The London Ontario city council’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee unanimously voted to forward a request to the London Police Services Board for more accountability measures. The request, put forward by Mayor Josh Morgan, Ward 7 Coun. Corrine Rahman, and Ward 11 Coun. Skylar Franke, aims to strengthen public trust in the police force and provide transparency on how the large police budget is allocated. The proposed accountability measures include regular budget reporting, increased community engagement, and clear performance metrics such as a reduction in response times and crime rates. The council hopes these measures will provide a clearer understanding of the value provided by the police force to all Londoners.
Mayor Josh Morgan emphasized that as a funding partner, the council has the right to provide feedback on how metrics are tracked, investments are measured, and value is demonstrated. Currently, the council only receives a yearly visit from Police Chief Thai Truong, and the request suggests quarterly reports be provided in addition to the annual visit. While the council voted unanimously to send the request, some councillors raised concerns about why these questions were not addressed during the budget process. Ward 6 Coun. Sam Trosow felt pressure to not raise certain questions during the budget process, and Ward 9 Coun. Anna Hopkins emphasized the importance of following up with the Police Services Board to ensure accountability.
The proposed accountability measures are seen as a way to hold the police force accountable to the council as well as the citizens of London. The request for increased accountability, transparency, and performance metrics aims to provide a clearer understanding of how taxpayer dollars are being spent on the police budget, which includes the hiring of new officers, equipment purchases, and a new training facility. The council expects that these measures will help build trust in the police force and demonstrate the value of their services to the community.
While some councillors questioned why these accountability measures were not discussed during the budget process, the overall sentiment was in support of sending the request to the Police Services Board. The council believes that by providing regular budget reporting, increased community engagement, and clear performance metrics, they can ensure that the police force is accountable to both the council and the residents of London. The request will be presented to the full council on April 2, and if approved, will be discussed by the Police Services Board on April 18. The goal is to establish a framework for greater accountability, transparency, and performance evaluation within the London Police Services.
In conclusion, the London city council’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee unanimously voted to forward a request for more accountability measures to the Police Services Board. The proposed measures include regular budget reporting, increased community engagement, and clear performance metrics to strengthen public trust in the police force and provide transparency on the allocation of the police budget. The council hopes that by establishing these accountability measures, they can ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively on policing services, ultimately benefiting all residents of London. The request will be further discussed by the full council and the Police Services Board in the coming weeks, with the goal of improving accountability, transparency, and performance evaluation within the London Police Services.
