Ottawa police see spike in complaints following 'Freedom Convoy' but most screened out
The Ottawa Police Service saw a spike in complaints from members of the public in the first quarter of 2022, largely due to the three-week long "Freedom Convoy" occupation, but few were deemed actionable.
A report prepared for Monday's Ottawa Police Services Board meeting shows 327 public complaints to the Ottawa Police Service in the first three months of the year. In the first quarter of 2021, there were 77 complaints.
The report states that 275 of the complaints were directly related to police conduct during the convoy occupation of downtown Ottawa; however, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD), which oversees public complaints against police, screened out 95 per cent of them.
The OIPRD says it screens out complaints that are made in bad faith, those that are frivolous or vexatious, and those not in the public interest.
Some of the complaints the OIPRD screened out included several complaints that Ottawa police didn't do enough to manage the occupation, as well as complaints that police did too much, particularly when it comes to the seizure of fuel.
There were also 19 internal conduct-related complaints in the first quarter of 2022.
According to the report, 288 case investigations have been completed, with 253 deemed to be frivolous, vexatious, over six months after the facts on which it was based occurred, involved a third party where complainant was not affected, or deemed to be not in public interest. Another 24 were unsubstantiated and eight complaints were withdrawn.
Three complaints resulted in informal discipline. None resulted in a disciplinary hearing.
In addition, the OIPRD combined several similar complaints into a single file. Sixty-five complaints for failing to take action were consolidated, as were five complaints for differential treatment.
The Ottawa Police Services Board will meet Monday at 4 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.