This week’s RTT article, Amherstburg police hold annual awards ceremony, incorrectly states, “Sgt. Jim Saxon also retired this year and was also recognized.”
Sgt. Saxon has not yet retired.
Tag Archives: Amherstburg Police
Aldo DiCarlo’s Comment On No Commitment To Remove OPP Clause In Police Contract
In response to the Commentary, “No Commitment To Remove OPP Clause In Police Contract,” Aldo DiCarlo’s comment is:
This is an issue that I have spent a considerable amount of time on, specifically because of the large potential savings, $1M or more. At last night’s debate, Deputy Mayor Suttherland stated that an OPP costing takes at least 18 months. As a taxpaying resident, not a just a mayoral candidate, this both angers and frustrates me. If it does indeed take this amount of time, why then did not a single council member make the motion to request the OPP costing. If one of them did, I would like to know who and why it was voted down. ALL contracts have an expiry date. Did a single one of the current council members do their due diligence in requesting an OPP costing early enough so that we could have reviewed our options now that the contract is being negotiated? I believe the answer is no, and I’d be happy to be wrong.
Police Contract Negotiations ARE Underway
Two inquiries to Shawn McCurdy, President, Amherstburg Police Association have been unanswered, but a River Town Times article states, McCurdy said he couldn’t get into details with regards to details of the negotiations but indicated that if the “poison pill” clause were to come up, the association would be willing to discuss it.
The “poison pill” clause, which gives veteran officers a payout should Amherstburg switch to OPP policing, is something that McCurdy said the association is “more than willing to look at” if the board wishes to discuss it. He noted it was instituted in 1998 when Amherstburg police had better pay and pensions than that of OPP but he added “things have come full circle” where OPP makes more money now and pensions are comparable.
Sutton On Police Contract Negotiations
It has been two weeks since Candidates and current Police Services Board Members Cleminson, Gemmell, and Sutton were asked to confirm/deny that police contract negotiations are underway and whether a consultant was hired to negotiate the new contract on behalf of the board.
Board Chair John Sutton’s written response to my correspondence to the Board is:
“An initial meeting has been schedule for negotiations for the collective agreement; and No decision has been made to hire a consultant at this time.” note: typos are not mine.
Candidates/current APSB members Cleminson, Gemmell and Sutton have not answered any questions submitted by readers pertaining to this or any other topic.
Berthiaume, The Board And The Bulls
As mentioned in a previous post, Amherstburg Police Chief Berthiaume’s presentation to the Amherstburg Citizens for Responsible Government (ACRG), incorporated the group’s questions about the police contract.
A section of Berthiaume’s presentation includes a slide titled Future Challenges, Contract Negotiations that is followed by:
Slide 18: Does this mean the board is gambling?
Slide 20 is titled “1 Against 5,” presumably the Board against the 5 contracts.
A huge bull is prominently displayed in slide 21, with no title, but one can speculate its meaning with the bull’s label: Police Arbitration System Ontario.
It is unclear if Berthiaume’s presentation represents his position as chief, one of the bulls.
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) acknowledged some organizations’ position that “Ontario’s arbitration system is broken and needs to be fixed” and how they are very quick to blame the arbitration system for local tax increases saying that “so many of our collective agreements are determined through interest arbitration.”
The PAO’s Interest Arbitration Facts, asks if the criticism is based on facts. The Backgrounder contains one little known fact: The Arbitration Commission is a neutral body that is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. It is balanced by members from both Associations and Police Services Boards.
According to the Ontario Police Arbitration Commission website, its “main function involves the appointment of conciliators and arbitrators to assist police associations and police services boards in the resolution of disputes arising out of the negotiations and administration of their collective agreements. The Arbitration Commission is a neutral body and does not become involved in the issues between the parties and does not influence the outcome of conciliation or arbitration.”
ONTARIO REGULATION 268/10 made under the POLICE SERVICES ACT limits political activity of police officers and since the Chief is not a party to contracts between the Board and the Association, the Board should have answered questions from ratepayers.
Current Council Candidates and Amherstburg Police Services Board members Frank Cleminson, Pauline Gemmell and John Sutton are campaigning, but have not answered questions about the contract: if it is currently being negotiated, if a consultant was hired and if there was a competitive process.
Commentary by Linda Saxon
Candidates Cleminson, Gemmell, Sutton Given Opportunity To Confirm/Deny Police Contract Negotiations Underway
Three candidates for council, currently Amherstburg Police Services Board members, have been given an opportunity to respond to inquiries about the Amherstburg police contract; specifically, if “negotiations are underway for a new collective agreement for amherstburg police service” and if “a consultant has been hired to negotiate the new contract on behalf of the board and if so, if there was a competitive process and if there was, i’d like an electronic copy of the notice/advertisement for a consultant.”
Bullying In Policing Updated
Bullying In Policing was created in 2002 to record an account of Sgt. J. Saxon, Amherstburg Police Service and has been updated.
Aburg police have new way to clock staff hours
According to The Windsor Star, Chief Tim Berthiaume stated, “We’ll require all hourly employees … to swipe in and out at the beginning and at the end of their shift.” If the aim of the new clock is to tighten control over the management of employees’ work time, shouldn’t the Chief and Deputy Chief also have to swipe in and out? Wouldn’t they want to participate so as not to give the appearance that they are exempt from accountability?
Read more: The Windsor Star
Amherstburg cop resigns, settles case for $110K
Police service board chairman John Sutton said “an offer was made” and the board “debated its merits. “We’re always open to anything.”
Sutton said the offer came from the defence during a meeting two weeks ago between the lawyers where an “overture” was made that was presented to the board.
Sutton said the board’s decision to accept the offer was “a business decision.”
He estimated it would have cost in excess of $240,000 to litigate the case.
A financial settlement of $110,000, which works out to one year’s pay, plus $1,300 owed in stat time that Sutton said the service is legally obligated to pay, was agreed to.
“This allows both parties to move on,” Sutton said.
Read the full story about Colleen Sterling, at the windsor star – Amherstburg cop resigns, settles case for $110K.
Sgt. Sterling’s PSA Hearing Resumes April 15, 2012
Legal arguments regarding motions and evidence will continue on April 15. Read the full story at The Windsor Star.
the burg watch 