Beaconsfield councillor questions cost of town’s private investigation into assault of civil servant.

Beaconsfield pays $40K total in case related to assault on civil servant

The cost related to a private investigation and some security measures following the assault of a Beaconsfield civil servant last fall are being questioned by the councillor heading the city’s finance committee.

The city launched a private investigation following a vicious attack Oct. 5 on Denis Chabot, Beaconsfield’s director of urban planning and municipal patrol, an item that has reached the $20,000 mark, said councillor Rhonda Massad. She added the city paid another $20,000 for security but doesn’t have details of the measures taken. She said both items, since each was under $25,000, were paid through a discretionary fund.

Surprised by the cost of these items, Massad is demanding expenditure details of the ongoing investi- gation, an unusual expense, citing it as another example of the lack of transparency at city hall.

“I find it difficult to understand that as the numbers for this expense keep growing and will continue to grow that council was not alerted,” she stated. “As it seems with many files just enough information is given to the council to say that we are made aware but not enough information is given for us to be fully informed.”

Massad said there is still no word if the incident, in Vaudreuil-Dorion, has any connection to city hall.

Sûreté du Québec con- firmed there is an investigation of an assault that took place at the Summerlea Golf Club parking lot on de Lotbinière Rd. on the afternoon of Oct. 5. The SQ had reported the victim suffered upper body injuries after being hit, but wouldn’t confirm what objects were used as a weapon. The two assailants in the case were described as black males in their mid-20s who drove off in a four-door grey 1990s model car. When asked about a possible motivation behind the armed assault, the SQ said there was no theft and labelled it a case of intimidation.

Mayor David Pollock con- firmed there is an ongoing private investigation and some security measures were implemented. He added the city aims to spend tax dollars appropriately and judicially. The funds for the private investigation and the related security measures came through accounts payable, the mayor said, adding the matter had been discussed in caucus.

While he would not divulge details of the city’s investigation, such as who had been hired, he said the mandate is to assist the city and examine if the attack on Chabot had any connections with city business. The mayor pointed out po- lice are still investigating the incident.

“This is a very sensitive matter and the process is underway right now,” Pollock said. As for a possible motive behind the attack, the mayor said, “That’s what we’re trying to better understand.”

The private investigation started last October and the mayor doesn’t expect it to go on much longer. At the end of it, the city will be provided a report. “We’ll see when we get the report,” he said. “But is does involve HR issues or personal issues, so I imagine we’ll review the report and see what becomes public,” he said.