Windsor Police Chief Jason Bellaire has been discovered to have made racist remarks to Black officer Ed Armstrong, in line with an inside investigation. The investigation substantiated allegations that Bellaire violated Windsor Police Service (WPS) directives however concluded that the feedback didn’t quantity to a poisoned work setting. Armstrong, who’s the primary Black inspector within the service, filed a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) grievance in 2024, detailing a number of situations of offensive feedback made by Bellaire.
Armstrong’s grievance outlined a number of particular remarks made by Bellaire, which included asking Armstrong to make use of his “Black magic” to ease criticism from a college professor and referring to the professor as a “Black radical.” Bellaire additionally allegedly prompt that Black folks communicated telepathically and expressed a desire for “whiter” issues. Armstrong claimed that Bellaire had made a separate remark about needing a “Black pal” to accompany him to sure occasions.
In line with a confidential inside abstract of the investigation, Bellaire made these remarks believing that he was in a “protected area,” resulting from his established relationship with Armstrong. Whereas the investigation discovered that Bellaire’s conduct breached WPS directives, it didn’t set up that the work setting had been poisoned. Nevertheless, the investigation did substantiate offensive feedback made in the direction of the Indigenous group by Inspector Jill Lawrence, although particular particulars relating to these feedback weren’t disclosed.
The Windsor Police Affiliation, led by President Kent Rice, has expressed concern over the influence of those remarks on minority officers throughout the service. Rice criticized the concept that Bellaire believed the feedback have been made in a “protected area,” labeling this as offensive and unprofessional. Rice additionally voiced considerations over the shortage of transparency from the Windsor Police Service Board, which has but to take any public motion relating to Bellaire’s feedback or disclose what penalties, if any, will likely be imposed on him.
Bellaire’s early retirement announcement in February 2024 got here as a shock, as he had not offered a particular purpose for stepping down midway by his five-year contract. The choice to retire occurred simply after the investigation was accomplished. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, who had beforehand expressed a need to await the completion of the investigation earlier than commenting, said that he would chorus from making any additional remarks till the judicial course of was absolutely concluded.
Armstrong’s HRTO grievance got here after he had been demoted in 2023 for making inappropriate feedback to feminine staff relationship again to 2005. Armstrong’s demotion to employees sergeant will final one yr, after which he will likely be mechanically reinstated to his place as inspector. Regardless of this disciplinary motion, Armstrong, who has not acquired any complaints throughout his 25-year profession till now, continues to pursue his grievance in opposition to Bellaire.
The Windsor Police Service Board has indicated that it’s going to take applicable motion in response to the investigation’s findings. Nevertheless, the Board has declined to remark additional on the specifics of the motion, citing ongoing authorized proceedings. The police affiliation continues to push for accountability and transparency relating to Bellaire’s actions, stressing the necessity for speedy motion to handle considerations about office tradition.
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