Thank you very much for the opportunity to be here today on the very important topic of bail reform.

My name is Rob Davis. I'm the chief of police for the Brantford Police Service. I am very proud to be a Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River. That's where I was raised.

Throughout my policing career, I have had the opportunity to serve in several police organizations across Ontario, in the far northwest, in the isolated communities of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. As well, my career has taken me to Alberta, where I served in the Lethbridge regional police service before I returned to Ontario. I was also seconded to the RCMP for five years. That took me across the country to train police leaders. Throughout my career, I have had a unique lens on how the justice system has rolled out in different provinces.

I have also consciously, in every move I have made, gone to positions where I could stay very involved with indigenous policing, whether it be on reserve or in an urban setting. I bring that experience here because, as we talk about bail reform, I have witnessed first-hand how Gladue considerations, which were initially to be used for sentencing, are now impacting the bail system and, I would say, to be quite candid, are being exploited. It's far too easy for an accused to claim that they have indigenous heritage and thereby be given consideration. I have also observed that in the bail system there is a lack of scrutiny on the sureties that are put forward, quite often, which has become problematic.

The events of Constable Greg Pierzchala's death are very tragic. In the earlier session, Mr. Caputo asked what the officers on the street were saying. I'm going to provide you with an example of what's happening. You can hear it from this officer.

On February 12 in Brantford, Ontario, the community I serve, our officers were sent to an innocuous call—somebody was passed out in a taxicab—at 4:45 in the morning. When they arrived, they woke up the individual. They identified the individual and found out that they were on a release order from January 12, 2023. The individual was to be in the residence at all times, with their surety, and they were blatantly violating it. When they were searched subsequent to the arrest, a loaded firearm was located in their pocket. It was fully loaded, with extra ammunition readily available. The person was held for bail. The latest update I have is that he has since been released.

What really sent chills up my spine was that this location was literally 35 kilometres from where Greg Pierzchala was killed. It would be a 20-minute drive—a 10-minute drive, with lights and sirens, if we were lucky. It's disgusting that this event happened 47 days after his death.

Commissioner Carrique has said that Greg's death was preventable, and here, 47 days later, my officers were responding to the call at 4:45 in the morning in a city that is a commuter town to the GTA. There are a lot of people up and mobile at that time of day, and here was somebody, whom the justice system allowed to be out on bail, carrying a firearm fully loaded. Let's not lose sight of the fact that their lengthy criminal history included numerous firearms offences, violence and a lifetime prohibition. The circumstances of this individual are eerily similar to the circumstances of McKenzie and Constable Pierzchala.

Mr. Caputo, you asked earlier what the police officers are saying: The system's broken. People like this are getting out on the street and are being released when being held for bail. As the police, we are doing our job—trying to do our job—and then, when we have them put before the courts for bail, to be held in custody, they are being repeatedly released.

What is also concerning is that the people see this. The citizens see this. The taxpayers of this country see this. They are losing faith in the system. I hear from citizens all the time that they are losing faith in the justice system. My biggest fear is that this may eventually lead to vigilantism, where people take measures into their own hands to feel safe.

I look forward to your questions.

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