'Apparent failure' of Windsor police board in dealing with chief's racist remarks, police group says

Jason Viau · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 19, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Following an investigation that substantiated claims Windsor's constabulary main made racist comments successful the workplace, a provincial radical representing constabulary unions is condemning those remarks and pointing to an "apparent failure" of the oversight committee tasked with providing accountability.

On Monday, CBC News published accusation based connected a summary of an interior probe into racism complaints against Windsor constabulary main Jason Bellaire. That probe was finished successful January.

The interior probe substantiated allegations that Bellaire made comments that violated Windsor constabulary directives, according to the summary, which didn't specify what remarks he's said to person made.

Inspector Ed Armstrong filed that interior complaint. He besides filed a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ailment outlining his allegations.

Armstrong described several racist comments helium said Bellaire made to him astatine work, including a gag astir bananas and Black people, asking him to usage his "Black magic" and saying helium needed a "Black friend" to travel him to definite events.

Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, said the radical "condemns" specified comments.

"This benignant of behaviour erodes nationalist spot and undermines the integrity of the enactment of constabulary work members to guarantee the information and information of our communities," helium said successful a statement.

"People successful Windsor merit to cognize that the main of constabulary — the caput of the constabulary work — is being held to the highest standard, is not discriminating against his work members and is serving each radical equitably inclusive of race," helium added.

The advocacy enactment represents the members of 45 constabulary unions crossed Ontario — some 31,000 officers and civilian employees.

Both Armstrong and Bellaire did not respond to requests from CBC News for a comment.

When asked successful an email to corroborate whether the allegations against Bellaire were substantiated, Windsor constabulary spokesperson Gary Francoeur said "The accusation successful your connection is not wholly accurate."

He refused to clarify what helium meant, stating helium can't remark further due to the fact that it's earlier the quality rights tribunal.

A spokesperson for the Windsor Police Services Board wouldn't reply questions astir what consequences, if any, Bellaire volition look for his comments that violated interior directives.

"The Windsor Police Service Board volition marque nary remark connected unit matters regarding a circumstantial employee," said Norma Coleman, Windsor constabulary committee administrative director.

The PAO is demanding "full transparency" truthful the Windsor constabulary committee tin "restore assurance successful their leadership."

"Equally concerning is the evident nonaccomplishment of the Windsor Police Services Board to instrumentality swift and decisive enactment successful holding the main accountable. Leadership successful policing indispensable beryllium held to the highest standard, and erstwhile those successful positions of powerfulness neglect to uphold those values, it sends a damaging connection to members and the communities we proudly serve," said Baxter.

'Lack of transparency' is profoundly concerning, says PAO

The national representing Windsor constabulary officers, the Windsor Police Association, antecedently told CBC News that it excessively is seeking accountability from the board.

"What I bash find troubling is that the constabulary services committee has been alert of this contented for respective weeks and has yet to code it, either with my rank oregon the public. This deficiency of transparency and enactment is profoundly concerning," president Kent Rice said.

Windsor constabulary committee seat Jo-Anne Gignac has not responded to requests from CBC News for a comment.

The metropolis councillor became the committee seat successful January.

For much stories astir the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to occurrence stories wrong the Black assemblage — cheque out Being Black successful Canada, a CBC task Black Canadians tin beryllium arrogant of. You tin work much stories here.