Dozens of protesters gathered outside Ottawa city hall Monday afternoon, hoping the police board would hear their concerns about gender-based misconduct within the force.
The demonstrators may have been present, but Ottawa Police Services Board members were not.
One month after meeting in-person for the first time in years, members were back online Monday, working through their agenda via Zoom.
“The very people responsible for overseeing our police service continue to shield themselves from the public they’re supposed to serve,” said Sam Hersh, who sits on the board of Horizon Ottawa.
“Accountability isn’t something you can practice from behind a computer screen,” he added.
The group hoisted large artworks painted to look like spoiled apples and a banner that read “OTTAWA POLICE ROTTEN TO THE CORE.”
Key among the concerns for those protesting was how the board and Ottawa Police Service (OPS) will respond to officers searching databases for information about women they’re attracted to, according to Astara van der Jagt, executive director of the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women.
“We need to know how many OPS officers are and have been abusing the database, and also what are they going to do about it?” she said.
“One of the biggest demands that we have today is that OPS should terminate officers instead of having police officers decide for themselves whether or not they’re part of a bigger challenge within the system.”
Astara van der Jagt is executive director of the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women and took part in Monday’s protest against police misconduct. (Dan Taekema/CBC)
In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for Ottawa police referenced previous comments from Chief Eric Stubbs about a “pattern of behaviour, both within our organization and in interactions with women in the community, that must change.”
“The overwhelming majority of OPS members do not engage in this behaviour, but addressing it is a responsibility shared across the organization,” read the email from Const. Fern John-Simon, who added that includes “pursuing accountability through the appropriate investigative and disciplinary processes.”
OPS is committed to “meaningful and systemic change” the message continued, so that women can have “confidence” in the service.
The chief was not present at Monday night’s meeting and did not participate in his typical media availability before it began. He has not yet filed a written answer to an official inquiry by board vice-chair Coun. Marty Carr in June about detecting unauthorized or inappropriate access to police information systems.
During its June meeting, the police board passed a motion requiring the force to update it at least quarterly on these efforts to change.
A banner hanging from a table during the protest. (Christian Lachance/CBC)
The board did touch on a long list of topics, including recent high-profile and tragic investigations, questions about promotions for women and racialized staff and work to expand body-worn cameras for all front-line staff in 2027.
No decision made on meeting format
As for the nature of their meetings, Carr said in May staffing was the main reason members had been connecting virtually.
She also said a decision would be made about how they’d get together after trying out an in-person session in June.
Carr said Monday that no official decision had been made about a permanent format for future meetings.
However, as the virtual meeting came to a close, the board’s chair announced the next meeting will be hybrid — meaning both in-person and online participants can take part.
It’s scheduled for Sept. 28.