The #OttCity Ottawa Police Services Board Meeting will start with delegations right up front.

Here is the agenda:

https://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=7976&doctype=AGENDA&fbclid=IwAR2oQ6wQaYzTL_M6Nx0O98T8REU7LezdwKp9d-6fq-qxbaxw4-Rnvdf2v7E

First up, @kevinodotnet:

Speaking to police vehicles and asking what public policy goal is served by making police vehicles more "menacing and intimidating" - wants the Ottawa Police Service to consider Battenburg markings, like seen in the UK:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenburg_markings

Kevin noting that his concern about paint is part of a wider dialogue about how Ottawa Police officers present themselves in the community.

If he, a tall white man, feels intimidated by the police then how do others feel when police are in the community?

Next up is Farhia Ahmed from @J4Abdirahman and Robin Browne from UN Persons for African Decent Push Coalition.

Farhia starts with reminding the board about Abdirahman Abdi and the demands for justice made by @J4Abdirahman and the community.

"We are tired of waiting patiently for this system to work. The undeniable truth is that it is killing us."

"We need to reimagine what law enforcement looks like in Ottawa" - Robin Browne highlighting inflated OPS budget versus other budgets like transportation, libraries, and public health.

The solution? #DefundThePolice

Defund the police to end the culture of police brutality.

"Reallocation [of $] means we can invest in social services..."

Calling for compassionate, non-lethal responses to mental health crises.

#DefundThePolice

"Five minutes is not enough time to express the pains the community is suffering. Five minutes is not enough time to dismantle a policing system rooted in racism and slavery. Five minutes is not enough time to root out racism within the ranks." Farhia Ahmed from @J4Abdirahman

"When will this Board hold a public session dedicated to this issue and give it the time that it needs?" Farhia Ahmed from @J4Abdirahman

#DefundThePolice

Personal commitment from Acting Chair L.A. Smallwood for a much more in-depth dialogue with the community... with a standard response of "change takes time".

#DefundThePolice

Next up is @SamHersh01 from @HorizonOttawa:

(audio is really choppy, sorry Sam)

Sam acknowledges that there is a *ton* of public interest in Ottawa around #DefundThePolice and wants to see more time and space for residents to share their concerns.

Sam addressing the assault of Obi Ifedi by an Ottawa bylaw officer - wants further investigation:

#PolicingThePandemic https://ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-father-extremely-let-down-and-frustrated-by-investigation-into-bylaw

@MeehanCarolAnne pointing out that 80% of OPS budget goes to salaries - do people want fewer officers? Councillor saying that residents ask for more police.

@SamHersh01 highlighting that people ask for police because we don't think/don't know enough about alternatives.

"Why are we ok with cutting social services but not ok with cutting the police?" @SamHersh01

#DefundThePolice

L.A. Smallwood points to a survey that indicated #Ottawa residents want more police... Yeah - let's issue that survey again, and let's take a proper look at how the questions were asked. Let's take a closer look at who responded and who didn't.

Last delegation is @EthanSabourin - also calling on #Ottawa to divest from policing.

#DefundThePolice #DisarmThePolice

#BuildCommunities #CareNotCops

Ethan sharing recommendations from @BLM_TO - starting with the call to remove police officers from schools.

"It is time to act!" @EthanSabourin recommending educational resources to the board, including works from Angela Davis.

#DefundThePolice #BuildCommunities

No questions for Ethan... The board doesn't seem interested in engaging further on the conversation around #DefundThePolice.

Smallwood repeating words/sentiments from Sloly...

Wonder if @OPSChiefSloly has changed his stance on this after attending the #JusticeForAbdirahmanAbdi march over the weekend? https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/ottawa-police-chief-open-to-talk-of-police-funding-changes-but-not-out-of-retribution-1.5596376

Three inquiries from Smallwood re:
- the Obi Ifedi case
- use of force
- body cams

Inquiry from Nirman who wants to know if @OttawaPolice officers can place their knees on someone's head (referencing George Floyd).

Smallwood says "no" - this is banned.

Nirman also asking about how Ottawa police officers approach people who do not speak English - especially in a crisis situation (referencing the murder of Ejaz Ahmed Choudry by Peel police). https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/siu-police-shooting-mississauga-1.5621243

Chief Sloly says dealing with non-English speaking residents in a crisis is an important concern and he needs time to prepare a substantive answer to deliver to the board and to the public.

Chief Sloly's verbal report is next.

Sloly commits to discussing and considering the information presented by today's delegation.

He's also acknowledging the marches and demonstrations that have taken place in Ottawa.

Sloly speaks to "imperfect humans" and "rotten apples" - but also to systemic level issues or, "the rotten tree".

"Reforms have not been enough..." to address systemic issues @OPSChiefSloly

Sloly says OPS is not representative of the community - and policing is too reactive. Wants to eliminate this idea of a 'thin blue line'.

Sloly says he hears the calls for change. "This is a time for systemic change, and not just in policing but across the justice system."

Sloly now addressing #DefundThePolice - says this is a complex issue, not impossible but requires a strong commitment to change.

Now the campaign for why we can't cut the police budget - Sloly claims this would interfere with reform efforts.

"The police therefore cannot simply be defunded or disbanded without massive impacts" - Sloly

"You would still have to reform the entire justice system..."

Um. Yeah. THIS IS THE POINT!

#DefundThePolice #BuildCommunitiesNotJails

Sloly pointing to Scotland as an example of reforming and reinvesting across the justice, public health, and community/social services system.

Apologies folks, my tweeting has to end here - I'll catch up with the rest of the meeting later:

A reminder that @shaaminiwhy always live tweets the OPS board meetings.

"It's not just good enough to bring new members in, it's not just good enough to bring diversity in. We have to have a welcoming environment to maintain them." - L.A. Smallwood on hiring, diversity, and inclusion in the OPS.

My worry right now (I'm tuned back into the meeting and catching up) is that OPS is going to try to move past this moment. Delegations asked for further opportunity for public consultation and meaningful public engagement? Will we get that? We need it now.