe!!!!
3. What policies should the PSB introduce or update concerning the policing of major events, and why?
The PSB should leave the experts do their job. The Police are trained and should be left alone to do their job but if extra funding is required. The PSB can be approached to secure that funding. Civilians have no business telling the Police how to do their job.
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?
The PSB should have its own website. We don’t want to confuse the two.
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:
  1. In your opinion, has the policing of major events since the November 2001 G-20 demonstrations improved?
    2. (b) If not, what needs to be done?
    The PSB should be there to make sure the Police have the tools and equipment and funding that is required for the police to do their job. The police do not need your groups approval to keep the citizens of this city safe.
    (c) What should be the role of the PSB?
    (d) If appointed to the PSB, how will you help?

    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?
    I will not interfere with provincial jurisdiction. The police act is governed by the province.

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

    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?

    Yes.

     

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

    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?

    In answer to both 8(a) and (b), I will do neither. These are tools and equipment the police need and I will make sure our officers feel safe and continue to keep our citizens safe. The police take extensive training and take a very thorough training program in Aylmer Ontario for 12 weeks. The Ottawa Police will get 100% support and backing from me!!!!
    9(a) Do you think that the media sensationalize protest activities and downplay the value of public expression of views in maintaining our democracy?
    The media do their job and show it as it happens. Should they not show these protesters throwing rocks? throwing teargas? taunting police?
  2. 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?
City Council should stay out of this issue and let the police do their job!!!! If it is legal, What’s the problem?
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?
If it is in a public place, the police are absolutely justified and it may help in further prosecution. If people are protesting legally, there should be no problem!!!
(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?

Absolutely not!!!!

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?

No. I won’t tie the hands of the Police. Different circumstances can arise and they can’t work from a script.
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?

No. The squatters had no business at 246 Gilmour St. and the squatters conduct was a disgrace and illegal. I commend the Ottawa Police but feel it took too long to remove the squatters!!! The Police have the right to use Force and if people choose to break the law, that is the consequences.

(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?

I will not push for one penny in funding or any positions. I do not feel this group has any place at the table or should be involved in policing. If this group wants to be involved, I feel they should take the 12 week course in Aylmer Ontario. At their own expense of $5000.00 and join the Ottawa Police Service.