Kroetsch to temporarily step away from police board duties amid complaint investigation

Cameron Kroetsch will be temporarily suspending his duties as a member of the Hamilton Police Services Board (HPSB).

The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) has launched an investigation into a complaint against the Ward 2 councillor from the board, alleging that he breached the board’s code of conduct regulations in several ways.

The first was for his efforts to put forward a motion asking the city to direct how the HPSB and Hamilton Public Library Board utilize surplus funds, and the other was for comments he made critical of the HPSB budgetary process.

Members of any police board are required to step down from their duties whenever the civilian judicial agency is investigating them.

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In November, HPSB chair Pat Mandy circulated a complaint against Kroetsch with the rest of the board, alleging that the councillor had breached the code of conduct regulations set out by the Police Services Act.

The following month, the board requested the OCPC investigate those allegations.

In response, Kroetsch submitted a request for a judiciary review to a Divisional Court, in which he said the complaint and subsequent investigation was “unreasonable, and had been arrived at in a procedurally unfair manner.”

“My application raised concerns that Chair Mandy, who filed the complaint against me, presided over the complaint process, participated in the adjudication and discussion, and voted on whether or not to pursue the complaint, rather than recusing herself as the complainant,” the Ward 2 councillor said in a statement Monday.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said she could not comment on the situation, given that an investigation is underway.

HPSB Chair Pat Mandy also acknowledged the news, but echoed a sentiment similar to that of Horwath’s, referring to the regulation that forces sitting members to relieve themselves of board-related duties amid any ongoing investigation, inquiry or hearing.

When asked by CHCH News whether or not he should have approached this differently, Kroestch remained steadfast in his position.

“I was elected to do things differently. I was elected to be accountable. To scrutinize budgets, to be critical of boards, and I’m going to continue doing that — this isn’t going to silence me.”

Kroetsch has been an outspoken critic of the board, and has often taken to social media to share his views on council proceedings.

Earlier this year he was one of two members critical of its $200-million budget proposal council heard in February.

At the time, Kroetsch put forward several motions that would have reduced the city budget by making several reductions to the force, such as disbanding the mounted unit, delaying hiring it had already planned and holding off on repairs at the Mountain police station’s parking lot.

READ MORE: Hamilton city budget passes with a ten to six vote