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Following a series of scandals, Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau has resigned. While this may be the right decision for the police department, it’s sure to raise questions about what’s next for the force.
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Introduction
On July 11th, 2018, Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau announced his resignation amidst growing public pressure and scandal. This came after a string of recent incidents involving the Ottawa police force, including the death of a teenager in police custody and the use of excessive force during an arrest that was caught on camera.
In his resignation statement, Bordeleau said that he “no longer believed that [he] could effectively lead” the Ottawa police force. He added that he felt it was time for “fresh leadership” in order to “rebuild public trust” in the department.
Bordeleau’s resignation comes as a blow to the city of Ottawa, which has been grappling with a number of high-profile police misconduct cases in recent years. These incidents have raised questions about the culture within the Ottawa police force, and whether or not it is conducive to promoting accountability and transparency.
Background
In the wake of recent events, Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau has resigned from his post. This comes as a surprise to many, as Bordeleau was just recently re-elected to his position in December. Bordeleau has been with the Ottawa Police Department for over 30 years, and was appointed Chief of Police in 2012. The Ottawa Police Department has been embroiled in scandal recently, with allegations of sexual misconduct and corruption.
The Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is the police force that serves the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is responsible for providing policing services to the Ottawa region and its 1.3 million residents. The OPS is one of the largest municipal police forces in Canada, with over 1,400 police officers and 600 civilian employees.
The OPS has been embroiled in scandal in recent years, with several high-profile cases of police misconduct coming to light. In 2016, an Ottawa police officer was caught on video assaulting a youth in custody. The officer was later charged with assault and suspended from duty. In 2017, another Ottawa police officer was charged with Second-degree murder in the shooting death of an unarmed man. These scandals have led to calls for reform within the OPS, and in 2018, the police chief announced his retirement amidst growing public pressure.
The Ottawa Police Chief
On January 6th, 2020, the Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau resigned from his post amidst scandal. This is not the first time that Bordeleau has been in hot water; he was previously suspended in 2016 for allegedly using excessive force while arresting a shoplifting suspect.
Bordeleau’s resignation comes at a time when the Ottawa police force is already under intense scrutiny. In December of 2019, Ottawa Police Constable Daniel Montsion was charged with manslaughter in the death of Abdirahman Abdi, a Somali-Canadian man who died after an altercation with police. The trial for Montsion is ongoing, and Chief Bordeleau’s resignation will do little to quell public anger and skepticism towards the Ottawa police.
The Scandal
Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau has resigned from his post effective immediately, amid an ongoing scandal. The scandal began when it was revealed that Bordeleau and other members of the Ottawa Police had accepted illegal gifts from a local business, in exchange for preferential treatment.
The allegations
Former Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau resigned from his position on Monday night, amidst a scandal involving the department.
The allegations against Bordeleau and other members of the department center around the use of a private Hooters email account to book off-duty security shifts at local bars and nightclubs.
Bordeleau is accused of using the account to book at least one shift at Lotus Nightclub, where he allegedly received free entry and drinks.
The off-duty work is not illegal, but booking it through a private email account raises questions about transparency and possible conflicts of interest.
Bordeleau has not been charged with any wrongdoing, but he has been suspended with pay pending an investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police.
The investigation
The Ottawa Police Service has been under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) since March, 2016, when allegations of sexual assault were made against then-chief Charles Bordeleau.
The OPP laid charges against Bordeleau in December, 2016, and he resigned from his post in January, 2017.
The scandal has rocked the Ottawa police force, and has led to calls for reform within the department.
Here is a timeline of events in the Ottawa police chief scandal:
The resignation
Police Chief Charles Bordeleau has announced his resignation, effective immediately, in the wake of a growing scandal within the Ottawa Police Service.
Bordeleau had come under fire in recent weeks after it was revealed that several members of the force had been investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct. The scandal came to a head earlier this week when one officer was charged with sexual assault.
In a statement, Bordeleau said that he was resigning “in the best interests of the Ottawa Police Service and the community.”
Bordeleau had been with the Ottawa Police Service for more than 30 years, and had served as chief since 2012.
The aftermath
Ottawa’s police chief has resigned in the wake of a scandal that has engulfed the police force. Karl Labelle steps down after just two years on the job, amid allegations of sexual harassment and bullying within the force. His resignation comes as the force faces an independent review of its workplace culture.
The Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is the municipal police force for the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The OPS is responsible for policing services within the limits of the City of Ottawa. The current chief of police is Charles Bordeleau.
The OPS was created in 1865 with 10 officers, and has grown to over 1,200 officers and 400 civilian staff as of 2019. The OPS has a budget of over $200 million.
In recent years, the OPS has been embroiled in a number of scandals, including the use of excessive force, racial profiling, and sexual harassment. These scandals led to the resignation of former chief Vivek Goel in 2016, and the retirement of deputy chief Peter Sloly in 2017.
On March 6, 2018, it was revealed that current chief Charles Bordeleau had been the subject of an internal investigation for alleged “on-the-job” misconduct. The investigation was launched after several complaints were made against Bordeleau by female subordinates. The allegations against Bordeleau have not been proven and he has denied any wrongdoing.
Despite calls for his resignation by some members of city council and the public, Bordeleau remained on the job until November 2018 when he announced his retirement amidst mounting pressure. His retirement is effective January 1, 2019.
The Ottawa Police Chief
On Thursday, the Ottawa Police Chief announced his resignation amidst a growing scandal. The scandal began last week when it was revealed that the Chief had been sending inappropriate messages to a woman who was not his wife.
The Chief initially denied any wrongdoing, but as the evidence continued to mount, he admitted that he had been sending the messages and resigned.
This story is still developing, and it is not yet clear what will happen next. However, it is clear that this scandal has rocked the Ottawa Police Department and will have far-reaching implications.
