Ottawa's acting police chief says Vern White immediately addressed a memo he received from a police officer who asked for more training in the cellblock over a year ago.
The police union sent an email to its membership this week, blasting the chief for failing to respond to a memo that addressed problems in cellblocks.
However, Acting Chief Gilles Larochelle told CTV Ottawa on Friday that the chief didn't ignore the problem.
In an email sent to CTV Ottawa, he said a memo was sent to the chief in May 2009 after a meeting to follow-up on a disciplinary matter with a member a month earlier.
Larochelle said the member suggested at the meeting that cellblock personnel should receive more training to deal with violent people in confined areas, specifically cellblocks. The chief requested that the member follow-up with a memo, which was received on May 4, 2009.
In response, Larochelle said the chief asked senior officers in the cellblock to look at policies that deal with prisoners. The officers determined the status quo should remain.
CTV Ottawa learned Thursday that the memo was apparently sent by Sgt. Steve Desjourdy, who is at the centre of the Stacy Bonds case, in which he is seen in surveillance video cutting off her shirt and bra with a pair of scissors.
Regardless of whether or not Vern's actions were adequate, many are calling for an end to the blame game so the city can work on improving the force for the future.
"I don't think anybody's lying," said Councillor Maria McCrae, who sits on the Police Services Board. "Why are we not moving forward?"
Ottawa's acting police chief acknowledged Tuesday that the force has a systemic problem when it comes to the treatment of prisoners in cellblocks. Larochelle says the force will continue to evaluate all cellblock training of both sworn and civilian officers.
White, who is out of town for his wedding, ordered a review of cellblock incidents last week in response to public outrage over surveillance video showing Bonds' treatment by Ottawa police. A second video released by the courts shows a homeless man being dragged into a cell and kicked.
The force is now introducing measures to enhance the training of cellblock staff. Those measures include the addition of audio equipment in cellblocks and appropriate use-of-force training for all special constables.