Acting Ottawa police chief Giles LaRochelle told media on Tuesday he was concerned about new revelations of incidents with people in police custody. We have a problem, he said. (CBC)

Two new cellblock videos showing "questionable" behaviour by Ottawa police will be reviewed by the Ontario Provincial Police, the city's acting chief, Gilles Larochelle, announced Tuesday.

Larochelle said he learned about the videos on Monday and wouldn't share any details because both cases are before the courts.

But the acting chief was blunt in his assessment of what the videos say about the police service.

"We have a problem," he told a news conference. "There is no doubt about it and we need to identify the issues so that we can take measures to correct them."

Two previously released videos, showing police kneeing and kicking two people in custody, are under review by Ontario's Special Investigations Unit and won't be part of the OPP review.

But the OPP will look at any other videos that come to light, as well as at how Ottawa police deal with people in custody, said Larochelle, who is acting chief while Vern White attends his wedding in Finland.

"I am extremely concerned about the fact that we are learning of the existence of new incidents pertaining to treatment given to individuals by the police under our custody."

The OPP review will consider current training and policies pertaining to cellblock procedures — focusing on cases involving intoxication and strip searches, he said.

Larochelle also announced that audio equipment will be added to supplement video surveillance of the cellblock area.

The OPP was called in because "it will maintain its independence and ensure to the community they are the ones conducting the investigation on our members and not us," he said.

Bonds, Delay cases spark probe

The previously released videos deal with the treatment of Stacy Bonds and Terry Delay while they were in custody.

One video shows Bonds, a 27-year-old woman with no criminal history, being kneed and strip-searched in September 2008 after being arrested on Rideau Street for public intoxication. The charge stayed by Justice Richard Lajoie of the Ontario Court of Justice in a verbal ruling Oct. 27.

Delay was also arrested for public intoxication and appears in a video to be kicked as he is put into a jail cell. Charges against Delay were also stayed.

Both cases are being investigated by the Special Investigations Unit, a civilian agency that looks into cases of death, injury, or sexual assault involving police.

Larochelle said there is a system in place to "audit" police service tapes, but going back through thousands of past tapes would be challenging. Ottawa police are working with the courts to look for cases that are "priorities," including the two tapes the OPP are now reviewing.

"Ultimately, I'm certain with the right measures in place, the Ottawa police will emerge stronger than ever and deliver the kind of services the community expects and deserves," Larochelle said.

OPP review may boost police morale: professor

Ron Melchers, a criminology professor at the University of Ottawa, said he was surprised to learn special constables were working in cellblocks, often with little training.

Special constables receive one week of police training, and just one day focusing on the use of force.

Melchers said the OPP review will likely focus on the cellblock area.

"It might be more guidance, more supervisory control looked at … a range of things could be looked at," Melchers said.

The controversy over the cellblock videos is likely making things hard for the city's police officers, he said.

"The police find that when the public loses confidence in police, the public is more resistant. It affects their ability to do their job safely and effectively," Melchers said.

Bringing in the OPP should allow for a more independent investigation, Melchers said, and will hopefully make it more credible in the eyes of the public.