In an effort to start rebuilding the city's rocky relationship with London police, two politicians are pushing for a new liaison committee.
Mayor Matt Brown and Councillor Stephen Turner are making their request in a letter going to the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee Monday afternoon.
The proposed liaison committee would be made up of the mayor, a council member, the chair of the Police Service Board and a board member. The mandate of the committee would be to foster the working relationship between the two organizations and move matters of mutual interest forward in a positive and productive manner.
The relationship between police and the city was strained during a bitter nine-month budget dispute last year.
Outgoing Board Budget Chief Paul Paolatto has been very vocal about the issues that arose during the dispute. In November he sent a letter to council centered around what he called a “concerning level of indifference” the board received from the city’s chief administrative officer during negotiations. Then earlier this month, Paolatto criticized council for failing to respond to his letter, something he said showed a “pattern of disrespect” toward police in the city.
Both Brown and Turner are members of the London Police Services Board.
Their letter can be read here.
