Content of the article

Members of the London Police Base are challenging the leadership of Chief Steve Williams, The Free Press has learned.

Content of the article

The London Police Association (LPA), the union representing nearly 900 officers and civilian employees, held a vote of no-confidence against Williams this week.

Tension has recently mounted between a contingent of officers and the city’s top policeman over his leadership style and handling several issues, according to two police sources, which The Free Press does not identify because they do not. are not allowed to speak to the media. .

Among the criticisms leveled at Williams was the increased workload placed on front-line officers, prompting the leader’s decision to disband the community-based response unit and redeploy school resource officers to bolster the police patrol. First line.

The London Police Council is aware of the no-confidence vote, but union officials have not communicated the result, council chairwoman Susan Toth said on Saturday.

Content of the article

“While we remain committed to working with the LPA to understand any concerns they may raise, I am joined by all my colleagues on the Board of Directors in expressing unequivocal support and full confidence in Chief Stephen Williams” Toth said in a statement.

“Chief Williams has guided the London Police Service through a few difficult and difficult years with integrity, compassion and thoughtfulness. Chief Williams has shown exemplary leadership and dedication as a Chief of Police.

The president of the PLA, Staff Sgt. Dave Gilmore declined to comment on the vote.

It is not known how many police workers participated in Thursday’s no-confidence vote and whether the vote was open to civilian employees.

No-confidence votes are non-binding, meaning the decision cannot force the leader to resign and are widely seen as symbolic.

Content of the article

“They don’t mean anything – it’s a statement that is sent to the chief that says we don’t agree with you,” former London Police Chief Murray Faulkner said of the votes censorship.

Faulkner, who served as London Police Chief from 2004 to 2010, said a chief should be seen as the face of the police in the community and a strong advocate for their officers.

“It’s no secret how a leader should act,” he said. “I think the front line troops are disheartened that they don’t see the support of the board of directors, of the city council.”

Sources also identified the COVID-19 vaccination policy of the force as a problem.

Last month, 15 London Police employees were put on unpaid leave for failing to comply with the policy that requires staff to be fully immunized or seek a rights exemption humans.

Content of the article

Some members are also upset with the chief for issuing a statement after one of his officers shot dead a man in an alleyway in Richmond Row on October 28, the sources said. The chef’s statement extended his condolences to the deceased’s loved one, Justin Bourassa, 29, a tennis pro from Sarnia.

The move was seen by some as a betrayal of the officer, whose actions are now under investigation by Ontario police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, according to the sources.

Toth acknowledged the pressures police face, including “increasingly complex calls” and praised Williams for sounding the alarm bells about the pressure frontline officers face as they deal with more cases. calls that are taking longer and longer to process.

Content of the article

In a presentation to the police commission last month, Williams said that a spike in calls this year had raised public concerns about response times, increased officer burnout and cost to force nearly $ 500,000 in overtime.

“It was Chief Williams who made us aware of these issues and who strongly defended his officers. We look forward to working with the Chief as he continues to serve the community and the citizens of London with honor, ”said Toth.

Williams, a Brampton native who joined the London force in 1992, rose through the ranks to become the city’s top cop in 2019 after John Pare announced his surprise retirement almost a year before his contract ended. five years.

At the time, Williams emphasized that strength modernization and the promotion of mental health were the two pillars of his administration. Chiefs and their deputies are employed by the Police Council, the civilian body responsible for overseeing police services, and generally work on five-year contracts.

A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the chief on Saturday.

[email protected]