Chief’s actions weaken his ability to do the job

Once you’ve lost respect, it’s hard to get it back

Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau’s questionable decision to involve himself in his father-in-law’s traffic case will sharply diminish his future effectiveness, no matter what an investigation by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission concludes.

Bordeleau’s nominal bosses on the Ottawa Police Services Board finally realized Monday there was a problem with the chief’s actions.

Ordering an independent investigation is appropriate, but what we already know is enough to damage Bordeleau’s moral authority to lead. A big part of a chief’s responsibility is holding police officers to a high standard.

That’s hard to do when you aren’t meeting a high standard yourself.

The chief’s father-in-law, himself a former chief in Gloucester, was due to appear in court on a charge that his vehicle had rear-ended another car. Bordeleau admits he called to find out who the prosecutor was. Big mistake. He should have stayed a mile away from this case.

It was made worse because the prosecutor, who has family connections to the police, either handled or mishandled things in such a way that the officer who was there to testify was sent home and the case was dismissed. The conduct of the prosecutors is being reviewed.

Bordeleau says he only called to give his wife, Lynda Bordeleau, a point of contact. She accompanied her father to court and is a lawyer who is certainly familiar with the courts and had already got that information herself.

Bordeleau’s call might have been just a simple inquiry, but he should have known how it could look, especially when rank-and-file officers believe there is special treatment for those who hold senior rank or have family connections to

Bordeleau admits he called to find out who the prosecutor was. Big mistake.

those who do.

From the outside, it’s difficult to know whether that perception is supported by reality, but when officers see what looks like special treatment for the chief’s family, it feeds into the nepotism and favouritism narrative.

The idea that not everyone is being treated the same was fundamental to an embarrassing Ontario Human Rights Commission order in December that will compel the police to examine placement and promotion practices because of evidence they have been unfair to women.

Bordeleau acknowledges there is a morale problem. After five years as chief, someone should be asking if he’s the solution or part of the cause. That question is made even more pressing by his disappointing actions on the traffic ticket matter.

Responsibility for Bordeleau’s performance is up to the Police Services Board, and especially its chair, Coun. Eli El-Chantiry.

The longtime board chair was satisfied with the chief telling him the call was a mistake and didn’t plan any further action until the heat mounted.

He just couldn’t see what role the board could play. It’s not hard. The board is the chief’s boss. If it won’t hold him accountable, no one will.

Even though there seem to be significant problems within the police service, the board recently extended Bordeleau’s contract for an additional three years, with the idea that it would give time to develop a new, younger generation of leadership so the board wouldn’t have to go outside for Bordeleau’s replacement.

That’s an approach that gives no urgency to solving problems now.

Being a police chief is a tough job. Perhaps the closest comparison is a professional hockey coach. Once you’ve lost the respect of the players, you’re done.

It’s highly unlikely that Bordeleau can be an effective chief over the next three years. It’s highly likely that the board and Mayor Jim Watson will keep Bordeleau on anyway, rather than admit that something is wrong. Shouldn’t we expect better?