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Sarnia police board chair reacts to Bradley’s departure
May 18, 2023 7:06am
The chair of the Sarnia Police Services Board says members of the board are expected to “inspire public confidence in the ability and integrity of the board.”
Paul Wiersma spoke with Sarnia News Today on Wednesday, after Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley abruptly announced he’s stepping down from the board after over 35 years, effective Monday, May 15.
“I really do respect the fact that the mayor has been a significant presence on the Sarnia Police Services Board for many years,” said Wiersma. “He has a lot of experience, and knowledge, and skills, and we will certainly miss that on the board.”
Bradley said he’s leaving the post, held by virtue of his position as mayor, until the end of 2024.
“I think, if anything, it’s good to have a break and I hope that serves him well,” Wiersma added.
In his lengthy letter to city council, Bradley said he made the decision after being “threatened” with code of conduct complaints for voicing concerns about transparency and spending at the police service by the police services board.
“There have been no code of conduct complaints filed against any member [of the board],” Wiersma said. “The way the code of conduct works is that if there are concerns, they are to be brought forward to a meeting and then the board needs to decide whether there actually has been a breach of the code of conduct or not.”
Wiersma said it would be discussed in-camera, not publicly.
Wiersma said his belief is that when members are functioning on the Sarnia Police Services Board, they are subject to the code of conduct in the Police Services Act and any other legislation.
“Even though we may come from different communities and wear different hats, in the function as a board member, we give that the priority,” said Wiersma.
“In terms of the code of conduct, it would say, article eight, ‘board members shall uphold the letter and spirit of the code of conduct set out in this regulation and shall discharge their duties in a manner that will inspire public confidence in the abilities and integrity of the board,’” he added.
Wiersma said the 2023 police budget was approved after “extensive consultation with the community.”
“In terms of being open and transparent, I would suggest that the police board has taken several steps to really try to engage the public. Previously our meetings were in a boardroom on the second floor in a secure area. It wasn’t very accessible to the public without having to go through security. We’ve now moved that to a public area within the police headquarters,” he said.
Wiersma added that the board welcomes diverse opinions.
“We recognize that better decisions are made when there’s healthy and respectful debate. There’s no concern about that. I think the city councillors, when they’re on the police services board, it is an interesting dual role that they have and one of the things that they have to do is they have to reconcile the two roles that they have as a city councillor and also as a police board member,” he said.
Bradley said the only reason he and councillors are on the board is because they were elected, and he’s been trying to “defend” the interests of taxpayers.
Bradley plans to voice his concerns to the Solicitor General and suggest changes to the Police Services Act as it relates to police service boards.
Sarnia council will be asked at its June 12 meeting to fill the vacancy with another member of council.
