A couple of issues have arisen this week that I have to throw my two cents in about. Firstly, my support goes out to the three fired Managers within the City of Hamilton's Licencing Department. Licencing Director Tom Redmond, manager Susan McGrath and Co-ordinator Randy Charlton were fired last month in connection with the harassment of a taxi inspector by Councillor Bernie Morelli.
On Friday politicians voted not to reprimand Councillor Bernie Morelli, despite an independent investigator's finding that he indeed had harassed the taxi inspector and should recieve sensitivity training. The deceission was based on lack of evidence.
If the plump goose escaped the knife than its not right for these lambs to go to the slaughter either. They should be given their jobs back.
My second bone to pick is with the the Hamilton Police Service and their inability to get their act together when it comes to dealing with its own officers under the Police Services Act.
It is absolutely unacceptable that two recent police act cases have been lost on a timeline technicality. There is no excuse for not ensuring charges are laid within the allowed timeline or, if there is uncertainty, seeking the extensions permitted under the act.
Dropping the ball in this way, again, eats away at public confidence. This kind of sloppiness fuels public disrespect and cynicism. It also lends fuel to public perceptions that transgressions by police officers are not taken seriously enough and that police protect their own.
The most recent problem comes after 24 harassment-related charges against Sergeant Kevin Dhinsa were thrown out by a police tribunal because they were laid eight days late.
Twelve female Hamilton police employees potentially put their reputations and careers on the line by lodging complaints against Dhinsa. These women showed courage in complaining against one of their own. In return they where disrespected by Hamilton Police Association administrator Brad Boyce who showd lack of morals when he chose to characterize the Dhinsa decission as a "win". His guilt was not established. Neither was his innocence.
Unfortuately, the legal ring isn't the same as a boxing ring, these women do not get a rematch and a chance to rub the smug grin off their opponents face.
Chief Brian Mullan must get a firm handle on this problem because, as he has said before, the buck stops with him. If the people to whom Mullan delegates responsibilities too, don't clean up their acts than the good chief should be prepared to die by the sword of public trust.
Later,
Kenaz
