Select quotes from police survey

"Every squad, every department, every office is overworked. We can barely make minimum numbers on the shifts."



"The thought of having to work in this type of environment for the next 10 years is overwhelming. I don't see things getting better. The type of police officers they are training is going to sink this place. Morale is depressing. Staffing a joke. Our safety doesn't matter. Someone is going to get hurt."



"This organization is a sinking ship. Morale is low. Workload is unrealistic and resources are slim to none."

"I feel the chief is using members of this service as pons (sic) to facilitate his personal goals and support his personal platforms (suspension without pay) ..."



"Overall I think Chief De Caire has done a fabulous job bringing order back to Hamilton Police Service. Prior to his arrival a culture had developed where too many officers felt/and acted like they were above everyone else."



"When Chief De Caire was hired I figured the change would be good. At first I realized his discipline approach would balance itself and the pendulum would shift but that hasn't happened. This has left the membership in that environment of fear of reprisal."



"We need change in the leadership within the Hamilton Police Service to return to stability, confidence and direction to our members so that we can make our community a safer place to live. In the beginning when Chief De Caire arrived the first year was fine but he seems to be focused on two aspects and that's discipline and the ACTION unit and ignoring the real issues, crime, staffing and member wellness." More than 72 per cent of Hamilton police officers and nearly 63 per cent of all police employees who responded to a Hamilton Police Association survey do not want Chief Glenn De Caire's contract extended.

The survey, which saw 695 (nearly 58 per cent) of the 1,205-member service respond, questioned police employees about issues including morale, workload and leadership.

It found the highest level of dissatisfaction with workplace morale among sworn officers (72.6 per cent) and 83 per cent of sworn officers surveyed said they were working in a "culture of fear."

In an emailed statement, De Caire said the police service has received a copy of the 71-page report and will be "reviewing, analyzing and evaluating the responses with a continued commitment to move the organization forward, together."

The service supports such opportunities for feedback and values members' input, he said.

De Caire pointed to the fact that he attends weekly patrol briefings and he and the deputy chiefs speak with members at block training.

"The level of direct communication with our members has never been higher," he said.

"We have been listening, addressing issues and taking action where appropriate."

De Caire said his job for the last five years is an "absolute privilege" and commended his officers for their "outstanding work."

Association president Clint Twolan said in an email sent to all members with the detailed survey results, "The ability for our membership to speak without fear of reprisal is of paramount importance to the health and future of the Hamilton Police Service.

"The general message that we have received in the past is that this is not currently the case."

Some comments in the survey suggest the questions were biased and that the survey had a "retaliatory agenda."

Twolan calls this "completely untrue," saying his office receives calls daily from concerned members from a wide cross-section of the service and these calls formed the basis of the questions.

In an interview with The Spectator, Twolan said the association is not trying to immerse itself in the board's contract process. However, it wants the board to be able to make an informed decision.

"As president, I promised the membership to give voice in issues that directly affect them," he said.

"I believe the police services board should have all the pertinent information before they make the decision, so we conducted the survey."

De Caire's contract expires in December 2016. However, the board needs to decide whether to grant him a three-year renewal by the end of this year — the contract requires the board to give him a year's notice if it intends to replace him.

While the board's review will happen behind closed doors, likely at the November of December board meeting, the board's decision will be reported publicly.

Hamilton police board chair Lloyd Ferguson called the survey "another tool" the board can use in its decision, adding he was disappointed more officers didn't respond.

He also noted that a good test for morale is the resignation rate, and Hamilton police had just six (less than one per cent) last year.

Ferguson did concede, however, that in policing, moving to a new service — specifically for higher-ranking officers — can be difficult.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Nearly 25 per cent of sworn officers who responded to the survey said they had looked for other employment in the last two years.

De Caire had an annual performance review this summer, Ferguson said, adding that it "went quite well."

People don't always like their boss, but they need to respect him or her, he said. "We're not hiring a country club manager. We're hiring a police chief."

Ferguson will report the board's decision publicly.

As chief since December 2009, De Caire has overseen a number of new initiatives, including the highly visible and at times controversial Addressing Crime Trends in Our Neighbourhood (ACTION) strategy. The service has been recognized for its work around mental health, including the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team.

His time is also marked by an increase in officers facing charges and discipline, including 12 officers currently suspended.

The online survey was administered through Survey Monkey between Oct. 1 and 6. An external consultant, which the association said it couldn't name because of privacy issues, was hired to oversee the process.

The issue of discipline and fairness to officers dominates several questions in the survey with nearly 76 per cent of sworn officers who responded saying De Caire's approach to discipline is unfair.

The survey comes just after the association canvassed — unsuccessfully — officers in trouble to see if there was interest in filing a group grievance alleging unfair treatment.

Twolan confirmed about 10 officers recently arrested or charged were asked. However, there wasn't enough interest to go ahead.

"In our opinion, officers are being treated differently than the average citizen," he said in an interview about the issue late last month. Examples include officers being arrested for matters the association believes the general public would not be detained for.

In an emailed statement on the issue late last month, Staff Sgt. Maggie Schoensaid the service believes its discipline policy "is applied to our members in a fair, consistent and equitable manner."

"Any suggestion to the contrary is without merit."