Taverner withdraws from consideration to become OPP's next boss
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Ford-family friend Ron Taverner has withdrawn his name for consideration as the next OPP commissioner.
“This decision is not an easy one for me to make,” Taverner, a Toronto Police superintendent, said in an e-mail to Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones Wednesday.
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“The thousands of men and women who make up the front lines of the OPP deserve leadership that will put their concerns and well-being at the forefront of decision-making. It is only then that the OPP will truly serve and protect the public to the best of its ability,” he added. “It is for these very reasons that I have come to this decision — to protect the integrity of rank-and-file police officers given the controversy surrounding my appointment.”
Opposition parties at Queen’s Park raised strong objections to the choice of Taverner, as did his competitor for the job, former OPP deputy commissioner Brad Blair. Taverner is a long-time family friend of Premier Doug Ford.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said in a social media post Wednesday that the public deserves to know the extent of political interference in the OPP, accusing Ford of “dangerous and vindictive” meddling.
The government has denied any political intervention in the appointment.
Taverner said he believes that the OPP requires a change in leadership and culture at its most senior levels, and that his 51 years in law enforcement would have provided him with the skills to do the job.
Ford issued a statement Wednesday in response to Taverner’s decision, thanking him for putting his name forward and his half-century of policing service.
The premier continued in his support of Taverner, saying he would have been a “tremendous asset” to the OPP.
“Since the beginning of this process, our objective has been to bring new leadership in order to address many long-standing and systemic issues that have existed for some time within the OPP,” said Ford. “I am concerned about the countless negative stories I have heard directly from front-line officers.
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“As far as our rank-and-file officers are concerned, we must do better … It is very unfortunate that the opposition has chosen to politicize this process rather than focusing on how we can support our front-line officers.”
The premier said the OPP needs a new vision that puts the interest of residents and front-line officers first.
Jones also thanked Taverner for his service as a “decorated police officer” and said interim OPP commissioner Gary Couture will remain in his position for now.
“We will have more to say about the role of the commissioner in the near future,” Jones said.
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