New Calgary police union president to put 'ego aside' and rebuild relationships

Calgary's police union has a new president who is committed to putting "ego aside" in an effort to rebuild relationships, which he says have deteriorated over the past several years. 

Homicide Det. John Orr is the new Calgary Police Association president, winning the position Thursday over Const. Trevor Nagy after 10 days of voting.

Following his three-year term, controversial outgoing president Les Kaminski did not run for re-election and is set to retire after a 34-year career with the Calgary Police Service (CPS).

Orr is a 20-year officer who has worked on many high-profile cases in Calgary, including the Douglas Garland triple murder involving five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents.

Until May, Orr was the president of the Alberta Federation of Police Associations.

Union in 'dire need' of effective leadership

In his election platform, Orr said he plans to change how the union is led.

"We need a leader who can put their ego aside and focus on the best interests of the membership as a whole," wrote Orr.

"I am not saying that we 'bow down' when there is a disagreement, but we need a leader who thinks strategically so that we can focus on accomplishing goals, not on furthering personal agendas."

"I believe that the CPA is in dire need of effective and balanced leadership," said Orr.

The CPA will be entering contract arbitration in January and Orr questioned why the union ended up in this position in the first place, pointing out that other cities, including Edmonton, settled their contracts for increases to salary and benefits.

"I believe that the erosion of respect between the city and the CPA is a major contributor to the situation we now find ourselves in," said Orr.

"I have watched as the relationships that we depend on to be effective have deteriorated. I think you all deserve better."

• Police union president calls for Calgary Police Commission chair to resign

Kaminski was known for butting heads with former police Chief Roger Chaffin and with the police commission. For years, there was tension between the association and senior CPS leadership. 

After criticizing the practice of naming officers charged with crimes, Kaminski was charged in 2017 with perjury and assault with a weapon in relation to a 2008 arrest of a Hells Angels member.

Both charges were eventually dropped.

In 2017, Kaminski also penned a harshly worded letter to the membership criticizing Chaffin's decision to contract out a review of the service's use-of-force policies.

In 2018, Kaminski criticized the police commission chair, saying Brian Thiessen had "failed entirely" and calling on Thiessen to step down. Kaminski also called Thiessen an "ally" and a "cheerleader" for Chaffin.

The commission said the CPA repeatedly declined "opportunities to collaborate with the commission to move initiatives forward."

Chaffin retired in 2018, leaving his post three years into a five-year term. 

Earlier this year, Chief Mark Neufeld took on the role of Calgary's top cop. At a police commission meeting this week, Neufeld thanked Kaminski for his service.