Ottawa police chief has resigned amid protests over his tenure.
Written byTimes Magazine
Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloley has resigned after weeks of criticism for handling the anti-vaccine mandate protests that have crippled the city.
Protesters occupied the center of the Canadian capital for 19 days, stopping traffic and angering residents. On Monday, the prime minister called the Emergency Situations Act a "last resort" in response to the protests.
The Ottawa Police Council confirmed Sloley's resignation in a public hearing on Tuesday. In a statement on Twitter, Sloley defended his police record and said he was resigning "with a heavy heart."
"Since the beginning of these demonstrations, I have done everything to protect this city and end this unprecedented and unexpected crisis," he said. "I believe the Ottawa Police Department is now in a better position to end this occupation," he added.
Sloley, a former Canadian male soccer player, took over the Ottawa Police Department in 2019, more than 3 decades after joining the Toronto Police Department. His contract in Ottawa expires in 2024.
He earned a reputation like a progressive reformer dedicated to improving police-community relations throughout his career. However, critics say he did not do enough to quell the Freedom Convoy protests. As a result, the city of Ottawa declared a state of emergency more than a week ago to quell the protests.
Sloley, 55, backed his response last week, telling Newstalk 580 that he had "absolutely no intention" of retiring.
On Monday, PM Justin Trudeau took the unprecedented step, citing an emergency law giving local police "more tools" to offer protesters. The RCMP and the Ontario Province Police (OPP) were deployed to support.
Chief Sloley's resignation comes amid significant criticism from Ottawa residents who say police are not doing their job to enforce the law and crackdown on protesters.
Residents said they saw police beating protesters, ignoring rule violations, and allowing fuel and other supplies into their camps.
Critics say protesters are allowed to organize what sometimes resemble parties on the streets of Ottawa with minimal consequences, equipped with bouncy palaces, barbecues, and hot tubs.
The police have issued thousands of tickets and made dozens of arrests. But there is a growing feeling among residents that their hearts may not be in it, especially after videos showed an OPP official saying he supported the protesters "100%".
The OPP is not part of the Ottawa Police Department. Still, the Ottawa Police Department has jurisdiction over the city and coordinates efforts by several police forces to control protesters. Media reports also point to tensions between Chief Sloley and the leadership of other forces, namely the OPP and the RCMP.
On Monday, Prime Minister Trudeau, who used extraordinary force, made clear he did not want to send troops or force the federal government to start an uphill battle to restore order in central Ottawa.
Trending News
