Officers who answered union survey oppose new De Caire contract
50 per cent of officers who participated reported ‘extreme dissatisfaction’ with their job
Almost three-quarters of Hamilton police officers who responded to a police union survey oppose extending Police Chief Glenn De Caire's contract, according to the union.
When asked in the survey about extending De Caire's contract for an additional three years, 72.1 per cent of the sworn officers who replied and 28.6 per cent of civilian personnel who replied say they oppose the extension.
About 50 per cent of Hamilton police who answered also reported 'extreme dissatisfaction' with their jobs.
A total of 695 officers and civilian members completed the survey, which represents 57.7 per cent of the police and civilian association membership.
We want everyone to be happy at work, but the board isn't hiring a country club manager — they're hiring a police chief.- Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, police services board chair
The survey by the police association, which represents about 1,200 sworn and civilian employees, comes as the Hamilton Police Board considers whether to extend De Caire's contract. He has been chief since the end of 2009.
In that time he has implemented new initiatives like the city's ACTION strategy, and pushed for the province to end mandatory pay for suspended police officers.
There are 12 Hamilton police officers currently suspended from duty.
"Any attempt to discount or invalidate this survey is a deliberate effort to ignore the voice of the membership," said Hamilton Police Association President Clint Twolan in a message to members.
In an emailed statement, De Caire told CBC News that the "level of direct communication" with employees has "never been higher."
"We have been listening, addressing issues and taking action where appropriate," De Caire said.
"We support opportunities like this for feedback and engagement and value members' input."
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In his note to union members, Twolan wrote that he has heard a number of comments suggesting the union's survey had a "biased" and "retaliatory" agenda.
"This is completely untrue," he said. "Our office receives calls and emails from members every day asking us to address issues."
Police board chair Lloyd Ferguson told CBC News that he had received the survey and thanked the police association for giving the board "another tool" for evaluating De Caire's performance. But he noted that many other variables will be used as well.
Ferguson says the reported dissatisfaction numbers likely coincide with discipline. "There's no question there is a high number of people who have had charges brought against them from the police services act," he said. "But we don't expect our chief to just sweep them under the carpet."
"We want everyone to be happy at work, but the board isn't hiring a country club manager. They're hiring a police chief."
De Caire's contract automatically renews on Jan. 1, 2016 if the board doesn't indicate they are seeking a new replacement. Ferguson says he expects a "good debate" about it during the coming months.