Cornwall police services board briefs: Dussault sworn in
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The Cornwall police services board officially returned to its full complement of five members on March 7, with the swearing-in ceremony for Patrick Dussault.
“We are glad to welcome you, as a provincial appointee,” board chair Maurice Dupelle said.
Dussault, appointed for a three-year term, is a former long-time OPP constable within the SDG detachment, who retired in the fall of 2018.
The appointment that was announced late last month brings the board to five members for the first time since last summer, when then-chair and provincial appointee Michel Payette resigned.
Other current members of the police board are Mayor Justin Towndale, provincial appointee Amanda Brisson, and community appointee Stephen Scott. The first presentation after the swearing-in was regarding human trafficking, a topic Dussault is well-versed in.
Afte his retirement from the OPP, Dussault worked as a high-profile anti-human trafficking spokesperson who’s raised awareness on the issue for a handful of years across Cornwall and area, including as a liaison with the Akwesasne Family Wellness Program.
Secondary activities
What do a consultant, a business owner, a customer service representative, and a volunteer have in common?
They’re all at new positions, in addition to their duties with the Cornwall Police Service.
Police Chief Shawna Spowart made her 2023 secondary applications report to the board as required; the CPS provides guidelines regarding off-duty secondary activities for all members, to ensure activities don’t interfere with work duties or detract from public trust or confidence in the service. Approval is granted under the guidelines, some of which pertain to adversely influencing performance with the CPS, the activity placing the person in a conflict of interest, or having had an advantage in secondary activities derived from employment as a member of the police service.
The police chief exercises discretion on a case-by-case basis to determine if an application is likely to violate the guidelines.
The CPS said there were four applications in 2023, and none were denied.
Camera update
The equipment is currently being prepared for deployment and the implementation of body worn cameras for officers is set for April, Spowart told the police services board on March 7.
It’s been talked about and debated for a while, including in 2020 when the board decided to shelve the idea, following the recommendation of then-chief Danny Aikman to do so. It was determined then that having the body cameras, along with all the software required to store the digital material as well as the hiring of more staff members solely for handling the footage, would be too expensive.
In 2023, the police services board voted in favour of a motion that would have the department acquire and deploy the cameras, which is widely considered a valuable technological piece in modern-day policing.
“Frankly, we’re at a place in society where not having (BWC) is a risk to the organization and the board,” Spowart said at the time. “(Without it we’re open to) questions – why are the police officers in Cornwall not wearing BWC? What are they trying to hide? The landscape has changed, (and) we do have to incur costs in having the level of service that we’re required to provide.”
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