Windsor police chief's discipline for racist remarks 'doesn't amount to anything': Black Scholars Institute

CBC

a day ago

WARNING: This story contains racially offensive language.
The Windsor Police Service Board is requiring Chief Jason Bellaire to take equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training after an investigation found he made racist remarks, CBC News has learned.
A source with direct knowledge of the discipline says Bellaire's training must be completed by Dec. 31, even though he's set to retire in November, roughly two years before his five-year contract ends.
"It doesn't really amount to anything," said Camisha Sibblis, director of the Black Scholars Institute at the University of Windsor. "It sounds like there really isn't any accountability."
In March, CBC News reported in an exclusive that an internal investigation substantiated allegations Bellaire made racist remarks to a Black officer at work.
What work did the police services board put into this in order to come up with such a light and really ineffective discipline?​​​ - Kent Rice, Windsor Police Association
Jo-Anne Gignac, police board chair and city councillor, has not responded to repeated requests for comment about the Bellaire disciplinary decision and how it was reached.
Sibblis, also a University of Windsor assistant professor of sociology and criminology, said the Bellaire case is troubling.
"What it says to me is that victims are not important and they're certainly not as important as protecting the reputation and status of police, even through their wrongdoing.
"And when we have that kind of value system, we're all in trouble."
Bellaire has not publicly addressed his comments and the police board has also been silent since CBC News published that the allegations against the chief were substantiated by an internal investigation. The precise remarks made by Bellaire aren't clear.
However, Insp. Ed Armstrong, who filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) in March 2024, said Bellaire made comments to him about Black people and bananas, told him he preferred "whiter" things and suggested there is telepathic communication among Black people.
CBC News recently emailed Bellaire and asked if he'd like to say anything to his officers and the broader community about his comments.
"As this complaint is currently before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, we respectfully cannot comment at this time," said Gary Francoeur, director of corporate communications at Windsor police.
Windsor police previously asked the HRTO to dismiss the application so it could be dealt with internally. That request was not successful.
Union head 'shocked, dismayed and upset'
Windsor Police Association head Kent Rice said the disciplinary action against the chief illustrates what his members have complained about for years — a two-tiered disciplinary system.
"What work did the police services board put into this in order to come up with such a light and really ineffective discipline?" asked Rice.
After learning of the disciplinary action, Rice said he became "shocked, dismayed and upset."
"There needs to be a certain level of accountability put in place and when it falls extremely short, significantly short of what people's expectations are, it's upsetting."
Rice predicts if a lower-ranking officer made racist remarks to a co-worker or a member of the community, that individual would be hit with a "severe demotion."
To further show what Rice describes as disparity at the Windsor police, an officer who didn't fully stop at a red light while responding to a call was docked six hours of pay.
"Then you see something like this [Bellaire's discipline] and you're like, 'Where do the scales align?' They just don't," said Rice.
The Police Association of Ontario (PAO) told CBC News that the disciplinary action against Bellaire is insufficient and disappointing.
"The response by the Windsor Police Services Board (sic) fails to reflect the gravity of the behaviour and does little to bolster public trust in the police service. Discriminatory remarks that undermine the integrity of policing demand more decisive and immediate action," said Mark Baxter, president of the PAO.
Timeline of how events unfolded:
March, 2024: Insp. Ed Armstrong files complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) about Bellaire's racist comments.
Aug. 21, 2024: CBC News publishes a story about the HRTO complaint.
Jan. 16, 2025: Internal police summary stating that the investigation had been completed.
Jan. 16: Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens steps aside as police board chair.
Feb. 5, 2025: Bellaire announces his unexpected retirement as chief less than halfway through his five-year contract.
March 17, 2025: CBC News publishes a story about findings of the internal investigation.
In a summary of the internal investigation obtained by CBC News, it stated "the investigator found that the comment(s) were made in what [Bellaire] believed to be a 'safe space' based on his existing relationship with [Armstrong] and do not amount to a poisoned work environment."
"Saying things from your position of comfort and privilege, and assuming others will just simply roll with it is offensive, is a misuse of your power," said Sibblis.
Sibblis said Bellaire needs to take responsibility for what he said, and there also "needs to be admonishment and some sort of admission into how inappropriate it was."
Call for Bellaire's demotion
Armstrong filed his human rights complaint roughly a month after he pleaded guilty under the Police Services Act for making inappropriate comments to female employees dating back to 2005. Armstrong was demoted for one year to staff sergeant, after which he automatically regained his rank of inspector.
Since Armstrong's comments to women resulted in a one-year demotion, Sibblis said, Bellaire should also be demoted before retiring, as his comments were "completely inappropriate" and "harmful to the entire department.
"It was not only harmful to his police service, but to the Windsor community," said Sibblis.
"His behaviour condones other derogatory remarks, and I think the tolerance to it and the attempt to justify it by saying it's a safe space ... means that victims within the police services, and victims across Windsor who the police services is supposed to protect, will not have access to justice going forward."
She also said it sends a message to the Black community that they are "undervalued members of society, that people can say, and do, anything to them without proper recourse."
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.