Hamilton police board members will undergo "cultural competency and sensitivity" training and meet with leaders in the Polish community after an alleged offensive comment about the Holocaust prompted complaints.

The board voted to take the advice of the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, which was asked in February to investigate interrelated complaints alleging code of conduct breaches by board members Madeleine Levy and Walt Juchniewicz.

The OCPC called the behaviour of both members "disappointing," but added it did not warrant a formal investigation. Instead, the civilian commission recommended members undergo sensitivity training.

The acrimonious issue arose after Juchniewicz alleged in an email to city officials that Levy had commented "Poles killed Jews in Auschwitz," during a meeting break last December. The OCPC letter, however, notes "significant differences in perspective as to what was said."

The oversight board was asked to investigate both the alleged comment and whether Juchniewicz's widely distributed email violated board governance rules.

Dozens of members of the Polish community attended Thursday's meeting, with three standing up to ask for an apology from Levy. "We would like this resolved," said Helen Glogowski, president of the Hamilton branch of the Canadian-Polish Congress.

Several members of the Muslim community also attended the meeting "in solidarity," said representative Javid Mirza.

Levy did not publicly address the community request for an apology, but after the meeting said she is "considering her next steps" and may be interested in meeting with the Polish congress.

A lawyer for Juchniewicz said he would still like an apology and is also disappointed with how the board handled the issue.

The OCPC also criticized the board for not handling the complaint internally "before it got out of hand."