Black council pushes for change, apology after Windsor police chief's racist comments substantiated

WARNING: This story contains racially offensive language.

The Black Council of Windsor-Essex is looking for change at the Windsor Police Service as well as an apology after an internal investigation substantiated allegations that Chief Jason Bellaire made racist comments.

Last year, the police service's first Black inspector, Ed Armstrong, filed complaints internally and with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), saying that Bellaire made racist comments to him at work.

CBC News obtained a document showing the internal investigation concluded in January and found Bellaire made statements that violated police directives, although it didn't specify what comments he was found to have made.

The board, which handles discipline for the chief, wouldn't tell CBC News if there will be any consequences, saying they don't comment on personnel matters.

"There are all kinds of steps that could be taken, but brushing it under the rug is the typical response of people who don't have the experience [and] having people around them feeling comfortable saying derogatory things and laughing it off," said Leslie McCurdy, chair of the Black Council of Windsor-Essex.

At the very least, McCurdy said, Bellaire should apologize for his comments.

CBC News reached out to both Armstrong and Bellaire but did not receive a response by publication time Tuesday.

When asked in an email to confirm whether the allegations against Bellaire were substantiated, Windsor police's corporate communications director, Gary Francoeur, said, "The information in your message is not entirely accurate.

"However, as the matter is still before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), we cannot comment further at this time," he said.

Francoeur refused to clarify what he meant by "not entirely accurate." 

In his HRTO complaint, Armstrong says Bellaire made jokes to him about bananas and Black people, indicated he preferred "whiter" things and said he needed a "Black friend" to accompany him to certain events.

The complaint also stated Bellaire indicated he believed Black people have some form of telepathic communication. Armstrong said Bellaire also asked him to use his "Black magic" to ease criticism of a local university professor, who he described as a "Black radical."

An internal summary of the police investigation also said Bellaire believed it to be a "safe space" when those comments were made, and the investigator stated that meant it wasn't a "poisoned work environment."