Ex-officer asks police board to hire her

WATERLOO REGION — Former police constable Kelly Donovan received a cool reception Wednesday when she asked the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board to hire her to help train board members and keep police accountable.

Donovan, who quit the police service in June after six years and is an outspoken critic, now represents her own business, Fit4Duty, which offers an independent whistleblower program to police services, government agencies and private companies.

Addressing the board, Donovan suggested she could help it establish an ethics policy and a better process to deal with internal allegations.

After she spoke, chair Tom Galloway said the board does not hear from delegations promoting businesses and suggested to Donovan that the service has a procurement policy for hiring.

In an interview after the meeting, Donovan said she expected the response she received.

“The policing culture is extremely resistant to change,” she said.

“If they truly want to represent the community they serve, something needs to change. They need effective oversight and better governance.”

Donovan said she wasn’t trying “to pitch her business” but rather is trying to improve police culture.

“It’s a huge struggle to get police on board,” she said.

Donovan said she will visit other police boards, but “if the police is not interested in applying ethical standards, then

I’ll focus on the corporate world.”

In July, Donovan released a 93-page report outlining how local police and other police services intimidate, bully and harass their employees who try to lodge internal complaints.

Donovan said officers who complain are treated unfairly and targeted by their superiors.

Wednesday’s address was the second time she publicly spoke to the police board. In May 2016, she spoke to the board as an officer and supported Sgt. Brad Finucan who was charged with criminal harassment.

She said he was treated unfairly by detectives and evidence was withheld.

At his trial last year, Finucan pleaded guilty to harassment and illegal gun possession. He received an absolute discharge on the gun charge and a conditional discharge on the count of harassment against a woman, who is currently an officer with Waterloo Regional Police.