Harsh words, but no discipline over London, Ont. councillor’s ‘troubling’ homeless comments

A London, Ont., metropolis councillor has erstwhile again managed to debar immoderate important consequences for arguable societal media posts astir group experiencing homelessness — this time, from nan Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

In a missive dated July 5, nan OCPC specifically zeroed successful connected posts referring to group experiencing homelessness arsenic “junkies,” including pictures of them without asking, suggesting personification has committed crimes and reinforcing stereotypes of group experiencing addictions, though nan missive besides noted she posts truthful overmuch that “a reappraisal of nan entirety of (her) accounts was not conducted.”

Still, contempt nan interest and nan commission’s repeated assertions that it does not judge Susan Stevenson’s explanations aliases reasoning for her posts, nary action is recommended speech from a “caution.”

Stevenson was already formally reprimanded by metropolis assembly successful December 2023 successful consequence to a determination from London’s integrity commissioner complete complaints astir her societal media posts. The missive from nan OCPC dated July 5 is besides related to complaints complete Stevenson’s societal media posts, but successful relationship pinch her position arsenic a personnel of nan London Police Services Board.

“Your behaviour falls short of nan modular of behaviour expected of members of constabulary services boards, arsenic group retired successful Regulation 421/97 – Member of Police Services Boards – Code of Conduct,” nan missive reads.

“In this case, nan Commission decided it is not successful nan nationalist liking to initiate a general investigation astatine this time. However, you are cautioned that nan Code of Conduct requires a higher modular for members of a constabulary services board, and that societal media posts tin bring your compliance pinch nan Code of Conduct into question.”

The preliminary reappraisal recovered that Stevenson denied that nan usage of nan word “junkies” successful a station constituted a breach of behaviour because she didn’t usage nan word but alternatively retweeted an article that did and that nan usage of nan connection was “secondary to nan important accusation it contained.” The OCPC disagrees.

The connection astir Stevenson’s usage of photographs taken of group experiencing homelessness that appeared to beryllium taken without consent suggests it was nan OCPC’s main concern, arsenic it describes nan incident arsenic “troubling” and raises concerns astir her integrity.

As for suggesting a circumstantial individual was committing a crime — successful reference to a station connected X, formerly Twitter, associated pinch a station of personification pinch a shopping cart — nan OCPC said it disagrees pinch Stevenson’s proposal that she wanted to thief businesses and group donating carts and belongings to unhoused individuals. It said that she shouldn’t trust connected “ambiguities to excuse posts.”

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In an emailed statement, Stevenson appeared to consciousness vindicated by nan deficiency of a general investigation successful this case.

“Actions speak louder than words. OCPC reviewed this title and decided not to motorboat an investigation. Plain and simple,” she wrote.

“A mini group continues to weaponize investigations because they cannot triumph arguments connected their merits. I will proceed speaking up for nan group of London and frontline constabulary officers who support america safe each day.”

Mayor Josh Morgan was asked if Stevenson should measurement down from nan London Police Services Board but said his sentiment doesn’t matter successful this lawsuit arsenic it was up to nan OCPC and it has chosen not to make that call.

However, Morgan said he hopes Stevenson “reads nan missive cautiously and she listens to nan proposal that’s successful it.”

Morgan besides said that erstwhile nan nationalist has concerns, location is simply a process to reside them and successful this case, nan process was followed and nan matter is settled.

Indeed, an entreaty of nan OCPC determination is not imaginable successful this lawsuit because of legislative changes this year.

The Community Safety and Policing Act came into effect April 1 of this year, replacing nan Police Services Act.

“As a result, nan Commission cannot judge immoderate caller appeals, applications, aliases requests for investigation. Should (Stevenson’s) behaviour continue, individuals whitethorn record a title pinch nan Inspectorate of Policing.”

— pinch files from Global News’ Ben Harrietha