Why I Put Myself Forward for the Ottawa Police Services Board

Better budget oversight. Help restore community trust.

I put my name forward to be considered for the Ottawa Police Services Board, as a Citizen Appointee. A decision on the appointment is expected in late February.

This is a voluntary position. The Board provides civilian oversight of the police service. It is composed of 7 people — usually three city councillors, three provincial appointees and one citizen appointee chosen by Council.

Policing is a vital service. I believe I have a pretty good understanding of the Board and how I could provide a unique contribution. Over the past few years, I’ve got to know a former OPSB vice-chair and Citizen Appointee, who was happy to recommend me for the position.

Serving on the Board is unpaid (except for the Chair), and from all accounts, can be quite a headache.

So why did I apply?

1. Police budget watchdog

I’ve spent most of my professional life in public finance. When I turned my attention to municipal affairs a few years ago, it didn’t take long to see that one of the basic facts of local government is police budgets eat up a huge amount of total city spending.

About 8% of all our City spending goes to police. That amounts to over $800 per household every year.

If that money is not well spent, the police budget will rise faster than it needs to, choking out spending on housing, transit and other priorities.

Oversight boards need all the help they can get. Police Board members are part-time volunteers who are expected to hold accountable a 2000+ person police force.

One part of that oversight is how police resources are spent. I’m not seeing a lot of evidence of Board members with a background in public finance or who are digging deep on the police budget.

I’d like to play that role. Make the Board more effective in policing the police budget. Protect the public purse.

2. Help rebuild trust with the community

Relations between the Ottawa police and large segments of our community are broken. The fumbling of the trucker convoy occupation was a low point, and the Ottawa Police Services Board has done little since to re-establish trust.

I would advocate for a more open public engagement at the Board. I would fight for greater transparency in Board operations and across the police service.

We need to do something new to improve relations with the public and with community groups. I’d start by asking how the most respected police forces in the world build community trust. I’d look for more opportunities to have open and free flowing discussions involving the police and community groups.

For the past three years, I’ve focused my energies on community organizing, and have gotten to know many of the citizens who advocate for a better Ottawa. I want to help be a bridge between the police and community groups.

Will they have me?

A Selection Committee — made up of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Councillor’s Cathy Curry and Rawlson King — will review applications.

I put in my application before the official deadline of January 19.

That deadline for applications has now been extended to February 2. So that should answer my question.

Ultimately, Council will make the final decision based on the recommendation of the Committee. I guess we’ll find out if Council values having a Police Services Board member ready to work for better scrutiny of police finances and to advocate for deepening community engagement.