Chief Bruce Addresses Complaints Amid Labour Talks

0:00It's April 8th, from your city to your ears. This is Vancouver News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. St. John Police Chief Robert Bruce just dropped the detailed statement after a new Brunswick court lifted a publication ban on complaints against him. The ban got overturned mid-March following challenges from media outlets. Those complaints came from several force members back in September, and the court decision hit on March 16th. Chief Bruce says he first learned about the issues in July 2025 and fully cooperated with the police board, the provincial commission, and an outside investigator. Most claims got tossed as baseless and not in good faith. For the handful that stuck, he owned up through an informal fix under the Police Act. He's been in the jobs since July 2021, pushing hard to modernize the force and connect better with the community. But he calls out a tough inherited culture that resists change, especially from the St. John Police Association exec who want things to stay the same.

1:02Bruce points to the complaints timing right in the middle of messy labor talks that started in 2024 after their contract expired, wrapping up the arbitration late 2025. He sees it as predictable union pushback, like they've done to pass leaders. CTV News is waiting on a response from the Provincial Police Association, but the chief says he's locked in on serving St. John folks with no more comments for now.