More than 96 per cent of voting members of Halifax Regional Police say they do not have confidence in police chief Dan Kinsella as a leader, according to an internal poll.
Sgt. Dean Steinburg, president of the Halifax Regional Police Association (HRPA), said in a Wednesday release that 83.7 per cent of HRP members participated in the vote.
The group was given the prompt: “I have confidence in Chief Daniel Kinsella’s ability to lead the Halifax Regional Police,” to which “an overwhelming” 96.6 per cent indicated that they did not, the release said.
“The Halifax Regional Police Association feels this is a serious concern that requires the full attention of City Council, the Board of Police Commissioners, the Mayor, CAO’s Office and the Department of Justice,” Steinburg said in a statement.
In an interview with Global News on Wednesday, the union president said he was “sadly,” not surprised with the results of the vote.
“I knew it was going to be high, but 97 per cent and even took me a little bit by surprise,” he said.
“What I think is probably more relevant is the fact that we actually had 84 per cent in the organization vote. That’s a really high number, too, to get people engaged.”
Steinburg said he spoke to other presidents in the country who have held votes. “We’re certainly the highest vote on on non-confidence.”
Union ‘creating divisions’: chief
In a statement to Global News, Kinsella said he will not comment on the specifics of the union process at this time, “which notably, the union president chose to first communicate two weeks ago through media interviews.”
Kinsella said he reached out to Steinburg and union executives in September to ask them to help create an action plan in response to a recent employment engagement survey — but said they have instead “chosen to focus on creating divisions and spread rhetoric.”
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“We are going through a time of unprecedented challenges facing policing. Many police services in the country are dealing with serious issues related to employee morale and wellness, attrition and recruitment,” the statement said.
“At the same time we are being challenged to step up and adapt to changing expectations of the policing profession.”
Kinsella said since he arrived in 2019, union leadership and “particularly” Steinburg have been “resistant to positive change, attacked my character repeatedly over these years, spread false information and acted divisively instead of trying to be part of much-needed cultural change.”
The chief said he knows there is work to be done around member morale and ensuring officers feel heard and engaged with.
“It is a difficult time to be a police officer right now and our members continue to deliver in the midst of a sentiment that isn’t always favourable to those in policing or one that values traditional police work,” he said.
Vote didn’t come lightly
The vote of confidence has been a while in the making, according to previous comments by Steinburg. Steinburg told Global News two weeks ago, this was an opportunity for members to express “their frustration with the current leadership.”
But the decision to hold the vote didn’t come lightly.
“This is unprecedented. We’ve never done this in the history of the police department,” Steinburg said in an Oct. 18 interview, four days after union members were informed of the vote.
The notice listed several issues with chief Kinsella leading to the vote, which included in part:
- lack of support for officers
- lack of resources to effectively police
- ineffective recruitment strategies and reduction in career opportunities
- “changing organizational priorities driven by social media”
The biggest issue has been and remains the staffing crisis, according to Steinburg, who said: “We’ve been very, very patient and chief’s had three years to turn things around here … not enough was done.”
In response, Kinsella provided a statement to Global News on Oct. 18, that read in part:
“I am very focused on putting in place the right supports for our officers and improving morale while also responding to changing societal expectations.”
The Board of Police Commissioners declined a request for comment at the time.
According to Kinsella’s statement Wednesday, 75 sworn members left the force through retirements, resignations and terminations since July 2019, “during an unprecedented time in policing.” Also in that time frame, HRP hired 77 officers.
Kinsella said 16.5 new full-time positions were approved in the last budget, and a class of 28 in-house cadets just started training two weeks ago and are expected to graduate next year.
“The assertion that the retirements/resignations/terminations are at an all-time high has little merit when you look at the last decade of HRP, even with the current extraordinary policing challenges,” he said.
Kinsella concluded his lengthy statement by saying: “With all of the traumatic experiences that policing has endured over the last few years and in recent weeks, and with us finally coming out of a pandemic, it is now time to come together.
“The road ahead won’t be easy but we have to step up and respond as expected of us during these times. I am committed to that work, and to supporting our members through these difficult circumstances.”
Vote ‘performative’: policing expert
Regardless of outcome, a policing expert previously told Global News that the vote of confidence is “purely and entirely performative.”
Christian Leuprecht, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University, said even if HRPA members vote they have no confidence in Kinsella, the board does not have to act on the vote.
“I think it’s always a considerable breakdown within an organization when the association (HRPA) goes public with both its grievances and the intent to have a no confidence vote.”
And, “sometimes when commissions are silent, it means there’s a strategy behind that silence,” Leuprecht said.
The board’s chair, Lindell Smith, did say there may be an opportunity for comment after the vote is complete. Global News has reached out and will update this story.
— with files from Alex Cooke