Canada: Ottawa police chief resigns after strong criticism of his handling of the crisis | International

Faced with a wave of criticism for his mishandling of protests against covid restrictions that have crippled Canada’s capital, Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly has announced his resignation from his post, reports Canadian Public Broadcasting (CBC ). Sloly’s resignation is also part of several complaints of workplace mistreatment and erratic behavior, which allegedly damaged relationships with his superiors and thus compromised the security forces’ ability to deal with protest from truckers.

Sloly became Chief of the Ottawa Police Service in October 2019 with a mandate to help his men fight systemic racism, improve their response to mental health calls and rebuild trust with the city’s Black community. .

Last Monday, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, decided to invoke emergency powers not used since 1970 in order to deal with the demonstrations which lasted nearly 20 days and which closed important border crossings with the United States. The big question is whether this decision will put an end to the protests of truckers and others furious at the decision announced on January 15 by Trudeau that the covid vaccine be mandatory for cross-border journeys.

According to CBC sources, Sloly belittled and berated senior Ottawa Police Service officers in front of his colleagues, never presenting a solid plan of operations to end the crisis. These same sources say the former boss has a bad temper and often uses bad manners with his team.

“We need the police to take matters into their own hands, use the Emergencies Act and restore order,” Prime Minister Trudeau said Monday. “We have given new powers to the police and we need them to act now.” What is unknown at this time is when and how this response will be against the so-called Freedom convoy.

After the imposition of vaccination on truckers who frequently cross the United States, hundreds of carriers went to Ottawa to show their rejection, while different groups supported their demands. Demonstrations also took place in some provincial capitals (such as Quebec, Toronto or Winnipeg), but only Ottawa – where a state of emergency was declared two Sundays ago – was paralyzed. From now on, the government will be able to prohibit blockades at border crossings, airports and Ottawa; freezing truckers’ personal and business bank accounts and suspending their licenses; in addition to attacking websites that raise funds to support blockages.

The newspaper The Globe and Mail he recently noted that while serving as Deputy Chief of the Toronto Police Service, Sloly was accused of mishandling complaints of misogyny and was known in police circles as someone who quickly resorted to heavy-handed action . “Right now, the Ottawa police are at a standstill,” a source quoted by CBC said. “They are paralyzed on the front line. They are waiting for instructions from their superior and are frustrated with how the public perceives them due to their leader’s spectacular failure.” Just days after the protest began, Sloly suggested his strength was not equipped enough to meet such a challenge.”The longer it lasts, the more I am convinced that there may not be a police solution to this demonstration,” he said at the time.

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