Ottawa police chief Vern White wants to see changes that would give police chiefs more power to discipline problem officers following a high-profile, unlawful, arrest and strip search of an Ottawa woman.
White told reporters Ontario's Police Services Act needs to be changed to give police chiefs the ability to more easily discipline officers who act unprofessionally.
The police chief made the comments following a police services board meeting Monday night where he was questioned about the 2008 arrest and strip search of Stacy Bonds.
Bonds, a 27-year-old theatrical make-up artist, was walking along Rideau Street when she was stopped by police. Although officers initially let her go, they arrested her for public intoxication when she asked why she had been stopped.
Bonds was then transported to Ottawa police headquarters on Elgin Street where her shirt and bra were cut off by a male officer.
A judge ruled the arrest was unlawful and Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has been called in to probe the case.
Regardless, White says his officers must be held accountable for their actions.
"I can say specifically and categorically that many times the public expect us to hold members of the public to account. And, in fact, I will guarantee that in this case this service and the membership will be held to account as well -- for their actions and our actions as an organization," White said.
The chief has since ordered retraining on cell block protocols and issued new orders advising officers when they should make an arrest for public intoxication.
The SIU is mandated to investigate any incident involving a police officer that ends in serious injury or death.
