| Asking all Canadians, Torontonians in particular to: | |
Support Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino for a Second Term |
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Julian Fantino is Canada's finest cop. He is a wonderful father;
caring husband, a cool neighbour, a good citizen, and he loves his city and his country.
A 2003 Ipsos-Reid report says Ipsos survey learned that eighty-fve percent of Torontonians approve of the job that Toronto's 'top cop' is doing. Moreover, Chief Fantino is perceived as an honest, super-intelligent leader. We need true leaders. Chief Fantino was the best Police Chief London ever had; the finest Police Chief York Region has ever had; and he has begun a journey in Toronto to restore the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services to respect, credibility, integrity, dignity and effectiveness. That he has offered to serve another term in Toronto is no credit to the politicians of Toronto but to Chief Fantino's extraordinary abilities and determination to bring 21st century, moderate, effective community policing to Toronto no matter what the obstacles and despite the buffoonery of incompetent political hacks jabbering hogwash in 'smoke-filled back rooms', planning messy coups. Late in June, the leaderless disintegrating Toronto Police Board under the influence of ultra-liberal Mayor Miller has declined the renewal of Chief Fantino's contract. (The head of the board has been arrested for misdemeanour wrongdoing under Canada's expensive, bizarre gun laws which favour criminals owning guns but not farmers.) Without reason, the board released a statement saying that, at its meeting of June 21st 2004, it had "decided not to renew the employment agreement of Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino beyond its termination date of March 2005," Is Mayor Miller indulging in partisanship to the extent of defying the will of the people in making public policy? Could Mayor Miller be venting some kind of petty, tiny-mindedness manifesting pent-up anger at Chief Fantino's past endorsement of the proposed electoral policies of mayoralty candidate John Tory? That would be unforgivable. Mr. Tory offered a different approach and greater support for Toronto's police services. A good police chief should support that direction. Politicians come and go. We citizens rely on Chief Fantino to keep us, our children and our communities safe; not the likes of Mr. Miller nor Mr. Tory. Just who are the arrogant pin heads who would try and steal that away from ordinary citizens? Miller must loathe Toronto's police force if he his willing to dismantle it starting at the top. Miller appears unable to get over the fact that it's Chief is more popular than he is. I am more than surprised at Mr. Miller's political naivety. Mayor Miller would be best served by people like Mr. Fantino whose long record (35 Years) of unwavering service, integrity, accessibility and fairness will bring credibility and success to Miller's tenure. Miller needs to bridge partisan gaps, not build them. But if Mr. Miller wants to declare war against the will of the people of Toronto, that is exactly what he will get. It truly can be said that the best and the brightest draw their own kind to themselves. Mayor Miller needs to ride that theory and keep Chief Fantino aboard his team for the coming term Mr. Fantino has offered to serve. Moreover, people are not going to accept being walked on again by arrogant, self-serving politicians who believe that their will overrides the will of the people. This is not Baghdad. Such governance ignoring the will of the people, their desire for law and order, is not going to be tolerated. Micheal J. O'Brien |
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Sign petitions in support of the Chief: |
Download Chief
Fantino's Biography
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City of Toronto
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| Councillor Mike Del Grande |
Councillor Giorgio Mamolitti |
Councillor Frances Nunziata |
Some recent comments by Torontonians at http://www.keepchieffantino.com/view.php |
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| Pawel Friedman on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:54 am said: | Trust: Chief Julian Fantino stands head and shoulders above all the public figures as the man I trust the most. This is a courageous man who delivers what he promises. I sincerely wish all of our politicians would emulate him. |
| Jeremy Potvin on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:42 am said: | Miller is starting to show some very bad judgement. Not a good sign for the Mayor of a world class city. Fantino is very popular in this province and Miller should be very careful because everyone knows that Chief Fantino has done a very good job during very difficult times. |
| Selwyn Balgobin on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:41 am said: | Mr Fantino has stood tall in this position, his ability to face tough decision and fight crime is outstanding. Toronto is in very good hands with Chief Fantino he is deserving of much more than a second term |
| Sam Tassone on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:24 am said: | the city and the police force need the integrity, professionalism and consistency that Chief Fantino brings to this most challenging job! |
| Jane Hoyda on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:04 am said: | Fantino being shown the door by Miller is just the latest move by the Mayor in his NDP-ization of our city. Just wait to see how long it is before he suggests someone like Olivia (oh no!) Chow to the job. |
| Mrs. Kim Wallace on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:00 am said: | I believe that Chief Fantino has been a remarkable leader and community participant for the many troubled areas requiring his expertise. He is definitely an asset to our fine city! Keep Police Chief Fantino! |
| Bernice Korman on Thu, July 08, 2004 1:00 am said: | Chief Fantino is a fine man and a great leader. The force would be diminished without him. To lose a man like Fantino for cheap political reasons is unthinkable. |
| Stephen Woods on Thu, July 08, 2004 12:49 am said: | This decision has a very back-room stench about it. How can someone lose their job on a 3-3 vote? Chief Fantino has done an excellent job and should be rewarded with a contract extension. Do the right thing and change this horrible injustice |
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Biography, Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino |
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Julian Fantino was appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service on March 6, 2000. The Toronto Police Service employs over 5,000 officers and more than 2,000 civilian staff. Toronto has one of the largest municipal police services in North America, responsible for policing a vibrant city of almost 2.5 million people. Prior to being appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service, Chief Fantino was the Chief of
York Regional Police Service, from August 4, 1998 to March 5, 2000. Under his leadership many
progressive changes and initiatives were undertaken to ensure optimum Officer and public safety
through enhanced resources, and training. Chief Fantino was also the Chief of the London Police Service from November 4, 1991 to August 3, 1998. During his tenure with the London Police Service, significant changes took place, including internal restructuring, formation of an Emergency Response Unit and a Public Order Unit, updating of technology, initiatives regarding alternate response to calls for service, opening a Police Reporting Centre and development of numerous community partnerships. In 1992, the City of London annexed neighbouring lands, effectively tripling its geographic size, with a minimal increase in police personnel to cover the expanded territory. During his twenty-three years of service with Metropolitan Toronto Police, prior to his appointment with London, Chief Fantino served in various areas of the Force, including uniform patrol, undercover drug enforcement, Detective Branch, Criminal Intelligence, Homicide Squad and as a Division Commander. Chief Fantino has lectured extensively to the police community, the public sector and government bodies throughout Canada and the United States on a wide variety of police-related matters and public safety issues and has had articles published in several police magazines and other publications. Chief Fantino is the Past President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the Chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Organized Crime Committee. He is also on the Executive Board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a member of the Major City Chiefs. He is Past Chair of Criminal Intelligence Services Ontario and has attended meetings of the Interpol Standing Working Party on Offences Against Minors, held in Stockholm, Sweden, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Budapest, Hungary. Chief Fantino is the recipient of numerous awards, including: Award of Appreciation from the Jane-Finch Multicultural Association and the Jane-Finch Fights Back Committee; Volunteer of the Year (1993) from the London Urban Alliance on Race Relations; the "Order of Merit" (1994) from the National Congress of Italian Canadians; and the "Award of Excellence" (1997) from the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada; the City of Vaughan (1999) Community Relations Award; the Police 20 Year Exemplary Service Medal; the Police 30 Year Exemplary Service Bar; the Canada 125th Commemorative Medal; the Rotary International "Paul Harris Fellow" Award; and is an inductee into the Ontario Special Olympics Hall of Fame. A staunch supporter of the principles of integrity, honesty and accountability in policing, Chief Fantino is well respected by his colleagues, subordinates and the communities where he has served with distinction. |
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