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_, cations "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 13, 2000 - 13 O'Connor renews call for action on police issues By Rik Davie Special to the Star Uxbridge Mayor Gerri- Lynn O'Connor has renewed her call for the Durham Regional Police Services Board to deal with outstanding matters that she says have lin- gered for too long. Mayor O'Connor, vice- chair of the five-member board that oversees non- operational matters for the DRPS, has been highly critical of the board's fail- ure to deal with what she called "serious communi- problems between the service board and the officer on the street." Those communication issues came to a head last month, when the Durham Regional Police Association called for the resignation of Chief Kevin McAlpine. A survey of rank and file officers showed an 80 per cent disapproval rating for the chief and the force's top brass. Mayor O'Connor said in an exclusive interview with The Star late last week she's concerned about "complaints that are years old, and have never been dealt with. "Some of the com- plaints by employees about senior officers and other employee issues go back 14 years," said Mayor O'Connor. "lI understand the frustration of the offi- cers on this service, and | feel the same frustration myself. Let's deal with these old matters and get on with business." She would not go into specifics of the outstand- ing complaints that had been lodged by officers. Oshawa Regional Councillor Bob Boychyn, chair of the Police Services Board, told The Star he is willing to deal with the issues alluded to by Mayor O'Connor. "If some of these old complaints are at the bot- tom of some of this (asso- ciation unrest) and if they are causing some of these problems... let's deal with them and put it to rest," Mr. Boychyn said. Durham's police force is in a state of upheaval. The release in late May of the association's mem- O'Connor the association," said Mr. Boychyn. He said the board has offered to hold open forums with officers across the region, and will then discuss issues raised at those meetings with the union executive. The police association, however, has dismissed the offer of town hall style meetings as being of little use. But Mayor O'Connor Jd Annual General Meeting Wed. June, 14, 2000 8:00 pm @Town Hall 1873 Centre for the Performing Arts e Short Business Meeting e Brainstorming Session for our upcoming 25th Anniversary (Fall 2001) e Update on Town Hall Expansion Plans Social Evening to Follow For more information call Alice Lee 985-3286 hopes officers will attend the meetings. "I know | want to hear from them. | support the officers on the street, | always have and | always will," she said. "We have not been dealing with employee issues and other matters in a timely fashion, and we need to do that right now." Meanwhile, Mayor O'Connor is still pushing for the board to pressure the Special Investigations Unit to conclude a six- month probe of a police shooting near Beaverton. "We have to become pro-active in our support of our officers," she said. Mr. Boychyn said that he wants to put the turbu- lence that has been expe- rienced by the union, the Chief's office and the ser- vices board to end. "We have a lot of work to do just to implement the numerous changes "brought forward by the J} Scugog Choral Society J J NORTH (former location of Van Camp Contracting Limited) EXCAVATING RIDGE 2 Add & 8 province and the recom- mended changes to the service that resulted from both the Morin inquiry and the Hay Report," he said. The Hay Report was commissioned by the ser- vices board and resulted in several recommended changes to the way the DRPS does business. The Morin Inquiry was the result of the wrongful conviction of Guy Paul Morin in the murder of Christine Jessop. "We have set up com- mittees to deal with these changes and we have invited the association to sit in on them," said Mr. Boychyn. "That would be far more constructive if the association would par- ticipate than just be the critic. "But with the (associa- tion's) survey coming out and then them ramming it in our faces... | guess that we have to move commu- nications up the list of things to do. "I am the first to admit that we (the board) could have done a better job communicating the changes and the reasons for them to the members of the service, and we are working to correct that," Mr. Boychyn said. Union president Terry Ryan said that he wel- comes the opportunity to deal with the old com- plaints before the services ~~' board. 20 i of 1 1] V7 0% Here's some terrific ideas to treat your Dad on June 18 15" Danner Edger {model 51353 shown) Scugog FIX-IT.. LAWN & GARDEN & SLED give him something to remember 8 Trimmers/Mowers for Dad! Blowers/Vac 1223 King Street Manchester 985-9909 CAMP X 557 King St. E., Oshawa 576-6999 FOR FATHER'S | DAY treat Dad to BRUNCH $4095 - 9:30am. - 3:00pm. includes tea or coffee DINNER SPECIALS , We feature a select menu tailored to please everyone, STRATEGICALLY PLACED IN CANADA ON THE SHORES Of LAKE ONTARIO especially Dad! Starting at 3:30 bership poll has precipi- tated calls for the chiefs resignation, and veiled threats of other action by the police union. The poll showed 80 per cent of the 599 officers who respond- ed have no confidence in Excavating = Grading « Site Work - Sand - Gravel - Top Soil = Triple Mix « Septic Systems CALL NOW : ws '« SAME PLACE 0 the chief's ability to lead FOR the force. and 74 per cent SAME GREAT 90 Vanedward Dr., Books Galore & More RESERVATIONS feel the same way about SERVICE! Port Penty 175 Perry St., Port Perry 576-6999 current senior police staff. "We would be foolish to ignore either the poll or cu... (905) 985-8469 | Tel: (905) 985-8645