The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) has disabled comments on its social media posts due to online toxicity.
SPS Board Chair Kelly Ash said the decision followed discussions with Acting Chief Mike Federico and aligns with practices at other police services.
"It became particularly problematic, I think, when we made an arrest and we identified the individual," Federico said to Sarnia News Today. "The social commentary came back, [a wide] range of personal opinions and editorial comment, not based on fact, not even based on the reason why the posting was made. It was just sometimes, cruel, mean or toxic, and it served no purpose."
Federico said the move to turn off comments is not an indictment of the original intention, which was to welcome feedback and encourage dialogue with the SPS.
"But it ended up getting distracted. This is, I think, one of the social phenomena we're experiencing around social media," he said "We will provide information to the community, we will explain why we're providing that information; sometimes it is to solicit further information, but we'll receive that information in a much more manageable way that doesn't personally expose people or create some sort of upset or insecurity."
City/County Councillor and SPS board member Chrissy McRoberts said the comments section on Facebook became "unruly."
However, she emphasized that disabling comments won't impact transparency, as the public can still reach the service or board by phone, email, or through their online tip portal.
The discussion was held during Federico's first SPS board meeting on June 25.
Federico said he has received a warm welcome from community members as well as those within the service.
"I was requested to come here and there's always some anxiety... that people may not feel particularly secure, given that reviews are ongoing. I want to make sure that people do feel secure and confident that they can carry out their jobs," he said. "The service board has great confidence and faith in the membership and in the way the membership is carrying out their duties."
Federico said he's looking forward to seeing how services are delivered, in terms of primary response, and interactions with support services and community outreach.
Next week, Federico will be joining patrol officers on a ride-along. He's also been invited to participate in the upcoming Canada Day celebration, to visit Aamjiwnaang First Nation, and meet with local organizations like Sarnia-Lambton Rebound.
"My undertaking is to make the personal investment, and what I'm asking people to do for me is invest their time confidently, that it'll pay off. I'm not here in some transitory way or just marking time," he said. "I'm here to make the investments the community wants the service to make, and I'm hoping people will feel that the time they spend with me is worth their while."
Federico stepped into the role in mid-June amid an ongoing workplace investigation involving Chief Derek Davis, Deputy Police Chief Ron Hansen and a civilian member of the service.
