Disregarding calls to wait until after the municipal election, the police services board is moving ahead to hire the new top officer.
With just days remaining until the municipal election and just a few weeks left in its term, the Ottawa Police Services Board will hold an online media conference to introduce the successful candidate for the job that opened up when Peter Sloly resigned as chief on Feb. 15, during the “Freedom Convoy” occupation of downtown Ottawa.Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Earlier this week, leading mayoral candidates Catherine McKenney and Bob Chiarelli wrote to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission asking it to investigate the police service board’s handling of the hiring process for the new chief, suggesting also there was a conflict of interest related to board chair Eli El-Chantiry, an honorary co-chair of opponent Mark Sutcliffe’s campaign.Article content
On Thursday, McKenney posted on Twitter a statement pledging to work with the new chief in restoring trust in the police service. “However, announcing a new Chief days before voters choose their new council, while the inquiry into the occupation is underway, can only be described in one way: shameful.