THUNDER BAY -- When it comes to police discipline and suspensions, changes are needed the city's top cop says.
Thunder Bay Police Service chief J.P. Levesque, also vice-president for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, said the association is asking the province to open up part five of the Police Service Act, which deals with discipline, to find a way to save time and money.
In Ontario, an officer can be suspended with pay for several years while the matter makes its way through a criminal trial and police services board hearing.
The only way for an officer to be suspended without pay is if the person is incarcerated.
"We can quite often see a murder trial proceed much quicker than we can a police act hearing," Levesque said.
An officer suspended with pay, of which there are none in the city right now, can cost a lot of money but so too can the process when lawyers and hearing officers are factored in.
If an officer is charged with a crime, the criminal matter is dealt with first. Then there's a services act hearing.
Even if that hearing fires the officer, Levesque said a police board is forced to hire the officer back until the appeal process is done.
"I think it’s really tough for the public to stomach and police leaders who try to keep their budgets in line," he said.
"My argument is this. How about if the appeal is successful and the hearing officer erred and they shouldn't have been fired, how about I give them backpay."
Levesque said to be clear he respects his officers and the process was no doubt originally set up to be fair. He thinks the province will get on board to find a process that's fair for everyone, reached in consensus by police boards, management and unions.
