Ontario Civilian Police Commission to release report into Windsor Police Service, board

A long-anticipated final report is expected to come this week, regarding an investigation into the Windsor Police Service and Windsor Police Services Board.

The investigation was launched in May of 2018 after theOntario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) receivedmultiple complaints from members of the service raisingserious concerns about the workplace environment. The commission started to hear complaints in January of that year.

TheOCPC, an independentoversight agency that rules on policing services under the Police Services Act, said they will issue their final reporton Friday.

A 2018 statement from police outlined theterms of reference for the investigation from the OCPC but didnot include specifics about the complaints, only stating that the complaints were receivedfrom multiple members of the WPSbetween January and April of 2018.

"These complaints raise serious concerns about the workplace environment of theWPS, the administration of theWPS, and the oversight provided by the Windsor Police Service Board," read the statement.

The investigation was tobe conducted with regard to subsection 31 (4) of the Police Services Act, which states that "the board shall not direct the chief of police with respect to specific operational decisions or with respect to the day-to-day operation of the police force."

The OCPCwas looking intowhether there was "improper interference in specific legal proceedings" and if that interference involved current members of the WPSand Windsor Police Services Board.

It also investigated allegations ofa "poisoned work environment" withinthe WPSby administration "in relation to workplace policies and/or accommodation requests."

The OCPCwas also initially investigating:

• the promotional process to decideif it is fair and transparent while ruling if the board exercises proper oversight
• if the potential hiring of relatives is handled in a fair and transparent way
• if the board informed administration during thepromotional process involving senior administration of issues relating to its mandate

The OCPCwould later expand the scope of its investigation to includelooking at how WPSand the Windsor Police Services Board handled a 911 call that came from then-Chief Al Frederick's home in November of 2018.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens is the chair of the board and Frederick was the chief at the time the investigation was launched. Pam Mizuno took over as chief in October of 2019, after Frederick's retirement.