Ontario’s new Inspector Common of Policing is investigating two complaints filed in opposition to the Windsor Police Service.
The primary has to do with how the police handled an individual attempting to report harassment and the second centres on how the service dispatches law enforcement officials.
Each complaints had been submitted to the province’s new Inspectorate of Policing, which launched final April as a part of the brand new Neighborhood Security and Policing Act.
The investigations had been made public as a part of the agenda for Windsor’s month-to-month assembly of its police companies board.
No board members requested questions concerning the investigations through the public conferences.
The Windsor Police Providers Board, led by Coun. Jo-Anne Gignac at its month-to-month assembly in January. (Chris Ensing/CBC)
The Windsor police service wouldn’t touch upon the investigations when approached by Ontario Chronicle after the board’s assembly on Thursday.
“I wish to say that I applaud the Windsor police board for being clear about the truth that a grievance has been obtained,” mentioned Inspector Common Ryan Teschner.
He mentioned that the oversight physique doesn’t examine each grievance it receives.
Police notified of two complaints in 2 months
There are two complaints that had been made to the Inspectorate of Policing that Windsor police have been instructed warrant an investigation:
The primary investigation, which Windsor police had been notified about on Nov. 25, 2024, is “in relation to the adequacy and effectiveness of the Windsor Police Service relating to police response to requests for police companies from a person trying to report a harassment.” The second investigation, which Windsor police had been notified about on Dec.10, 2024 “issues the adequacy and effectiveness of the Windsor Police Service in dispatching members of a police service.”
Teschner mentioned that he couldn’t present further particulars concerning the complaints as a result of it’s an ongoing investigation.
Inspector Common Ryan Teschner mentioned that individuals could make complaints via the oversight physique’s web site. (Credit score: Inspectorate of Policing)
He mentioned that the outcomes of the investigations can be posted on the Inspectorate of Policing’s web site as soon as accomplished.
Every investigation requires a special quantity of sources, mentioned Teschner, which makes it troublesome to gauge how lengthy these investigations will take.
How the three oversight our bodies intersect
There are three completely different teams that oversee police within the province of Ontario:
The Particular Investigations Unit (SIU) is a service that investigates at any time when a police officer is concerned in an altercation that leads to a severe damage, demise, allegation of sexual assault or when an officer shoots their gun. The Regulation Enforcement Complaints Company (LECA) — which was beforehand the Workplace of the Impartial Police Evaluate Director (OIPRD) — offers with complaints about police misconduct in Ontario. The Inspectorate of Policing offers with the adequacy and effectiveness of police companies, together with police companies boards.
“I view them as three legs of the identical stool, however every with their very own outlined mandate,” mentioned Teschner.
Individuals can file complaints on-line in the event that they imagine a difficulty falls beneath a company’s jurisdiction.
Teschner mentioned the outcomes posted on-line don’t embody particulars that might establish the one that complained, however did warn there may be items of knowledge that want to be shared with a police service, in an effort to do an intensive investigation.
“We are going to guarantee that we take steps to guard figuring out info of particular person,” mentioned Teschner.
As soon as an investigation is full, Teschner can implement directives to police companies or police boards to verify issues enhance.
