Ottawa police union president sues chief of police

Ottawa's police chief and the police services board were served with legal papers on Monday afternoon. 

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Ottawa Police Association president Matt Skof against Chief Charles Bordeleau and the board. 

The statement of claim alleges that Chief Bordeleau infringed on Skof's Charter rights when he was banned from any public police board meeting and from all police buildings in January. 

The chief banned Skof after he was charged with Breach of Trust and Obstruction of Justice but he remained active as the OPA President. 

The lawsuit is seeking $500,000 in damages from both Chief Bordeleau and the Ottawa Police Services Board. 

Skof's lawyer, Paul Champ released this statement to 1310 NEWS: 

This claim alleges that Chief Bordeleau infringed the Charter rights of Mr Skof as well as the Association and its membership by attempting to neutralize and undermine Skof as the freely elected representative of a labour organization.  In recent years, the Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed that labour rights are protected by freedom of association, as guaranteed by section 2(d) of the Charter.  Interfering with a labour organization's choice of representative violates that freedom.

Champ explained that despite the on-going legal issues facing Skof, he did not forsee any issues coming up because of it. 

“The charge and his roles and duties as the president should not be connected by the chief” said Champ. “We know that the chief is trying to draw some connection between them but we don't see how Mr. Skof carrying out his duties and responsibilities as president in any way puts him at risk at harming the police services.”

Champ noted that if there were any concerns, the judge could have placed restrictions on Skof. 

Chief Charles Bordeleau's office revealed that he would not be commenting about ongoing court matters.