City councillor Diane Deans says the public backs her call that Mayor Jim Watson take his seat on the Ottawa police services board.
An on-line poll she conducted, which wrapped up Thursday at noon, shows 85% of the more than 100 respondents agree with her position.
The mayor's chair at the board meetings is usually occupied by a councillor the mayor sends in his stead.
But Deans said, with issues like gang violence and the cutback in community policing, Watson needs to show leadership.
"There's growing concern in the community - the Mayor has a lot of weight in this town, and I just feel that it's a matter of leadership," Deans said.
"It's a matter of letting the comunity know that this is a serious issue, and that we will do all that we can to make sure that the confidence that we have in our police service is maintained."
Deans noted many other big city mayors attend their police service meetings, and Mayor Watson should follow their example.