July 25, 2008

Police chief sues OPP over firing

From the Brantford Expositor: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1129099

The former police chief of the Mohawk Tyendinaga First Nation is taking the Ontario Provincial Police to court after being fired by OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino for speaking out against racism in policing.

Larry Hay, 51, was fired earlier this year from the band's eight-member force after telling the Loyalist College student newspaper that the OPP, RCMP and Quebec provincial police are racist organizations.

Hay, who was an RCMP officer for 20 years, told the Toronto Star this week he was accurately quoted in the student newspaper.

He said the OPP has largely ignored recommendations from the Ipperwash Inquiry, in which Justice Sidney Linden called for consultation instead of confrontation between the OPP and First Nations bands.

"They've learned nothing from Ipperwash," said Hay, who is seeking a judicial review hoping a court will reinstate him in the job. He's considering a wrongful dismissal suit if a judicial review fails.

"There has been no follow-up ... It has all been very much a dog and pony show. It has been an insult to aboriginal people."

Calls to Fantino were referred to OPP Sgt. Kristine Rae, who said the force would not comment on specific personnel files.

She did confirm that the employment of an officer of the Mohawk Tyendinaga First Nation police force was terminated, but declined to discuss reasons for the firing.