Local police services should be pleased with legislation introduced by the Ford government this week, according to a local MPP.
Earlier this week, the Ford government introduced legislation to repeal the Police Services Act and replace it with the Community Safety and Police Act.
If the bill passes, it will streamline investigations undertaken by the Special Investigations Unit. While the SIU will continue to investigate incidents involving officers resulting in serious injury, sexual assault or death, it will be required to wrap up its within 120 days.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington Progressive Conservative MPP Rick Nicholls said the legislation would also provide officers and communities in Chatham-Kent, Leamington, Essex, and Windsor with clarity regarding police oversight and public safety.
“Every day our police in Chatham-Kent, Leamington, and beyond come to work with a simple goal -- to keep our families safe,” said Nicholls. “While we don’t always hear their success celebrated on the news, we take great comfort knowing the police are responding to emergencies and preventing crime. Sometimes this work entails risk, and it certainly involves difficult decisions. But we rely on the police to keep us safe. Now they can rely on their government to have their back.”
Under existing legislation, SIU investigations can be lengthy, forcing police officers to work for months, or even years under the microscope.The new act would also create one window for public complaints, reducing delays in the investigation process, and ensuring greater accountability.
Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said implementing Bill 175 was always the goal.“When we were elected one of our first orders of business was to pause the implementation of Bill 175 so that we could fix it in a way that continues to ensure oversight but does so in a way that is balanced, respectful and fair,” said Mulroney.
Leaders in law enforcement are also appearing to welcome the attorney general’s approach, saying the police will allow every police board’s ability to make the best possible decisions about policing policies, planning and budgets.