The interim commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police has filed a request with the provincial ombudsman to investigate the recent appointment of Toronto Police Supt. Ron Taverner as the force's new commissioner.
The motion filed by Brad Blair Tuesday to ombudsman Paul Dubé comes just six days before Taverner was scheduled to take over the position and recommends his appointment be delayed until the matter is resolved.
"It should come as no surprise that the perception of political interference in the hiring process has deeply affected the morale of the rank and file," Blair said. "I request that there be a delay in the installation of Superintendent Taverner until the completion of your review."
Among Blair's claims, he writes of a 'concerning history' between Premier Doug Ford's office and the OPP.
One of those cases involves Ford's chief of staff, Dean French, requesting the OPP purchase a "large camper type vehicle and have it modified to specifications the Premier's office would provide.
But Blair said French "then provided specifications and costs via document from a company" and requested that "costs associated with the vehicle be kept off the books."
"Approaching an individual company as a sole source and asking for the monies spent to be hidden from the public record is at minimum a violation of the Ontario Government's financial policies."
Taverner's appointment has been heavily scrutinized as he's not only a friend of Ford, but the Ontario government has admitted the qualifications for the position were lowered so applicants like Taverner could apply.
The appointment has also been criticized because Taverner's former boss with the Toronto Police Service, Mario Di Tommaso, was part of the three-person panel that interviewed candidates.
Di Tommaso was also appointed by the Ford government in October as a deputy minister of community safety in October.
Ford said last Wednesday that there was no political influence in Taverner's position.
"You have to look at the qualifications, if Ron Taverner wasn't qualified, he wouldn't be there, but he has the utmost respect of police officers not only across Ontario, but across the country," Ford said.
The first criticism of the decision came from former OPP Commissioner and NEWSTALK1010 Public Safety Analyst Chris Lewis, who said the night he was appointed that Taverner's age at 72 taking over the position was suspicious, while suspecting there was some sort of political influence.
"It's mind-boggling and if you don't know anything about it and Ron doesn't, in fairness, nor do I know anything about running 23 Division, I think it's a recipe for disaster and I think the government and the premier have made a huge mistake," Lewis said.
Ford rebuked Lewis for his comments, saying he would 'hold his tongue' about the former commissioner's past.
To read the full letter, click here: https://www.falconers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Letter-to-Mr.-Dube-Dated-11Dec2018.pdf