Police Services Board chair seeks lobby support to change OPP
OPP handling of Caledonia-based blockades prompted police services chair Brian Haggith to request that council lobby the province to order a public, independent, third-party review of OPP policy dealing with blockades, and to change the model of policing used in these situations.
OPP's approach to blockades described as a 'cookie cutter solution'
Haggith, a retired OPP detective inspector and former detachment commander for the county between 2003 and 2006, challenged police practices during the protest at the former Douglas Creek Estates, and claimed that police are still referring to a general policy dealing with Indigenous conflicts, the Framework for Police Preparedness for Indigenous Critical Incidents, created in the wake of the 2007 Ipperwash inquiry as a cookie cutter solution."
The document sees conflict as a three-stage cycle; pre-critical, critical and post-critical, with general tips and solutions for each to navigate communication, negotiation, and transparency between parties.
However, communities like Caledonia directly affected do not play into the framework.
Haggith pointed to November's protest being linked to the arrests of Skyler Williams and others protesting a pipeline on Wet'suwet'en territory, and with accusations that 1492 Landback is harbouring criminals wanted by police.
He added that there were social costs" and psychological trauma" from OPP's one-sided" response, calling it unacceptable.
The residents of Caledonia, Haldimand County and beyond have expressed their disapproval in how the OPP are handling local incidents of Indigenous lawlessness, yet the OPP are reluctant to change their enforcement strategy," he said. This strategy results in a potentially dangerous situation with the potential of causing not only property damage, but personal injury to innocent citizens and first responders."
The Police Services Board is challenging OPP actions at 1492 Landback Lane
Haggith said public complaints from the Highway 6 blockade late 2021 prompted him to approach council.
The policing of that incident was conducted by a provincial policing unit, totally separate from the Haldimand's detachment, and Haggith claimed that blocking of the road is a criminal offence of intimidation, which can result in jail time of up to five years.
As per previous road blockades, Haggith pointed to OPP response as setting up manned police barricades north and south of the Indigenous blockade on Highway 6. The OPP then rerouted all traffic, creating dangerous situations for all motorists, as he said the detour routes are not designed for the increased volume of traffic.
Haggith said he is seeking answers arising from community member concerns:
- Whether OPP will investigate this blockade as a criminal incident, and make arrests
- Can that blockade be really classified as a sanctioned" Indigenous critical incident or protest
- Who ordered the closing of the Highway
- Have all the people who participated in the blockade been identified, arrested or charged
The board wants the independent policing model changed to a democratic one
OPP currently operates under a police independence model, whereby police answer only to the law with respect to law enforcement decisions. They have full independence and no one is allowed to interfere with their investigations.
Members of the Police Services Board believe that everyone would be better served by a democratic policing model, which would allow the Minister of the Solicitor General more direct oversight and control of police and their actions.