'I'm more than accountable': Windsor's mayor still refusing to answer questions on 911 call to chief's home

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens who's also thechair of the police services board continues to refuse answering questions about a 911 call made from the police chief Al Frederick's home in November.

CBC News attempted to speak with Dilkens after anevent Thursday, but he wouldn't comment on behalf of the police services board.

"I've provided all my comments, thank you," said Dilkens. "Thank you, I've provided all my comments," he repeated.

When asked about accountability and transparency, Dilkens replied by saying, "I'm more than accountable."

Mayor Drew Dilkens refuses to answer questions about 911 call to police chief's home

6 years ago

Duration 1:23

After repeated attempts to have Mayor Drew Dilkens answer questions via email or over the phone, he again refused when approached at a local event.

As CBC News first reported on Feb. 14, several confidential sources confirmed to CBC Newsthat three units, plus Deputy Chief Brad Hill, responded to a 911 hang up call to Frederick's Windsorresidence the morning of Nov. 12 for a domestic-related incident.

Dilkens who saidhe was informed of the call the same day by Deputy Chief Brad Hill spoke with reporters from other media outlets after the CBC Newsstory came out, but refused multiple interviewrequestsfrom CBC News.

In an email last week,Dilkenssaidresponding officers determined the call to the chief's residence was "not of a criminal nature" and that the board requested the commissioner of the OPP to undertake a review of the incident ninedays later (Nov. 21, 2018).

CBC News has since learned the board "conducted an email poll [of the board members] on Nov. 21 and the poll was ratified at the next meeting on Nov. 22," said Norma Coleman, the mayor's chief of staff.

Dilkensaddedthe OPP's report on the matter was submitted to the Windsor Police Services Board on Jan. 9, 2019.

"In their report, the Ontario Provincial Police concluded that all involved Windsor Police Servicemembers, both uniform and civilian, responded in an appropriate, proper and transparent manner and followed established policies," he said.

• OPP reviewed Windsor police handling nine days after 911 call

However, CBC News still has questions members of the police service board aren't answering:

• Why did the board ask the OPP to review the investigation nine days after the 911 call?
• If the OPP concluded everyone involved acted appropriately, why not release the report?
• In the future, how will cases involvingthe chief of police be handled?
• Why wasn't an outside police agency called in immediately to investigate?

Other members of the police services board Jo-Anne Gignac, Gaston Franklyn and past member Sophia Chisholmalso have not responded to CBC News'communicationsfor an interview. A family member of Franklynhas toldCBC News he's out of the country and will respond to the interviewrequest once he returns.

Amherstburg mayor, and newly appointed member of the Windsor Police Services BoardAldo DiCarlo, also will not comment.

The reason he gave is "it was before my time on the police board."DiCarlo was sworn in in January 2019.

• Amherstburg sticking with Windsor Police Service despite civilian commission investigation

Board member Michael Ray tells CBC News in an email,"l have nothing to add to the report you were provided by the chair of the board on this matter."

Windsor police services board members remain tight-lipped

6 years ago

Duration 0:52

Questions to the Windsor Police Services Board, surrounding the OPP's review of how Windsor police handled a 911 call at the chief of police's house, remain unanswered.

CBC News asked the OPP for a copy of the review and was informed "the information belongs to Windsor."

The mayor's office andthe Windsor Police Serviceisn't willing to release a copy of the report.