The Police Go Political

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                        By Kenneth Bagnell

 

      Years ago when I was, to put it mildly, a lot younger, I was in turn, a member of the editorial boards of Toronto’s two major papers, first The Star, then The Globe &Mail. In case you’re wondering, the “boards”, usually had four or five members, met daily to discuss subjects of the day, often over lunch, then each went to his or her cubicle and wrote an essay for the following day’s editorial page. From time to time, we’d have guests at our meetings, ranging from federal political leaders, to senior police officials — all for a discussion that was “background” only. No reporting. Off the record.

        The seasoned politicians were, without fail, a pleasure, at least to me. Sad to say, the police, even those I knew from my earlier work as a reporter, were often on the defensive, wondering why we, now and then, criticized them, almost as if they felt our job was to support, even applaud their performance, while overlooking the inevitable instances of misconduct or  brutality. I recall a meeting when one senior police executive, leaned toward me and whispered: “If you guys keep criticizing them, many are going to quit.”  Hardly, I thought back then and more so now. After all, from one coast to the other, in large cities and small towns, one aspect makes police work very attractive: they make almost as much staying home in, say Cornerbrook, or Burnaby , as they can if they move to Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver. Canada’s police officers are well looked after. An upcoming raise for the OPP is reported as almost 10 percent and even right now, a three year member can be almost into six figures, not to mention the very generous benefits accompanying it.  Margaret Wente, the Globe & Mail’s provocative and insightful columnist, wasn’t overstating anything when in referring to current OPP officers in The Globe & Mail she wrote recently: “Many of its 7,400 officers pull in six figures a year, serving communities where the median wage doesn’t even come close to that.” Yes, they are well paid  – Wente  actually says they’re among the best paid in the world.  For the most part, they’re competent. But like all of us, they aren’t beyond criticism.

      One reason for some criticism is a recent misstep in Ontario. There, the union of the Ontario Provincial Police, the province-wide police service — has publically taken a political and highly partisan position on the provincial election just days away. The OPP “Association” (its union) has had the audacity to take deadly aim at one of the party leaders, Tim Hudak, of the Progressive Conservatives. In television commercials, they have a uniformed OPP officer, emerging from his cruiser, and with all the authority that accompanies his role, looking straight at the camera and saying: “We’re here for you. Who’s Hudak here for?” That’s audacious. So was their over $7,000 contribution to one party only a year or so ago. So was the blatant, almost unbelievable partisan statement from the union leader: “These ads do not serve as an endorsement for the Liberals or the NDP….We just don’t want this Conservative as Premier…” This is almost outrageous. It’s as if they feel we really fear for our lives so let’s give the police whatever they want so we’ll feel safe in bed.  

       This flagrant partisanship is particularly unacceptable coming from those whose lifework ought to be, along with integrity, at the top of their principles. In fact it’s probably disallowed by The Police Services Act. From time to time, the OPP is called in to investigate issues of public service projects or individual politicians and their performance. Where does that leave the OPP, now compromised, in its relationship with the current Liberal government, which has two public service operations under OPP examination for fiscal or professional ineptitude.  Is that inquiry now compromised because, after all, the OPP’s union members have taken out adds calling the defeat of the Liberals?

      Mind you, for the record, I don’t like Mr. Hudak’s plan to cut, (if his party is elected), 100,000 public sector jobs. I understand how this keeps some OPP people awake at night.  Too bad indeed but the public sector is just that: the public sector. In it there’s a principle that should never be bent: no playing political favorites. Moreover this acting up by the OPP naturally sets a precedent for other forces, both inside and outside Ontario. Not good.

        It’s not easy to join the OPP. I know from parents whose sons, years ago, had to wait and wait while their applications were reviewed and decided upon. It’s even tougher today.  I’ve met, here and there, young people who, after taking law enforcement studies at college, tried and tried again but didn’t make it either to the OPP or a small service somewhere in Nova Scotia or British Columbia. The work is coveted, not just because of its very nature, but by its salaries and its supplementary advantages many of which the public does not realize.

      A police career is a choice vocation of many young people. As to its dangers, never forget that a great many officers almost never leave their desks at the station. And in the current public discussion, most people may not even realize one other great benefit of policing. It comes at retirement which can be early. (After all, most began their careers while in their early twenties, so many pf them can choose to retire in their mid-fifties, even earlier.) Then countless doors open to them. Some officers I’ve known -– in the Toronto Police, the OPP and the RCMP — became security specialists, others crime scene analysts, still others insurance investigators and so on and on and on.  Many I’ve come to admire for their midlife energy and the practical wisdom they’ve acquired. I just don’t appreciate it when the OPP elects to its union presidency a man who,  yet one more time, takes a ridiculous stand, one that reminds me of that equally ridiculous one taken in the editorial board meeting of long ago: that if we don’t behave ourselves, they may quit. Really?

 

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Past blogs are archived on my website: your comments are welcome there: www.kennethbagnell.com.