Excerpted comments from the Have Your Say blog on thespec.com:
A charge against Ontario Provincial Police Chief Julian Fantino has been withdrawn by the Crown Law Office. Activist Gary McHale, who had brought the charge privately against Fantino, has filed an application for a judicial review of that.
What do you think?
Strange. Makes you wonder what goes on "behind the scenes." Then they wonder why no one these days has any respect for "authority"... Obviously, it's a big joke.
Posted by: Sue-Ellen
You know what's really sad? Our officers are out there doing the best they can, risking their lives to try and protect us, and we are blaming them. Remember, they have bosses too, and take orders from them. But, saying this, the superiors are getting away with this crap because we let them, we don't band together like all other groups of people and demand control of these situations.
No wonder the police get no respect from people these days, the superiors and politicians make up new rules as it goes. If ever politicians and police ever want our respect again ... the people responsible should be fired and/or charged just like any other individual. So, write to your MPs and don't stop till action comes.
Posted by: craig duvall
Gary McHale is just a media attention-getter and a mischief-maker. Good for Fantino. What do you know about land claims? Smoke shacks. Why (do) your brothers and sisters buy from these smoke shacks? If it wasn't for them buying, we wouldn't have these problems. I think you should educate yourself regarding the First Nations people.
Posted by: dolly
No one needs to see the guy charged. Fantino is as much of a clown as McHale, Powless or McGuinty. They're all such a miserable combination of human beings it disgusts me ...
Posted by: GIVE ME FREEDOM
In this situation, and considering the appearance of a double standard of treatment between the natives and the residents of Caledonia, the Crown's withdrawal of said charge only adds to (perceptions) that our police are simply a political institution, and our legal system is more concerned with protecting those within the system.
Posted by: Donald J. Lester
The best way to handle the Caledonia problem is for the OPP to apply the law of the land equally and not selectively, which is Fantino's agenda. Would you want to live in an area patrolled by the OPP, and if you have an issue with a neighbour and before the police can deal with it, you have to wait for the officers to consult the Chief and then wait until he gets his instructions from Dalton? I think morale among the OPP officers is at an all-time low. Were Fantino's legal bills paid by the same ministry that paid the lawyers on both sides of this issue?
Posted by: Tom Robertson
It is a shame the current government does not understand the only way to remove the cloud of perceived injustice is to let the charges proceed.
Posted by: The Dog
What did you expect to happen? The province takes care of its own. Especially with a backdoor politician like Fantino.
Posted by: Craig Galassi
Corrupt police, corrupt politicians, corrupt courts. What is this, a Third World country? We should demand and expect better. Commissar Fantino walks away with another smirk on his face, just like his buddy, Chairman McGuinty, and Ontarians are left shaking their heads once again.
There is a second set of rules for certain members of our society, those who continue to run illegal smoke shacks and occupy surrendered lands, but we'd all like to think our elected representatives and our police hold themselves to a higher standard. I guess this shows the truth. It's no wonder, though, in this corrupt province where admitted terrorists are allowed to walk free so we don't hurt their feelings.
Just keep notes about this for when the next provincial election comes up. Maybe we can't fire the police, but we can sure send their lap dogs packing!
Posted by: the face
All I can say is, WHO DIDN'T SEE THIS ONE COMING?
Posted by: craig duvall
"No prospect of obtaining a conviction in the case" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of Fantino's innocence. This "Head Thug" should be removed from this office immediately.
Posted by: Rick
This whole thing was a waste of taxpayers' money. Please get on with your lives and do something more worthwhile than become a vindictive blogger. I am sure there are better ways to handle this whole Caledonia mess.
Posted by: Eve St. Clair
One can only hope the Superior Court judges who Gary McHale applies to for a judicial review of this decision ... are wearing their "tinfoil" hats while reading McHale's application.
Posted by: Markalanwhittle
The justice of the peace was ORDERED to lay the charge. It appears the Crown is ignoring the court's ruling and showing a bias that is unacceptable.
Posted by: Allan Taylor
What else would you expect? The police in this province have no accountability, so why would the chief of the OPP?
It's time for a complete overhaul of the Police Act. We need to make police officers accountable for their actions. We need complete civilian control of the police forces and the disciplinary process. Good police officers should not fear civilian oversight. Hopefully, the judge who allowed these charges to be brought forward will seek an explanation from the Crown. Something just doesn't seem right about this situation.
Posted by: Mike Russell