The public lodged 26 complaints about the behaviour of Greater Sudbury Police in 2017, 11 fewer than a year earlier.
At its meeting this week, the police services board reviewed the annual report detailing the number and nature of each complaint, and how each was dealt with. The process must conform to provincial legislation on how to investigate and report on the complaints.
Each is sent to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, a civilian agency that oversees how each complaint is handled.
Of the 26 received last year, the OIPRD dismissed six as vexatious or made in bad faith. Another 11 were investigated and found to be unsubstantiated and six were withdrawn by the person who filed the complaint.
One was substantiated and was addressed with the officer involved, while two are still under investigation.
The most common complaint (eight) accused officers of discreditable conduct, followed by excessive use of force (five), three were accusations of abuse of authority, two complaints were about police policies, and one each of incivility and neglect of duty.
Chief Paul Pedersen said while there were 11 more complaints last year, only one was substantiated, which reflects well on the behaviour of officers, despite having so much contact with the public.
“It suggests our members, by and large, conduct themselves professionally, day in and day out,” Pedersen said.
In addition to complaints from the public, the Police Services Act also gives Pedersen the authority to launch an investigation if he sees police conduct that raises concerns.
Pedersen did so five times in 2017, and each complaint was substantiated after an investigation and addressed with the officers involved.
There were three cases of discreditable conduct, one of incivility and one of use of excessive force.
Read the full report here.
