Police chiefs call on government to implement the Tulloch report

‘We are saying, Let’s get at this,’ Larkin says after Kitchener meeting discusses top judge’s views on accountability

KITCHENER — Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan Larkin — the newly-elected president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police — said provincial chiefs are ready to implement Justice Michael Tulloch’s recommendations on police oversight and accountability and are calling on the government to do the same.

“We endorse his recommendations and we are calling on the government to implement them,” Larkin said during a media scrum Wednesday after a threeday conference of provincial chiefs and other police leaders in Kitchener.

“Collectively, we are saying, Let’s get at this,” he said.

The conference included Canadian and international guest speakers.

Issues on the table were the legalization of marijuana, cybercrime and police oversight.

In addition to the Tulloch report, other discussions included the national opioid crisis, modernization of the Police Services Act and officers’ mental health.

“We have been working with the government on these pieces but it is our responsibility to advocate and it is our responsibility to be the voice for police leaders,” Larkin said.

“We want to see action. Our organizations are evolving quicker than government. We are ready for change,” he said.

Justice Michael Tulloch spoke to conference members on Wednesday.

Tulloch conducted an independent review of police oversight and earlier this spring released his 129 recommendations.

Tulloch said crucial investigation into deaths involving police officers should be disclosed to the public.

Currently, the provincial agency, the Special Investigations Unit, investigates deaths involving police and little information is made available.

“It’s beyond our control as chiefs. We would love to talk about different things that are happening in our community but often we are bound by legislation,” said Larkin.

Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau — the outgoing association president — said when the SIU investigates, the police can’t speak to the matter and often the SIU doesn’t release any information.

“The tensions in the community escalate because there is a void of information. People will speculate and assume facts. It’s not healthy for the community,” he said.

Tulloch’s report referred to other measures such as increasing transparency, the creation of a new professional policing college and the drafting of special watchdog legislation separate from the province’s Police Services Act.

Larkin said police chiefs have had “frank and candid” dialogue with Tulloch.

Bordeleau said, “We believe in oversight, effective oversight. The way the system is built right now, the delays, the lack of transparency is frustrating for police chiefs and our communities.”

“It’s our job to put pressure on government,” Bordeleau said.

Larkin said there is this myth that police chiefs are not supportive of accountability.

“I don’t think you will get any greater champions.

“We believe that’s how we build police legitimacy, public trust and public confidence,” he said.

As for the future of policing, cybercrime is a top priority, Bordeleau said.

“Cybercrime is a huge element as far as what is happening on the web and how police services need to structure themselves to have the right tools to investigate those crimes,” he said.

Bordeleau said the mental health of officers also remains an important issue that chiefs talk about frequently.

“Our officers have a very difficult job to do out there.

“It’s getting tougher with oversight and accountability and the increased scrutiny of the public. “It’s tough on them,” he said. Bordeleau said the chief of military police for the Canadian Armed Forces spoke about mental health readiness of their officers and how they support their officers.

Ontario police chiefs will look at their program and tailor it to police services.