The public is expected to know more about an investigation into Windsor police by a provincial oversight agency.
Blackburn News has learned that the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC), the agency that oversees law-enforcement agencies in Ontario, will release on Friday a final report on an investigation into the service, as well as the Windsor Police Service Board.
It is not clear what will be discussed in the report, but it is expected to include details on the OCPC's look at complaints regarding hiring practices and what was dubbed as a "poisoned work environment".
There is also a possibility that the WPS's handling of a 911 call to the residence of then-Chief Al Frederick will also be laid out in the report. According to an email sent to Blackburn News in April 2019, that complaint was added to the overall investigation by the OCPC.
"Since the OCPC's investigation commenced, an incident dated November 12, 2018, involving a 911 call to attend Chief Al Frederick's house was brought to the OCPC's attention," read the email. "The OCPC has decided to include matters surrounding this incident as part of its investigation."
At the time of the 911 call to Frederick's private home, Mayor Drew Dilkens, who is also the chair of the police services board, acknowledged that there was a call to Frederick's house. Per regulations, the investigation was turned over to the Ontario Provincial Police. The OPP had stated that the call, which was never released publicly, was not a criminal issue.
Frederick retired from the service in June 2019 and has been succeeded by Pam Mizuno.
The OCPC began its probe into the service in 2018 after officers made multiple complaints about alleged unfair promotion practices, nepotism in hiring, and interference in legal proceedings. There were also complaints of a work environment that was not conducive to collaborative and professional policing.
The WPS administration and police services board had pledged full cooperation with the OCPC's investigation.
-With files from Paul Pedro