A majority of the five board members who oversee the Thunder Bay Police Department, Ont., Have resigned.
Board chairman Kristen Oliver, as well as Michael Powers and Roy Pelletier, both appointed by the province, resigned on Friday, confirmed John Hannam, secretary of the Thunder Bay Police Council (TBPSB).
The move, first reported by local news agency TBNewswatch, comes just days after a provincial police surveillance agency appointed an administrator to monitor the TBPSB for at least the next six months.
An order from the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) said that based on preliminary findings from their investigation, which began on February 11, they believe that “there is an emergency in [Thunder Bay] oversight of the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS).
This is the second time in four years that the OCPC has appointed an administrator to run the board. The last time was in 2018.
Toronto attorney Malcolm Mercer has been given considerable authority and a single vote on all matters before the board. His role took effect on April 19.
The OCPC has rejected a request for an interview with Mercer.
“I’m essentially fired”
The decision to revoke the voting rights of existing board members was a key issue for Pelletier.
“Our police force is a vital part of the city’s future success, so I wanted to be a part of doing everything I could to help move it forward,” said Peletier, an Ojibway man at Fort William First Nation who owns a car. – community service.
“I am essentially fired,” he added. “I do not want to sit and watch an appointed official make decisions for our community. That’s why I chose to resign in light of that. “
In an e-mail statement, Power did not specify why he resigned, but said he was proud of his contribution to the police board and wanted to help build a new police headquarters, “if I can as a private citizen.”
CBC News contacted Oliver, who is also a city councilor in the Westford area, but has not yet received a response.
Earlier, she expressed confidence in the work of the police service and its oversight, saying the board had worked hard to develop a strategic plan that she said would improve the quality of Thunder Bay police.
The mayor says he may resign
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro said he understood and supported Oliver, Pelletier and Power’s decisions to resign, adding that he could still decide to do so before the end of his term.
“As mayor, I feel I have to stay there at least for a while to represent the interests of the city,” he said in an interview.
When Mercer was appointed administrator, he was given full power and authority on the board, Mauro said, which means that the decisions Mercer will make could have tax and cost implications for Thunder Bay.
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro, pictured in 2019, says he understands and accepts the decision of three other members to leave the Thunder Bay Police Council. (Matt Prokopchuk / CBC)
Although there will be no vote, Mauro said, he still wants to meet with Mercer and share his concerns and thoughts on key issues, policy and police oversight.
The mayor also shared his surprise that the OCPC appointed an administrator in the first place, saying he and other board members had not been contacted by the provincial oversight body.
“We do not know what kind of emergency they are talking about. We certainly do not feel dysfunctional as a board, as stated in the letter from the CEO. So, yes, we are all very surprised that we were deprived of the vote of the two members, democratically elected to the city council and given to one person. “
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