Hamilton police board member investigated for budget criticism, says he's being 'silenced'

One of Hamilton police board's most outspoken and critical members will be temporarily stepping down as an oversight body investigates a complaint made against him by some of his fellow board members.

Cameron Kroetsch, who is also the Ward 2 councillor, said in a statement Monday the Hamilton Police Services Board (HPSB) launched the complaint with the intention to silence him. 

"I consider the board's actions to be procedurally unfair, an abuse of process, biased, and personally motivated," he said. 

Tensions between Kroetsch and the majority of board members have flared in recent months around the police budget process, with Kroetsch publicly calling for more transparency and scrutiny. 

The complaint filed by the board to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) has not been made public.

Board chair Pat Mandy said in a statement the OCPC has instructed her to not say anything publicly about the investigation to ensure that it "continues to remain confidential." 

Watch: Mayor Andrea Horwath unpacks her support for the police budget

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath on the police budget process

10 months ago

Duration 5:14

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath explains why she supported having the police budget sent back to the police board but did not support any of the proposed cuts.

Kroetsch outlined some details of the complaint in his statement and in a related application filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

According to Kroetsch, chair Pat Mandy began circulating the complaint to all HPSB members in November taking issue with a motion Kroetsch put forward at a council committee meeting that was unanimously approved. 

Kroetsch's motion instructed city staff to set up a process with Hamilton police that will require they get council approval before spending surplus funds. The same rules would apply to the public library. 

The complaint alleged Kroetsch's motion and comments he made on social media, critical of police, contravened the Police Services Act's code of conduct, Kroetsch said.

Councillor has 'serious questions' about police budget

On Dec. 14, board members went into a private session to discuss the complaint and voted to request the OCPC investigate. Kroestch said no reasons were given for their decision. 

"Further details are to remain confidential until the investigation is concluded," Mandy said at the time.

The board also included in its final complaint allegations that Kroetsch further violated the code of conduct by putting forward a motion at council — which passed 12-3 — to send back the police budget for further review, as well as critical comments he made about the budget in the media. 

The complaint claims Kroetsch violated two sections of the code of conduct: That he failed to discharge his duties "loyally, faithfully, impartially" in line with the police services act, and failed to "inspire public confidence in the abilities and integrity of the board." 

"To be clear about all of the allegations made against me, at no point did any HPSB member suggest the information I shared, though critical, was untrue, disparaging of the Hamilton Police Service, or in any way defamatory," Kroetsch said. 

"The facts are not in dispute, just whether or not I'm allowed to comment on the budgetary process in public and whether or not I'm allowed to bring motions forward at council as a city councillor related to the police budget." 

Kroetsch said he has been critical of police's budget process because he has "serious questions" about how the service spends taxpayer money. The police service is the city's largest budget item, and this year successfully pitched a $20 million increase from 2023.

Members aren't police 'cheerleaders': report

He attempted to quash the complaint through an application filed with divisional court, claiming the board's intention is to stop him participating, at least temporarily, rather than uphold the code of conduct. He's now put that process on hold until the investigation is complete.

He noted Mayor Andrea Horwath, also a HPSB member who voted at council to send back the police budget for further review, isn't facing a complaint. She also supported the motion about police surpluses.

Kroetsch said he's required to pause all HPSB-related activities as the investigation is underway. 

In his statement, Kroestch referenced a 2017 report by Peterborough Police Services Board administrator Mark Sandler, who wrote that members aren't meant to only be "cheerleaders" for police.

He was asked to investigate Peterborough's dysfunctional police board at the request of Ontario's Solicitor General.

"A police services board should not uncritically assume that any criticism levelled at its police service or senior leadership is wrong, and must be challenged," Sandler wrote.