Email from reader - Dec. 11, 2006
I would suggest that an anonymous poll be conducted among ALL of the officers of the OPP in regards to how the Caledonia Crisis is being and has been handled. It should then be publicly released.
Using a neutral third party in cooperation with the OPPA present a simple questionnaire (1-3 questions no more) asking the officers:
1) if they believe in the stated direction of the OPP in regards to the Caledonia issue,
2) if they agree with the statement that two tier policing is occurring in Caledonia,
3) if they believe the policies and command of the OPP have directly superseded the sworn functions of the OPP as a law enforcement agency.
Then provide an area for individual open comment.
I truly believe that the officers who are subjected to the Caledonia detail and those who have been forbidden to attend (if not the OPP as a whole) will overwhelmingly state that they do not support the current mission and ongoing direction of the OPP as imposed upon them by their commanders.
When this is confirmed the OPP brass should now acknowledge and address the fact that when their OWN officers (who have remarked unofficially of their disdain for the OPP position) do not support the operations of the OPP (as an organization) in Caledonia then how the citizens could possibly support it.
It is long past the time that the OPP command listened to its own officers and to the citizens of the community, that they need to change their direction. The officers on the line undeservedly endure anger, disgust, ridicule and resentment for policies and procedures that they like the people of Caledonia are trapped in and have no control over.
The fault here and at Ipperwash and at the next location, lies and always will with the Upper Echelon who refuse to listen to the people and to their own officers on the ground.
My past, present and future challenges against the OPP are against the organization itself, their command and policies in regards to the Caledonia Crisis.... They are NOT attacks upon the frontline officers and should not be construed as such. The OPP organization has by their own hand utterly destroyed our faith and respect in them, the contractual statement "TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE POLICING" has been completely abandoned and will never be returned to us by the OPP. The OPP must be replaced permanently in Haldimand County, as an organization they no longer deserve the opportunity to try to make amends or change the course as it has become an impossible feat to accomplish.
David Hartless
Caledonia