Board of Police Commissioners responds to non-confidence vote

“Our Board of Police Commissioners is a strong group of community leaders, very engaged and well informed on policing issues relevant to Prince Albert,” Kimbley said in the statement issued Wednesday. “We take that public responsibility very seriously, including our work and assessment of the professional performance of our Chief of Police. We wish to make very clear to the public we represent and serve, and to all concerned, that the board has great confidence in Chief Bergen and the quality of leadership he provides in a challenging position.”

Kimbley also explained in the statement that the Board has received confusing and inconsistent written communications in recent weeks from the Police Association. She indicated the association acknowledged the online vote results were “leaked” to media, and she refers to the most recent letter the board received before the vote which said police members fully supported Chief Bergen.

In the letter delivered in May 2020 to the board, the President of the Association Executive wrote “the Prince Albert Police Association fully supports Chief Bergen and is dedicated to maintaining a respectful and healthy work place. It is, and always will be, the goal of the Prince Albert Police Association, and its members, to work in concert with the administrative team in a respectful and professional manner…”

Mayor Greg Dionne, a member of the board, explained in Wednesday’s statement that the board has made many decisions focused on enhancing the impact of policing services within Prince Albert, and in ensuring the continuing accountability of the Police Service to the public it serves.

“It is the chief’s job to implement the board’s governance decisions, however, I wonder if some police members are aware, as many are, of the high level of advocacy that Chief Bergen brings to the table supporting their interests. He has been a strong supporter before the board of the women and men he leads,” Dionne stated.

Dionne said the board members understand the Police Association is currently in a state of transition in its leadership.

“But we have to admit we are disappointed with some of what we are seeing right now from certain members,” Dionne said, explaining he thought “confidence votes” were strategies from the past, long since proven ineffective. He said he prefers the “respectful, professional” approach committed to earlier by the association.

Dionne also acknowledged in the statement there is some indication that individual police members may be uncomfortable with certain board objectives and initiatives pursued in response to the community’s best interest. To those individuals, he invites a more constructive and proven approach.

“We are always open to consider perspectives, of course. When the association leadership issues are resolved, we will all look forward to dealing with any reasonable issue through appropriate channels, respectfully and professionally, and with accurate information,” he said.

There was no explanation provided in Wednesday’s statement regarding what those “board objectives and initiatives” entailed.

A statement to media by the PAPA last week, indicated President Brian Glynn resigned from his position on Wednesday, July 8 for personal reasons. There has been no further communication from the association regarding who will succeed him.

The reasons for the non-confidence motion were not discussed in PAPA’s statement last week but anonymous sources close to the association have told paNOW areas of concern included recent changes to dispatch and bylaw enforcement.

A decision by city council earlier this month, shifted responsibility for Prince Albert’s bylaw enforcement unit back to the City of P.A. after 14 years as part of the Prince Albert Police Service. The change was designed to give the city a bigger role in the unit’s priorities, while saving funds on salaries.

Response from PAPA

In a statement Wednesday afternoon from Josh Peterson, Treasurer of the Prince Albert Police Association, he explained that the May letter referenced by Kimbley, was written to withdraw a grievance brought forth by the Association Executive.

In the letter there was wording, “The Prince Albert Police Association fully supports Chief Bergen and is dedicated to maintaining a healthy and respectful workplace”. Peterson said that letter was written without consultation from the association membership. The following month, PAPA held a meeting, and during that meeting a motion was made for a vote of confidence on Chief Bergen — 71 per cent of respondents stating do not have confidence in the Chief.

“While the Board and the Mayor may state that they are confused by the two messages, the recent vote is reflective of a large majority of police employees,” Peterson stated.

“The letter”

A complete copy of the May letter has been provided to paNOW.

According to the subject line in the email, written by former PAPA President Brian Glynn, the grievance Peterson is referring to in his statement was holiday pay.

“The Prince Albert Police Association agrees to end the grievance procedure once all monies have been itemized and accepted per member, and deposited into the member’s respective accounts,” the statement read.

A source close to the association has informed paNOW that at the time of contract negotiations, members were promised two-per-cent in back pay, but only received one-per-cent. The source claims members were told if they supported Bergen, they would receive the rest of the money. Talk of a non-confidence was thereby thwarted.

These claims have not been substantiated by either the board or the police chief. Josh Peterson stated that the Association Executive will not publicly comment on some of the issues leading to the result of the non-confidence vote, but suggested PAPA does plan to meet with the Board to discuss the issues further.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated from a previous version to include a statement from the Police Association, as well as further quotes from the referenced May letter.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Board of Police Commissioners responds to non-confidence vote

What's Trending