Councillor draws criticism from police oversight group over social media posts

An Ontario police oversight group has reprimanded a London city councillor and police board member for her "denigrating use of language" in social media posts about homelessness and addiction.

The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) was tasked with reviewing public complaints made against Coun. Susan Stevenson in her capacity as one of three council members appointed to the city's police services board. 

"You are encouraged to reflect on your conduct and seek to do better in your role as a public leader in police services for the City of London," said chair Sean Weir in a written letter.

Some of the complaints were the same as those that resulted in her being reprimanded by city council last December after the city's integrity commissioner found her to be in breach of council's code of conduct.

Specific social media posts outlined in Weir's letter included ones that "refer to individuals with addiction issues as 'junkies', and suggestions that individuals pushing shopping carts had committed a crime.

He also noted that Stevenson used photos of unhoused people without their permission, and that the social media posts generally reinforce negative stereotypes of people with addictions as violent, engaging in criminal activity, and personally choosing to be unhoused and addicted.

Weir stopped short of launching an investigation against Stevenson, but said he wouldn't rule it out in the future if her online behaviour doesn't change.

"The Commission decided it is not in the public interest to initiate a formal investigation at this time. However, you are cautioned that the Code of Conduct requires a higher standard for members of a police services board," the letter reads.

Stevenson has responded to the complaints against her as her political position as a councillor, and not related to her position on the London Police Services Board.

Weir disagreed, and said once someone is appointed to a police services board, they are bound to its code of conduct — a code of conduct the letter said was breached by Stevenson's retweeting of an article that used the word "junkies" to describe people with addictions.

The letter also expressed doubt regarding Stevenson's claims that she received consent before posting a picture of a homeless individual whose face was blurred out.

"This approach to the privacy and dignity of individuals living in London is troubling and does not inspire public confidence in your abilities and integrity as a member of the London Police Services Board," it said.

Councillor responds

In an emailed statement to CBC News, Stevenson responded Wednesday defiantly saying that the actions of the OCPC speak louder than words, indicating they had not launched an investigation.

"A small group continues to weaponize investigations because they cannot win arguments on their merits," Stevenson wrote. "I will continue speaking up for the people of London and frontline police officers who keep us safe every day."

The OCPC letter addressed to Stevenson can be read here.