There is time better spent than passing public comment
EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter is in response to an August 22 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Association ‘Blastout’ to its members regarding media attention to the recent announcement of changes to the controversial OPP billing model. “The obvious lack of data has not stopped some politicians, municipal officials and media outlets from criticizing and drawing the conclusion that this model will not work. We began to see multiple inaccurate reports circulating first thing Monday (August 18) morning,” the Blastout reads.To the Expositor:
I am a retired life member OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) police officer and am curious as to why the OPP Association is picking up what I see as an OPP management (provincial government) concern.
The Ontario Provincial Police Association has taken to the media and is trying to justify the change in municipal police contracting, good or bad.
OPP Association Administration officers are paid for by our members. Good or bad news spilled out by the government to me is not for the Police Association to support or speak against.
As a member for many years, I was proud of the reputation and still am that is enjoyed by those men and women in blue. One major factor I expect of our police is to be neutral. I am sure they enforce laws they personally do not like, which probably includes but is not limit to seat belt legislation, court orders issued by judges, CAS requests for intervention.
I hope their current active duty members consider where their membership fees are being spent, paying for the time and expense of funding their administrative officers of their Association in fighting a battle that is not theirs. During the last election when the Police Association president commented on Tim Hudak’s revelation of reducing public employees while raiding the current government’s offices is not consistent with fair and impartial behaviour on their part.
Larry Killens (OPP retired) South Baymouth
