Public data on suspended police officers varies in Ontario. Experts say that needs to change
CBC
A police constable in Brantford, Ont., has been on a paid suspension since Oct. 18, CBC Hamilton has learned — but Brantford Police Service won't name the officer who makes $95,500 per year or say why they are suspended.
Hamilton Police Service currently has six police officers suspended and disclosed when they were suspended, but did not disclose the officer's names and the reason behind the suspensions.
Halton Police Service also revealed the number of suspended officers, but no other details.
Niagara Police Service, meanwhile, won't say how many of its police officers were suspended last year and says anyone wanting that information needs to file a freedom-of-information request.
The varying levels of detail some Ontario police services provide has privacy experts, police researchers and a former police sergeant saying the public should have more information on suspended officers in Ontario — the only province or territory in Canada where suspended police officers get paid.
Police officers have been suspended for numerous reasons, ranging from internal corruption and abuse of power to crimes against citizens like planting evidence during investigations and assault.
One expert says the nature of police work means the public should have a right to know more about any punitive actions taken against service members.
Stephen Metelsky, a criminology professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton and a retired police sergeant, said the public should know the names of suspended police officers in all cases.
"The police have such a high-profile job," Metelsky said. "Any regular citizen that gets arrested or charged, if they're over the age of 18, their name is going to be, for the most part, published in the paper."
Ann Cavoukian, the province's former privacy commissioner, said she thinks the public should know all information about suspended police officers — except for their names.
She said an important consideration would be whether police officers are told upon their hiring that their names would be publicized if suspended.
The office of Ontario's information and privacy commissioner (IPC) didn't say whether police services should or shouldn't openly name suspended officers when asked by CBC Hamilton.
IPC said institutions should "adopt open information practices and, where possible, make information readily available outside of the formal freedom of information process."
"These laws are not intended to replace other less formal ways of providing the public with information about, for example, how public money is spent and how government bodies hold themselves accountable, including in relation to their employees," said the office.