CTV Ottawa has learned an Ottawa police sergeant at the centre of the Stacy Bonds case wrote a letter to the police chief about the need for more training in cellblocks more than one year ago.
Sgt. Steve Desjourdy has been publically scrutinized for his treatment of Bonds in September 2008. He is seen in surveillance footage from the cellblock using a pair of scissors to cut off Bonds' shirt and bra.
A judge later referred to the treatment of the Ottawa woman as an "indignity to a human being."
Now, a source tells CTV Ottawa that Desjourdy complained directly to the chief about the lack of training in cellblocks about one year ago.
The president of the Ottawa Police Association referred to that complaint Wednesday in an email to his membership, blasting the chief for poor leadership when it comes to problems in cellblocks.
"In fact, as far back as a year ago, a letter was presented to the chief concerning these very issues and recommending that cellblock personnel be provided additional training specific to their duties," Steve Boucher wrote.
"This reasonable request has gone unanswered. It is extremely regrettable that it took a public relations crisis for our leadership to act."
The police chief's office has confirmed it received a complaint about concerns in the cellblock about a year ago. However, the office won't say where the complaint came from or if the chief responded.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
