Firing from OPP felt like losing family member, Blair said

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Fired after criticizing the hiring process for Ford family friend Ron Taverner to the top OPP job, the provincial police service’s former deputy commissioner is seeking a Commission of Inquiry to look at “corrupt” provincial government appointments.

Brad Blair is also seeking $15 million in damages in a wrongful termination lawsuit that names Premier Doug Ford, his former chief of staff Dean French and senior bureaucrats, in addition to a previously announced $5 million libel lawsuit against Ford.

Blair, with wife Danielle at his side, said what he really wants is to be back in uniform doing the job he loved.

“He’s put his life on the line, he’s put his well-being on the line many times but if there’s one thing he’s always done, he’s always done the right thing,” Danielle said, wiping away tears.

“I’m just very proud of him.”

Blair was the acting commissioner of the OPP and a candidate for the permanent version of that job when Taverner, a Toronto Police superintendent, was announced as the winning candidate.

Taverner bowed out after questions were raised about the impartiality of the process.

Blair was fired March 4 by people deeply involved in Taverner’s hiring, his lawyer Julian Falconer said.

“You take a 32-year career and you flush it down the toilet,” Falconer said.

“Instead of being recognized for his service, it’s flushed down the toilet.”

When he turned to two legislative watch dogs, the Ombudsman and the Integrity Commissioner, Blair was again failed, Falconer said.

The issue was not Taverner but the ‘rigged’ process used to put him in that position, he said.

A Commission of Inquiry would offer an independent investigation of not only Taverner’s appointment, but that of several people connected to French, he said.

Blair was asked how he felt to be pulled from the service in that manner, and he compared it to losing his father at age 21.

“That’s what it felt like to me; the OPP was my family,” he said.

Ford’s office issued a statement on his behalf that thanked the uniformed and civilian men and women of the OPP.

“Our government will continue to work with OPP Commissioner, Thomas Carrique, to support all the members of the OPP, especially on matters relating to mental health and supporting our front-line officers,” the statement said.

“As the Premier has said before, his concern is and always has been protecting and supporting the front-line officers who put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities.”

Ford’s office said it would be inappropriate to comment on a matter before the courts.

aartuso@postmedia.com