Levy says sorry to Polish community, ends months of police board in-fighting

Madeline Levy has finally apologized for comments she made about Polish people thatcaused nearly a year of in-fighting on Hamilton's police services board.

The vice chair says she couldn't apologize until Thursdaybecause the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) was reviewing the case. But she's sorry for telling fellow member Walt Juchniewicz that Polish people killed Jewsduring the holocaust.

"I am genuinely sorry that the incident happened," she said at a board meeting. "I recognize that it was out of place to speak in this manner.

"I realize that I hurt members of the Polish community, and for this, I am truly, truly sorry." She added that she's tried "many, many times to amicably resolve this issue," and the matter "has been weighing on me for quite some time."

The apology marks the end of nearly a year of drama on the board that oversees the Hamilton Police Service.

Last year, Juchniewicz was telling another member about Polish Christmas traditions when Levy interjected with the bombshell.

Juchniewicz wrote to chair Lloyd Ferguson about it,then city manager Chris Murray. The Polish community got involved, along with several members of the Muslim community.

The board asked the OCPC to investigate. Last month, the OCPC said the matter was a "distraction," and that the board should move on with other business. It also recommended the board get cultural competency training, which it will do.

"This was a matter that the board itself should have been able to address quickly and effectively before it got out of hand," OCPC director Linda Lamoreux said.

Ferguson, who is an Ancaster city councillor, told Lamoreux in a Nov. 9 letter that it wouldn't have dragged on if the OCPC hadn't taken eight months to look into it.

He asked the OCPC to attend a future board meeting, but the commission declinedin a letter this week.

Levy said she'll be an enthusiastic participant in the cultural competency training.

On Thursday, the board passed a motion to consider this matter closed.