One week after emphasizing the importance of addressing racism to the Black Council of Windsor-Essex, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens faced inquiries regarding racist remarks made by the city’s former police chief. The incident occurred during a virtual event where Dilkens was questioned about the lack of public acknowledgment or condemnation of racism by the organization.
Dilkens responded by stating that he takes such matters seriously and highlighted the significance of calling out racism as a top priority. Last year, an internal investigation confirmed allegations of racist comments made by the former police chief, Jason Bellaire, towards a Black officer.
When asked about the transparency of Bellaire’s disciplinary process, Dilkens defended the board’s actions, stating that the discussions and proposed remedies were publicly known. However, Leslie McCurdy, a former chair of the Black Council of Windsor-Essex, criticized Dilkens’ comments as disingenuous, claiming that the community most affected was not adequately engaged.
The allegations against Bellaire and the subsequent disciplinary actions were not publicly disclosed until reported by CBC News. The investigation substantiated the claims made by a high-ranking Black officer, leading to disciplinary measures against Bellaire, including equity, diversity, and inclusion training.
Despite criticisms from some members of the Black community regarding the adequacy of the discipline, Dilkens declined to address further questions on the matter during a recent encounter with CBC News, redirecting the focus to his ongoing campaign efforts.