Windsor, Ontario, police chief made racist comments, internal studies find finding

Warning: This story contains an insulting language.

An internal examination of the allegations, the police chief of Windsor, Ontario, made a black officer racist, found that the claims are true, as CBC News learned.

“The investigation has justified that boss Jason Bellaire (s) made comments that represent a violation of the WPS directive” according to an internal summary of the investigation.

CBC News received and verified the confidential document that summarized the result of a complaint submitted by Ed Armstrong, the first black inspector of the service. The summary did not describe which specific allegations were justified.

In the summary it says “The investigator found that the comments were made in what were made [Bellaire] Probably a “safe space” that can be on its existing relationship [Armstrong] And do not represent a poisoned work environment from it. “

When asked in an e -mail to confirm whether the allegations against Bellaire were justified, the company communication director of the Windsor police, Gary Francoeur, said the information in your message is not entirely correct.

“However, since the matter is still ahead of the Human Rights Court of Ontario (HRTO), we cannot comment on at that time,” he said.

Francoeur refused to clarify what he said by “not entirely”.

Human rights report submitted last year

CBC News turned to both Armstrong and Bellaire and did not receive an answer after publication time.

Armstrong filed the HRTO complaint last year and said Bellaire made several racist comments at work.

In these HRTO documents, Armstrong stated that he submitted the same complaint internally. This process ended in January, while the human rights dispute lasts.

Armstrong said Bellaire asked him to use his “black magic” to relieve the criticism of a local university professor, and described it as “black radical”.

He also explained Bellaire that there is telepathic communication between blacks and said that he had preferred “white” things.

Armstrong said that Bellaire mentioned in a separate case to need a “black friend” to accompany him at certain events.

In an explanation of CBC News last month, the President of Windsor Police Association, Kent Rice, said “really concerned about how minority members are in a work environment in which the boss releases discriminatory comments”.

“This raises serious questions about the culture of the workplace and the message that she sends to those who are already facing challenges due to their identity,” he added.

Rice also rejected the investigators that Bellaire believed that it was a “safe space” when the racist comments were made.

“[It’s] Not only deeply insulting, but also the principles of decency and professionalism that a guide expected within an organization, “said completely,” said Rice.

The examination was completed in January. On February 5, Bellaire announced that he will retire in November-on halfway in his five-year contract.

Bellaire gave no reason for his early retirement.

The examination “documented” offensive comments on the indigenous community by insp. Jill Lawrence, although it did not indicate what that was.

The Windsor Police Service refused to comment on this matter, citing the human rights court.

The consequences for police chief remain unknown

The summary of the examination of third -party providers states that the Windsor Police Service Board “will take appropriate measures to remedy violations”.

However, the board would not state the kind of consequences, if at all, Bellaire would be exposed to his actions.

“The Windsor Police Service Board will not comment on personnel issues as a specific employee,” said Norma Coleman, administrative director of the Board of Directors.

In August, the mayor of Windsor, Drew Dilkens, who had taken aside as chairman of the police authority last month, told CBC News that he wanted to wait for an investigation of the allegations to end “to understand what is true, what is from fiction”.

“At the end of the day, I will not make too much effort to do this kind of things until you have undergone a judicial or quasi-jural process like this, and when we come at the end, we will be in a much better position to have an intelligent conversation on the topic.”

Dilkens did not answer the request from CBC after a comment on the results of the internal investigation.

The police association aims to account for accountability from the board.

“I find it worrying that the Police Services Board has been aware of this problem for several weeks and has not yet addressed my membership or public. This lack of transparency and measures is deeply worrying,” said Rice.

The police service did not respond to CBC's request for a comment on why Bellaire retired early.

Armstrong's human rights complaint was submitted on March 15, 2024, about a month later Armstrong is guilty As part of the Police Services Act to make inappropriate comments to female employees from 2005. Armstrong was downgraded to Stab Sergeant for one year and will automatically receive his rank of an inspector after this time.

In the HRTO registration, Armstrong said that he had previously received no complaints against him in his 25-year career.

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