Local police union concerned over new provincial rules
Posted Mar 9, 2018 05:21:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Provincial changes to police regulations have sparked a war of words between the head of Ottawa's police union and chair of the local police services board.
In a large, complicated bill, one of the areas where the two sides disagree is outsourcing some police duties, like directing traffic, to security companies.
Ottawa Police Association President Matt Skof said many of those tasks are done by members taking on extra duty on their days off.
“It's being framed that it is going to free up resources,” he explained. “That's incredibly misleading. That's not accurate at all.”
But Ottawa Police Services Board Chair Eli El-Chantiry tells OttawaMatters.com, there are some situations where outsourcing will free up frontline officers.
“If we have an emergency water pipe break, we have to call the police in to direct traffic,” he said.
El-Chantiry insisted safety comes first, while at the same time conceding that there is an opportunity to save money.
Skof is concerned Ottawa city councillors will make decisions solely based on budgets.
