TORONTO – The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) is reviewing a complaint made by Councillor Doug Ford against Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, according to multiple reports.
The OIPRD is probing complaints by Ford that Blair’s comment on the mayor’s appearance in the infamous ‘crack video’ and an alleged fishing trip with a member of the Toronto Police Services Board contravened the Police Services Act.
A letter from the OIPRD to the city councillor and obtained by the Toronto Sun indicates that the alleged conduct “may constitute misconduct as defined in section 80 of the Police Services Act.”
The letter was sent last week and states the independent body will conduct an investigation into the matter.
Ford has been a vocal opponent of Blair’s since October when the police chief announced his investigators had obtained a copy of a video which shows the mayor smoking what might be crack cocaine.
Blair said during the Oct. 31 press conference, that he was “disappointed” by what he saw in the video. Later that day, Mayor Rob Ford, after months of denials, admitted to smoking crack cocaine.
“We have the most political chief I have ever seen,” Ford told reporters at the time. “The chief shouldn’t have come out and made the comments, wearing a police uniform, about his personal opinions about the mayor.”
Councillor Ford also objected to an alleged fishing trip Blair took with Andy Pringle, a member of the Toronto Police Services Board.
The OIPRD will provide the Toronto Police Services Board with a report on the investigation.
- South Africa celebrates 30 years since end of apartheid, but discontent grows
- Military judges don’t have divided loyalties, Canada’s top court rules
- Grocery code: How Ottawa has tried to get Loblaw, Walmart on board
- Alberta to overhaul municipal rules to include sweeping new powers, municipal political parties
Comments