As an organization, the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) commits to working continually to earn the confidence of the citizens of and visitors to Ontario—a confidence that will not be taken for granted. The O.P.P. fulfills this commitment by providing the best and most professional service, possible, and by striving to build a culture of trust, and open and honest dialogue, with the communities it serves and among the people it employs. The organization commits to creating and sustaining a positive working environment in which all employees have equal opportunity to fulfill their potential within the profession.

Each O.P.P. employee and volunteer appreciates the vital role he/she plays in protecting the fundamental rights of all people in Ontario. As such, each commits to always put the interests of the public and the O.P.P.'s Vision and Mission before any personal and private interests, and to demonstrate pride in his/her profession and the O.P.P. through personal conduct that reflects a belief in O.P.P. values and ethics.

While Mayor Trainer demonstrated the long held view that democracy demands accountabity, Gwen demonstrated... well... that those in power hide behind closed doors. While Mayor Trainer's words and actions are open for all to see, OPP words and actions are clouded in secrecy. While Mayor Trainer demonstrated that the Public has rights and those rights include 'Open and Honest dislogue', the OPP demonstrated to Hell with being Open and Honest dislogue - no one is going to tell the OPP that they must be accountable.

Just how far has the OPP gone towards 'Police State Policies'?

Over the past month the MELT team (Major Event Liaison Team) have meet with people in Caledonia and through these meetings have hand picked people who would be more pro-OPP or pro-Gwen to be invited to secret meetings. These meetings, their time and place, were hidden from other OPP officers, the negotiation team, the media, Caledonia Citizens Alliance and mostly from the public.

Those hand picked people were called about 2 hrs prior to the meeting to give them the location of the meeting. Just to prove how secretive these meetings were they met in the local Museum - a place, where I am sure, Residents often hold public meetings.

From these meetings, 6:30 & 8:30, the OPP claim the residents wanted the OPP to put up the road check points on Thisthmoor. However, it is impossible to tell who said what and who suggested what because the minutes of the meetings remain secret. I think anyone who has been around can tell you that the average person placed in a secret and limited meeting with someone in authority can be easily & quickly controlled. The one in authority can easily get the average person to agree to many things.

What we can tell you is that Gwen, as Commissioner, must have agreed to the stated Promise of 'Open and Honest Dialogue'. A month ago residents were told by the MELT team, "It would not be in the best interest for Commissioner Boniface to have a public meeting." They were also told, "She was not prepared to come and have a public meeting with the Caledonia Community."

The following night the parents in Caledonia held a public meeting to talk about the school in September - minutes are posted. People from the school board were present along with Mayor Trainer, Senior Negotiators for the Ontario Government, about 70 parents, but no OPP representatives. The OPP representative invited was on vacation.

Not only was the OPP representative on vacation but the OPP couldn't find anyone else among their 7500 officers who have the skills and abilities to talk to the public. The MELT team, whose job it is to talk to the public, were also not present. I guess this MELT team has no problem talking to residents behind closed doors, one on one, but 'Open and Honest Dialogue' with the community, as promised, is beyond their ability.

You will note that in two days Mayor Trainer has met with the public twice, which is what you do in a democracy. While the OPP held secret meetings behind closed doors - the public is not allowed even to know what was said and who was there.

OPP have started down the path of 'Police State Policies' and the Public must demand the Removal of ALL SENIOR OPP OFFICERS to demonstrate to all police forces that Democracy will not accept such policing methods.

It is time to Clean House - all Senior OPP Officers Must Go

Just a note about the MELT team:

Below is a MELT team business card. You would think that if you spent the time to print business cards then you want people to know who you are, what your address is and how to contact you. I have two MELT team cards on file and both look the same as the one below.

The problem is that if you call 905-765-2339 they have no clue who Constable John Browning is. What surprised us is that the MELT team must know this because they write 1-888-310-1122 on the back of the card. But if you phone this number they have no record of Constable John Browning. We called more than once and were bounced around to about 6 different numbers before someone said they would phone us back. 3 hrs later we received a call telling us that we could email Constable John Browning to tell him we were looking for him.

We had the exact same experience two weeks ago with Sergeant Kerry Bedard, MELT team, business card. I guess in the 21st century the MELT team doesn't own Cell Phones nor do they have an office and a desk with a phone on it. You do notice that there is no address on the card - I guess when they are not in Caledonia they are... well... unemployed because it appears they have no office and no phone.