Kingston’s Deputy Police Chief to Step Down

More than a year after Deputy Chief Matt Funnell was put on paid suspension, Kingston Police have announced his upcoming retirement – but they still haven’t clarified why he was taken off duty.

Funnell’s suspension was initially reported by a local newspaper in December 2024.

Kingston Police offered no updates to the public in the following months, but in a statement on Wednesday, the police service and the city’s police service board confirmed that Funnell’s career is coming to an end.

The statement notes that Funnell’s “pre-retirement leave” started on Feb. 1, while he will retain his rank until Dec. 31.

Coun. Greg Ridge, who chairs the police board, confirmed that Funnell will continue receiving his salary until year-end. According to Ontario’s Sunshine List, Funnell earned $226,724 in 2024.

The announcement regarding his retirement commends Funnell for his 28 years of service but does not mention his suspension.

“Deputy Chief Funnell’s career reflects a deep commitment to public service, professionalism, and community partnership,” reads a quote attributed to Ridge.

Kingston Police Chief Adam Mac Intosh, who took over at the end of January when Funnell had already been suspended for over a year, is quoted praising the deputy chief’s “lasting contribution to this organization and to the members he led.”

When asked about the positive tone of the statement, Ridge said it was “important to recognize the contributions” he’d made.

No Clarity on Suspension

The deputy chief was removed from active duty just three months after being promoted.

Various chairs of the police service board have since declined to comment on why Funnell was suspended, calling it confidential information.

Ridge, who became chair of the board last week, remained tight-lipped as well.

“Because this is a matter of employment, I’m not able to divulge any additional information regarding the status of Deputy Chief Funnell’s employment,” he said.

Then-acting Deputy Chief Matt Funnell (left) speaks during a Kingston Police Services Board meeting on Oct. 19, 2023. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

The lack of details surrounding the suspension has drawn criticism from an advocacy group for police and from an academic focused on law enforcement accountability.

Erick Laming, a Trent University professor whose research centers on police oversight, suggested boards should be allowed more freedom when it comes to updating the public about such suspensions.

“It does really hurt your transparency efforts,” Laming said. “It can take a long time to build public trust, and it can be really easy to mismanage public trust.”

‘The Community Deserves Answers’: PAO

Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, has consistently pushed for more information about Funnell’s suspension to be released publicly.

He pointed out that since then both civilian and sworn members of Kingston’s police force have been investigated with those details made available publicly.

Baxter acknowledged it’s tricky balancing privacy with keeping people informed but added that not sharing enough information erodes public trust and impacts those involved.

“It is remarkable that after 15 months; the Kingston Police Services Board still refuses to provide any meaningful information about [Funnell’s] suspension,” Baxter wrote in a statement Wednesday.

“The Board has demanded transparency from others but when it comes to its own senior leadership; it has failed at meeting that same standard,” he continued. “The community deserves answers and accountability-not silence.”

Ridge stated he and other members of the police service board understand rumors fill gaps left by insufficient public information but mentioned each organization has its own “responsibilities and obligations” regarding employee privacy.

“The board and I take matters of transparency and accountability very seriously; public trust is fragile. I recognize that,” he noted while adding he’s committed to collaborating with new police chief Adam Mac Intosh “to restore trust and provide greater accountability and transparency where possible.”

Source link