Saint John city council voted unanimously to keep the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners. The relationship between the city and the police board now faces significant changes.

During a special virtual meeting on Wednesday, councillors adopted recommendations from an independent review by consulting firm Governedge. You can read the original report details from CBC News.

The Push for Change

The vote follows a September proposal by Councillor Gerry Lowe. He wanted to dissolve the commission and turn policing into a city department. Lowe made this push after hearing concerns from residents and business owners about public safety and homelessness.

The police board currently operates independently from the city council. It handles police policy, budget allocation, and chief appointments.

Consultant Warns Against Political Interference

Fred Kaustinen is the principal of Governedge. He conducted the review and advised council to keep the commission model. He warned that bringing police under direct city control invites political interference. He also noted that city council already faces many demands, which creates a risk of poor police oversight.

Kaustinen interviewed city councillors, police commissioners, the police chief, union representatives, and senior city staff. He found the commission and council are out of step.

“A council has never fully articulated its expectations of the police commission,” Kaustinen told the council. “So without that type of communicating those expectations, it shouldn’t be totally surprising that they’re not being fulfilled.”

New Rules and Better Communication

Kaustinen recommended several steps to fix the strained relationship. The commission needs to define adequate policing and explain how it verifies this standard. He also suggested a city funded police governance training program and a regular audit of the governance structure.

Implementing these changes takes time. Kaustinen estimates the process requires three to six years.

Saint John Police Chief Robert Bruce supports the findings. He stated the department embraces the report in its entirety.

Councillor Paula Radwan also expressed optimism about the new direction.

“If council is good with this we’re going to set the commission and police department up for success,” Radwan said.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Saint John consider dissolving the police board?

Councillor Gerry Lowe proposed dissolving the board to give the city council more direct control over policing. This proposal came in response to public safety concerns related to homelessness.

What did the independent review cost?

The city paid consulting firm Governedge $79,950 before taxes to conduct the police governance review.

Why is the city keeping the police commission?

The consultant warned that dissolving the board and making police a city department creates a high risk of political interference. The commission model keeps policing politically objective.

What changes happen next?

The city and the police commission create a formal mandate to improve communication. The commission defines adequate policing standards and participates in new governance training programs.