Belleville Police Chief Ron Gignac speaks to the police board at City Hall on Thursday March 15, 2017. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Belleville Police Chief Ron Gignac is responding to the to the human rights complaint made against him that is now before the police board for review.
Darren Moore’s complaint to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director came after Gignac was quoted in the Belleville Intelligencer saying ‘he’s more concerned about the safety of a life, than a Charter violation’. The comment was made in reference to a recent impaired driving court case where a local judge criticized two Quinte West OPP officers for reportedly conducting an illegal strip search.
In a letter to Quinte News, Moore said what Gignac was quoted as saying is in direct conflict with not only his oath of office to uphold the law, but also in direct violation of the Declaration of Principles outlined in the Police Services Act.
While being cautious as the issue is before the Belleville Police Board, on Friday Chief Gignac told 800 CJBQ’s The Lorne Brooker Show that everything he said during the interview wasn’t printed. “Sometimes we give more of an explanation and we will reiterate things, but maybe that wasn’t taken into consideration or that wasn’t decided to be printed,” Chief Gignac told Lorne Brooker.
He added when it comes to the preservation of life, officers are there to look after the public’s safety.
Moore told Quinte News he listened to the program Friday and was quite surprised Chief Gignac spoke about the incident.
The board will meet on September 21.
