15 months after suspension began, Hamilton police board member says he's cleared of misconduct

Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, one of Hamilton's most vocal and critical police board members, was barred from participating in any meetings or decisions for over a year after a complaint was lodged against him by the then-board chair. 

But the file's been closed, and Kroetsch cleared of any wrongdoing by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC), the Ward 2 councillor said in a statement Monday. 

Kroetsch will return to the decision-making table at the next board meeting June 26. 

"I'm glad this ordeal is over," he said. "These complaints, and the subsequent investigation by the OCPC, served to silence my voice as a public representative on the board for more than a year."

He said the OCPC dismissed the allegations after finding there was no evidence to support them or they did not rise to the level of misconduct.

Pat Mandy, who was chair at the time, filed the complaint with the majority of the board members' support in November 2023. Their discussion was behind closed doors and the complaint has not been made public.

Mandy left the board last year. On Monday, the board's executive director Kirsten Stevenson said in a statement, on behalf of the current board chair Don Robertson, that the board hasn't had a chance to discuss the matter and will not comment at this time.

OCPC confirmed to CBC Hamilton it had concluded its investigation and is "no longer required to decline to exercise his duties" as a police service board member. 

"The OCPC will not be providing any further public comment on its investigation at this time or providing a copy of the decision," said spokesperson Veronica Spada in an email. 

New complaints added in 2025

Kroetsch previously said the complaint claimed he had violated the board's code of conduct when he brought forward a motion asking the city to direct the use of the board's surpluses and comments he made on social media in 2023 critical of the board's budgetary processes. 

The areas of the code of conduct Kroetsch said he'd been accused of failing were discharging duties "loyally, faithfully, impartially" in line with the police services act, and inspiring "public confidence in the abilities and integrity of the board." 

The board added further complaints in the months that followed, Kroetsch said this past March.

Those included comments he made about the 2024 budget on social media and to the media, and when he attended a rally to support the family of Erixon Kabera, who was killed by Hamilton police at his home in November 2024. 

After an "exhaustive investigation" that included reviewing emails, meeting minutes and videos, and conducting several interviews, the OCPC found none of the board's complaints constituted misconduct, Kroetsch said in his statement Monday. 

"I consistently promoted transparency, accountability, and better governance, and I was met with resistance from the board when attempting to do so," he said. 

Report kept secret, says councillor

Kroetsch said he'd hoped the full report would be made public, but OCPC decided not to release it — even to him or the board. He was instead provided a confidential summary of the findings and was told he could share some information publicly at a "high level." 

"Going forward, I intend to continue to use my time on the board as a voice for the public," Kroestch said. "It's in everyone's interest to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and good governance and I will not waver in my dedication to those values." 

Two former police board members, Alok Mukherjee in Toronto and Jane Milkewich in Hamilton, previously told CBC Hamilton they were concerned about the board filing complaints against a fellow member. 

In March, Mukherjee said there should be a "thorough review" of the board's ability to provide effective governance. Mulkewich said the board's complaint left her with more questions than answers. She also said wasn't aware of conduct by Kroetsch that would've been in violation of the Code of Conduct. 

Since the original complaint was filed, two other board members have left — Geordie Elms and Fred Benninck. 

The board now consists of Kroetsch, Robertson, Mayor Andrea Horwath, Coun. Esther Pauls, Dr. Anjali Menezes and Shaun Padulo.