*Thread** The evasion of police accountability is supported…

complaints are refereed back to the police service to investigate their own members. For example: If you want to file a complaint against an Ottawa Police officer with legitimate concerns of misconduct. OPS cannot investigate until you file a complaint with @OIPRD_BDIEP 2/

who screens in the complaint and transfers the file to OPS Professional Standards to investigate their own members. Dead end. OIPRD continues to gatekeep and protects police officers by screening out complaints as ‘’not in the public interest’’ to investigate. Again dead end 3/

In 2017 review of police oversight, Justice Michael Tulloch recommended that the OIPRD should investigate all public complaints to "help foster public trust in not only the complaints system, but policing more generally." 4/

He also recommended that ''OIPRD should have the power to lay disciplinary charges against officers'' instead of directing the police chief to do so. Even if the chief held power & discretion, the chief is limited under the PSA to exercise it. 5/

Police officers are protected by the Police Services Act. In a recent complaint to OIPRD, they indicated to ‘’Section 60(4) of the Police Services Act permits the Independent Police Review Director not to deal with a complaint if, in his opinion, having regard to all of.... 6/

of the circumstances, dealing with the complaint is not in the public interest.’’ It continues to justify a failed police oversight system by indicating ‘’An investigation into police conduct seeks to determine whether there are grounds to believe that misconduct has been....7/

...committed. The conduct that you have detailed occurred while he was off-duty. In order for a police officer to be found guilty of misconduct while off-duty, the conduct must have a nexus to his or her employment or be damaging to the reputation of the police service.'' 8/

In other words, an officer who is not on active duty and currently on ''paid vacation'' due to a history of misconduct is able to engage in corrupt behaviour. As long as the corrupt behaviour is done while ''off duty''. Leaving room for sworn-in behaviour to be blind-eyed. 9/

You cannot reform an oversight that is currently protected by legislations. Our current system does not effectively hold police accountable. Until then, the evasion of police accountability will continue to compromise police legitimacy perceptions and erode public trust. /10

@UnrollHelper unroll this

*Thread** The evasion of police accountability is supported by @OIPRD_BDIEP . An independent civilian oversight that manages and oversees all complaints about police in Ont. It currently does not have the full capacity to investigate all complaints internally & majority of the 1/

More from Government

You May Also Like