Former Ottawa police chief Charles Bordeleau says he didn't promote a senior officer to superintendent because he was disloyal and couldn't be trusted — not because of racial bias.

Bordeleau testified Thursday at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal hearing into the complaint made by Insp. Samir Bhatnagar.

Bhatnagar is alleging the former chief denied him the third-highest ranking position in the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) several times because of racial discrimination.

Thursday's hearing also offered a rare glimpse into bitter infighting that swirled around Bordeleau's leadership, from his appointment in 2012 until his retirement in May.

'Just not the right person'

Bhatnagar first applied for promotion in 2012, but was unsuccessful. He applied again in 2013, but wasn't considered for the position.

"He was just not the right person for the job," said Bordeleau. "He wasn't ready and he wasn't qualified."

Bordeleau said he began to see behaviour in Bhatnagar that troubled him, and that he'd heard from other senior police officers that Bhatnagar was disloyal.

"He was affiliating himself with [officers] who were trying to sabotage my career," said Bordeleau, referring to a group that had become known in local police circles as "The Angry Five."

"I questioned whether I could trust him," Bordeleau said. "Will he have my back?" Bordeleau said.

Insp. Samir Bhatnagar alleges he's been overlooked for promotion several times because of his ethnicity. An Ontario Human Rights Tribunal hearing is looking into his complaint. (Kimberley Molina/CBC)

Race 'absolutely not a factor'

Bordeleau said he had "fireside chats" with candidates for the superintendent position, as part of the interview process, to get to know them better.

He said he caught Bhatnagar "off guard" when he asked him during one of those chats how he defined trust — and the candidate replied that the then-chief should never question his loyalty.

Bordeleau said the response left him conflicted. Bhatnagar "could have been a great superintendent," he said, but he was still receiving reports from those on his leadership team of the inspector's "disrespectful" actions behind his back.

The former chief told the hearing one of the things he wanted in a superintendent was someone who'd publicly support his leadership and the goals of the OPS.

"I always tried to create an environment where I was open to opinions. But when [superintendents] walk out of that room, we march to the same song."

I was shocked. Given the values that I hold, it was a serious allegation. - Former police chief Charles Bordeleau

Bhatnagar failed to be promoted to superintendent on three more occasions in 2016 and 2017, with Bordeleau citing the inspector's negative attitude and lack of trust in the chief's leadership.

Bordeleau told the hearing that Bhatnagar's insubordination continued when he offered the inspector an acting superintendent position — and Bhatnagar said he wasn't interested, since he'd been passed over four times for the permanent job.

The former chief said their dispute became so petty that Bhatnagar even ridiculed a spelling mistake in an email from the chief's office sent to the entire force.

The constant "jabs," Bordeleau said, led to a frank discussion in Nov. 2016, during which he told the inspector he'd never be promoted if his negative behaviour didn't change and he didn't rethink his alignment with the "Angry Five."

Bhatnagar responded, Bordeleau said, by accusing him of racial discrimination.

"I was shocked. Given the values that I hold, it was a serious allegation," Bordeleau told the OPS lawyer Jock Climie.

"Race was absolutely not a factor. It was Samir's behaviour and actions."

Dirty laundry

Bordeleau's testimony Thursday also offered a glimpse into the tumultuous relationship he had with Matt Skof, president of the Ottawa Police Association.

Bordeleau said that while it started off fine, their relationship deteriorated during his tenure over accusations there was a double standard for discipline among senior officers.

He said Skof questioned his leadership publicly, giving fuel to the group of detractors he felt Bhatnagar was part of.

Media leaks of sensitive information, Bordeleau said, left him feeling his leadership was under siege and the force's public reputation was being damaged.

"You're fighting every day to have the public's confidence," he said. "Frankly, it's embarrassing to have the infighting and our dirty laundry aired in public."

The tribunal has adjourned until early September when Bordeleau will continue his testimony.