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pr NA GIF pg 4 - PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2000 Police crisis highlights need for talks, says Moffatt By Rik Davie Special to the Star In the wake of a demand by the Durham Regional Police Association for the resignation of Chief Kevin McAlpine, Scugog Mayor Doug Moffatt is calling for more open communication with the region's police services board. The relationship between regional council and the Durham Police Services board "is an interesting one, and not always easy to understand," said Mayor Moffatt, when asked about the ongoing battle between officers and their embat- tled chief. "Every time you ask questions (of the police services board) you seem to hit a fire-wall they have built up," Mayor Moffatt said. The mayor has concerns that the police services board does not have the same level of communication with regional council as other major commit- tees that are funded by Durham tax dol- lars. "I think it would be a wise move by us (regional council) to take a more proac- tive role in policy and more public accountability from the (services) board would certainly be helpful," said Mayor Moffatt. Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden said that he doesn't lend much credence to a poll commissioned by the Durham Regional Police Association that indi- cates a large lack of confidence in Chief McAlpine and his administration. "I will not for a moment say that there are not problems," he said. "But I think that if you gave a similar poll to almost any employee group the result would be similar. I don't know that any employee group ever thinks the boss entirely knows what he's doing; I think that's a given." Councillor Gadsden said that as far as the accountability of the five-person police services board to the regional council, he is supportive of some of the comments made by Mayor Moffatt. "I would agree that they (the police services board) are not as accountable as they could be," he said. "But quite honestly, given the Police Services Act, I'm not entirely sure how accountable they have to be. | would cer- tainly welcome a more open dialogue on the problems within the Durham Regional Police Service but | am not about to be stampeded into action by one poll result." "lI am certain that we at council will be asking some hard questions of our coun- cil members who sit on the board when the time comes," said Gadsden. As for Chief McAlpine, Councillor Gadsden said that "given I don't work with him on a daily basis, I can only say that my limited interaction with the chief has been good." Former Scugog Mayor Howard Hall sat on the police service board that chose Chief McAlpine for the job, and stands by that decision. "We had an exhaustive search for a chief that | think resulted in the best choice at the time," said Mr. Hall. "We didn't want a big-city attitude; we didn't think it fit with our mixed rural and urban policing needs. And Kevin McAlpine most fit the need." Mr. Hall said that circumstances have worked against the chief. "I think it is fair to say that given the numerous changes brought on by the changes being implemented in policing in the province and the almost daily changes to procedures and policies, any senior police administrator would have been hard pressed to satisfy the needs of the entire police community without designation in the ranks from some quar- ter." Mayor Moffatt said that he and his col- leagues at council have been aware of the rumblings of discontent among Durham police officers for some time, and are following the actions of the police services board closely. ¢6 We're sorry. This is a call to which This donation sounds great! long distance charges apply. Please hang up and try your call again so that TT your local phone company can charge you an arm and a leg." 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