Kingston Police Service welcomes provincial probe into policing practices

Board chair Gregory Ridge says the allegations about corruption at Toronto Police Service is "profoundly troubling".

The Kingston Police Service has no problems having the Province look into the operations of police services across Ontario including theirs.

Ontario's Inspector General, Ryan Teschner, has launched a province-wide probe into corruption at municipal police forces in the wake of an investigation into allegations at Toronto Police Service.

Kingston police chief Adam MacIntosh, in an email to KingstonDaily.ca, says the review is an opportunity to evaluate their current procedures and ensure they reflect best practices in modern policing.

Chair of the Kingston Police Services Board Gregory Ridge is echoing MacIntosh's comments adding this will allow the City's police force to show the public their ability to protect the city.

An investigation last month by York Regional Police on behalf of Toronto Police Service resulted in the arrest of seven current Toronto police officers and one retired police officer. The charges being laid include bribery, obstruction of justice, theft, and drug trafficking.

Recently, Peel Regional Police announced that three of their officers have been suspended in connection to that investigation.

Ridge is worried that the allegations being made could undermined the integrity and building of public trust in police forces in Kingston and across the province.

Ridge doesn't believe there is any wrongdoing taking place at Kingston Police Service. 

He says there is a lot of work to do and has faith in the people that are in charge of overseeing the operations.

The provincial inquiry into police corruption will focus on five specific areas:

• Supervision and span of control, including how officers are supervised and how effective that supervision is
• Screening and vetting of police officers both at recruitment and on an ongoing basis
• Access to police databases and information systems, including permissions, controls and clearances
• Evidence and property management practices
• Substance abuse and fitness for duty

Story by Ken Hashizume