Ford, Lecce Criticize Ottawa School Board for Treatment of Police on Career Day

A close-up of an Ottawa Police officer’s badge in Ottawa on April 28, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

An Ottawa police officer was set to talk to her child’s class as part of an initiative to present careers in community service to the students. However, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board told her she could not wear her uniform nor bring her police car due to “a level of fear associated with the profession.”

“This is a disturbing trend that needs to stop. Police officers are the people we call when we need help. They deserve so much better than this,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford in a tweet. He called on the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) to reverse its decision and “show our heroes on the frontlines the respect they deserve.”

Ottawa Police Association president Matthew Cox responded with a “letter of disappointment” on May 3. “If we are trying to build relationships in the communities and educate students who may wish to pursue a future career in Emergency Services how is this decision the appropriate course of action?” Cox said.

Cox’s letter quotes Minister of Education Stephen Lecce on the issue: “I find it entirely unacceptable for a school board to prevent a parent of a child in that school from attending [career day].”

Although the parent was allowed to attend, on condition she did not appear in uniform, “the officer declined as the uniform and police car is what the students want to see,” Cox told The Epoch Times via email.

In his letter to the board, Cox said he has given similar school presentations himself as an officer and parent, and “I can assure you that every child in that room loved seeing the police uniform and having an opportunity to sit in the police car and turn the lights and siren on and off.”

“Disproportionate police violence against some communities has caused a level of fear associated with the profession,” OCDSB Chair Lyra Evans wrote to Cox. “When police roam the schools, this fear has a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of students, impacting their mental health and academic achievement.” Evans did not respond to The Epoch Times request for further comment as of publication.

Director of Education Michelle Giroux said she would sit down to speak with Cox next week. OCDSB sent The Epoch Times a copy of a letter Giroux sent Cox, along with a statement that the board “appreciates and respects the work that police officers do to keep our schools and community safe.”

In the letter, Giroux explains that the board decided in 2021 to move “away from having uniformed officers in schools providing direct learning to students.” The decision came after consulting with individuals and groups in the community about their experiences involving the police at schools.

The current situation, she said, “highlights the need for us to bring greater clarity to our practice.” The decision not to allow the parent to come in uniform remains in place, Giroux said, pending further evaluation.

“There will be some who say that the easy path forward is to allow the parent to attend in uniform; others will maintain that uniforms and police cars are not essential to classroom learning about policing,” she said.

A similar incident occurred in the Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) recently.

A police officer whose child attends a GEDSB school was initially told he could present for career day if he didn’t wear his uniform. But the board retracted that decision and said he could attend in uniform after all, according to a statement it gave to local publication the Simcoe Reformer.

“As a board, we value the work and dedication of police officers, and as parents, they are welcome in our schools,” GEDSB said.

This article has been updated to include the response from OCDSB.