A fruitful meeting

The bravest man at the meeting

Cobourg's Chief of Police took the mike last night and laid out the way he saw things about the County's policing study. Speaking publicly, especially when it is criticism of a Mayor's pet project is usually a CLM (career limiting move) but in this case his remarks were needed to be part of the public record. The audience appreciated it and the community should applaud his courage.

Chief Sweet took to the microphone after many others gave Council their views about local policing. He pointed out that not only was the general public excluded from specific consultation, he and the local polices services were excluded in contravention of a Provincial protocol. This protocol, ironically had been designed with the help of Chief Sweet, was ignored by the consultant who went off in his own direction. Chief Sweet further alleges that the consultant wrote his report including incomplete and inaccurate information. The end result is that the consultant's report is flawed and cannot be relied on. How much weight his comments will have remain to be seen but a fuller presentation will be made on June 16 when he and the Chair of the Police Services Board will speak before Council.

Note: a fuller report about last night's meeting will be posted later.