Police Chief issued strong statements when he learned of unacceptable police behaviour - his job is to now ensure that the reputation of the police force is upheld.

SwP thumbnail graphicBy Pepper Parr

June 22nd, 2020

BURLINGTON, ON

 

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Halton Regional Chief of Police Stephen Tanner

Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner is to be commended for his immediate and strong statement over some police behaviour that was captured on video by a citizen and shown on social media networks.

The video, show here, is disturbing

In his statement Chief Tanner said: “I can assure you that this matter will be dealt with appropriately and as swiftly as possible, and individual(s) disciplined accordingly.

“I am extremely concerned with what I have seen in this particular video, particularly the actions of all four officers who were present at the time of the incident.

Chief Tanner adds that a “criminal process is the presumption of innocence until there is a finding of guilt. This fact is the same for all citizens including members of a police service.”

Rightly so.

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The reputation of the police force is in play. Is it a collection of thugs or a barrel with some bad apples?

Hopefully the police will announce that the three police officers who looked on and took no action are taken out of active police work and put behind desks where they can shuffle paper or assigned to police escort work transmitting people being held in custody and transported to court houses.

Chief Tanner’s strong statement will hopefully be followed by swift action.

The leadership of the Oakville detachment might be worth looking at more closely – good commanding officers know the men and women they lead.

The Police Services Act of Ontario is a complex document that allows for long delays if that is what is wanted while investigations take place.  Covid19 precautions can also be brought into play if that is the wish of the police administration.

At play here is the reputation of the hundreds of police officers who serve the public daily; they deserve to be supported by a Chief of Police who is steadfast in how he carries out the mandate he swore to uphold when he was sworn in.

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