City of Guelph bylaw and security officers will be getting in-house driver training after a video surfaced of a bylaw officer appearing to run a red light.
David Wiedrick, the city's manager of bylaw compliance, said that an instructor from the city's transit department will be conducting the session for the city's 16 full-time bylaw officers and two full-time security officers. There are a number of part-time officers.
The move comes after a video surfaced last week from a citizen's dash cam that appears to show a city SUV bylaw vehicle proceeding through a red light. The video was shared and commented on extensively on social media.
"All bylaw officers and security officers will be going through some more driver training to reemphasize everything we're taught," said Wiedrick.
"The public holds us to a higher standard and I think the officers should always drive to that higher standard and be an example for everyone on the road."
Wiedrick said he saw the comments on social media and was aware there were several complaints about bylaw's driving, not just this incident.
That made him realize that this was not an isolated incident.
"Some of our driving would appear to not be what my standards are," Wiedrick said.
The driver in the video was identified and the matter dealt with internally, Wiedrick said. Because it was an internal personnel matter, the city would not be sharing what punishment, if any, the driver was given.
Bylaw officers are unionized and the union was involved in the handling of the matter, he said.
Bylaw officers do not receive any further driver training when hired, Wiedrick said, "so if we can make people better at doing their job, then that's the whole goal."
The driver training to take place soon will be a classroom session. The details and lesson plan are in the works but will happen soon, Wiedrick said.
"Reemphasize all the important things. We're out there, people notice us. It's no different than if people see a police car. We expect everyone to drive according to the law."
Wiedrick said the city acted swiftly once the video came to light.
"By Monday morning I saw the video and we had everything done within seven days. It was a learning experience for me."
