Windsor Police Association president Jason DeJong says Project Accountability is not needed. (Nathan Swinn/CBC News)

The Windsor Police Association questions the need for the acting chief's 27-point plan designed to hold officers more accountable for their actions.

"We’ve always done our job with honesty and integrity and that’s going to continue regardless of Project Accountability," Windsor Police Association president Jason DeJong.

DeJong said members have "raised some concerns" about Project Accountability.

He called financial background checks for officers in line for promotions "an invasion of privacy."

He also said the psychological testing required before promotions are finalized is redundant. Officers, he said, undergo a psychological evaluation before even being hired by the department.

'People fail to recognize these are very isolated incidents.'— Jason DeJong, Windsor Police Association

Acting chief Al Frederick unveiled the policy after the service found itself accused of multiple incidents of police brutality and the defendant in a number of lawsuits. Former police chief Gary Smith also failed to notify in a timely fashion the province's Special Investigation Unit of serious injuries to civilians on four occasions. Smith retired just before Christmas.

"People fail to recognize these are very isolated incidents," DeJong said. "The media has been harping the same calls [and] same allegations."

DeJong said the chief's plan and all the public scrutiny are not needed and that it has lowered morale "down at the station and on the street."

DeJong said the SIU and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director provide more than enough oversight of his members.

"I think our members are out there doing their job as they should. I don’t think we need to stand up and remind our members they need to be accountable," DeJong said. "That’s constantly reminded to us. We are all aware of the public scrutiny we are under."

Contract, budget negotiations next

The association also takes exception to Mayor Eddie Francis publicly calling for a zero increase in the police budget and a wage freeze for officers in the next collective bargaining agreement.

"The message has been given to police that there will be no increase this year in the police budget. We simply don't have the money," said Francis, who is also chairs the police board.

The two sides are scheduled to start negotiations at the end of February.

"Has he bargained in his own mind and determined there will be no raises?" DeJong said of the mayor. "We’re looking forward to negotiating in good faith."

With files from Tony Doucette and Nathan Swinn, CBC News