Ottawa's new police chief did not have an opportunity to address the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB) at the first meeting in his new role.
During the meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, the first meeting for new police chief Eric Stubbs and new Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, the board opted to abruptly adjourn amid a protest from a public delegation.
Robin Browne, co-lead of the 613-819 Black Hub, was supposed to have a five-minute presentation, which went long during what he called a 'civil act of disobedience.'
Browne refused to leave without having his questions answered by the board, something he told Wake Up with Rob Snow on Tuesday, Nov. 29, did not happen.
"We were hoping to get answers to our questions, which were pretty straightforward, but as you saw, we certainly didn't get that," Brown explained. "What we did get was not entirely unexpected and that was kind of closing down the public debate and discussion."
Those questions included whether the OPSB would move to a hybrid meeting format, which involves a mixture of in-person and remote attendees.
Other questions that did not get answered before the meeting was adjourned:
- Whether the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) would be included in Mayor Sutcliffe's promise of a line-by-line audit of city hall budgets
- Whether the OPSB would freeze the police budget until that audit was complete
- Whether the OPSB would commission an independent, human rights-based review of the police service.
In the end, Ottawa police said several individuals were verbally assaultive and combative and one person was charged with causing a disturbance.
Following the adjournment of the Ottawa Police Services Board this evening, several individuals became combative, verbally abusive to members of the public and refused to leave the premises. 1/2
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) November 29, 2022
Browne also spoke about a number of other local issues with Rob and you can listen to the full interview below:
