Law and Order Chief Julian Fantino and his Enemies -- He seems to be what Toronto needs; just read the crime reports

List of Articles:

* Julian Fantino has all the right enemies -- You have to love this one!

* Facing Charges are a Former Police Union President and the Son of a Former Police * Chief -- and the union doesn't want Chief Fantino? Could we guess why? -- Cop facing bribery allegation -- hockey tickets accepted: probe

* Union bombshell undermines chief -- no 'confidence' in Fantino: cops

* Chief's fate decided in city hall sandbox

* Second Ecstasy lab bust -- fire crew finds pill press, dope

* Shotgun fired into home

* Armed robbers terrorize captive

* Come clean, mayor: Ootes -- Miller's influence questioned

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Julian Fantino has all the right enemies -- You have to love this one!

Julian Fantino has all the right enemies July 22, 2004, John Downing, Toronto Sun

We've been urged in famous quotations to judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends. Wise words!

Which is why I think Julian Fantino should have continued as Toronto's police chief. Just look at his foes! [. . . . ]

Facing Charges are a Former Police Union President and the Son of a Former Police Chief -- and the union doesn't want Chief Fantino? Could we guess why? -- Cop facing bribery allegation -- hockey tickets accepted: probe

Cop facing bribery allegation July 21, 2004, Alan Cairns, Toronto Sun

[. . . . ] William McCormack Jr., the son of former chief Bill McCormack Sr., faces 25 charges amid allegations that he tipped bar owners of impending liquor and drug probes, ate and drank for free at bars, attended a hockey game for free with a bar owner, attended Woodbine Casino and Casino Rama while on duty, failed to report sex assault allegations and listed himself at work when he wasn't.

McCormack Jr. also faces criminal charges of conspiracy to commit breach of trust, fraud and influence peddling.

Criminal charges have also been laid against Rick McIntosh, who stepped down as police union president in April amid reports he was seen at an illegal gambling den in Vaughan. He faces charges of breach of trust, conspiracy to commit breach of trust and influence peddling. [. . . . ]

Union bombshell undermines chief -- no 'confidence' in Fantino: cops

Union bombshell undermines chief -- no 'confidence' in Fantino: cops July 21, 2004, Rob Granatstein and Alan Cairns, Toronto Sun

TORONTO'S POLICE union has likely driven the final nail in Chief Julian Fantino's coffin, announcing yesterday it backs the move not to rehire the city's top cop. The bombshell came the day before the expected nasty debate today at City Hall, where many councillors are expected to call for the Police Services Board to revisit its decision to dump Fantino.

"We're convinced the vast majority of the people of Toronto agree with the decision made by the Police Services Board to close the book on the Fantino era and move forward," said Al Olsen, acting president of the Toronto Police Association, in a release yesterday.

The letter also slams the chief, saying the force has lost the public's confidence under his watch and has lacked leadership.

Olsen said the union believes "the best way to restore public confidence" in the force is to back the board's June decision not to renew Fantino's contract and look for a new chief. [. . . . ]

Chief's fate decided in city hall sandbox

Chief's fate decided in city hall sandbox Christie Blatchford, July 22, 2004

The attempts of a group of councillors, led by Frances Nunziata and Giorgio Mammoliti, to get on to the floor the subject of Chief Fantino's contract -- a motion to extend it, as the chief wanted, was recently defeated at the police-services board, failing on a tie vote -- were doomed from the get-go.

The keep-the-chief councillors had mustered boxes of petitions, signed by upward of 30,000 citizens, which they were allowed to present to the city clerk. They had also led a group of about 200 in a little rally from police headquarters to city hall in support of the chief, and these folks were welcomed by Mayor David Miller.

But that was the extent of the mayor's largesse.

Sitting in the chair, he said he had done a "full review" of the rules and the Police Services Act both, and determined that "there is no question it is wrong for this council to be debating what is a personnel matter," and promptly ruled Councillor Mammoliti's motion out of order.

[. . . . ]


Second Ecstasy lab bust -- fire crew finds pill press, dope

Second Ecstasy lab bust July 21, 2004, Rob Lamberti, Toronto Sun

MARKHAM FIREFIGHTERS uncovered their second clandestine Ecstasy operation within four days yesterday. The one they found Saturday was reportedly one of North America's largest known labs and was stocked with enough explosive chemicals to wipe out three homes.

Yesterday they found a pill press and kilos of pills in plastic bags in a cold cellar after responding shortly after 9 a.m. to a kitchen fire call at a home at 99 Brunswick St. near Kennedy Rd. and 16th Ave.

[. . . . ]

Cardwell said clandestine drug labs are a burgeoning problem in Ontario: "We've seen a number of murders occurring out west. Right now the government doesn't seem to be addressing it."


Shotgun fired into home

Shotgun fired into home July 21, 2004, Kim Bradley, Toronto Sun

[. . . . ] Const. Ryan Robinson said the motive for the 1:20 a.m. shooting on Larksmere Cr., near Birchmount Rd. and Steeles Ave. E., is still under investigation. "But it's definitely not a random occurrence," he said. [. . . . ]

Armed robbers terrorize captive

Armed robbers terrorize captive July 21, 2004, Kim Bradley, Toronto Sun

YORK POLICE believe an armed gang that has terrorized kitchen staff at three Markham restaurants since May has escalated its crimes to include abducting, beating and robbing a Scarborough man. "We're pretty certain it's the same guys. They just did it a little differently this time," said Det.-Sgt. Fred Moffatt. "It's as invasive a robbery as you can get."

Durham cops called York at 6:20 a.m. Monday after a 36-year-old Scarborough man reported being abducted from Keung's Restaurant on Kennedy Rd. in Markham at 3:30 a.m., then robbed and beaten before being dumped in Oshawa. [. . . . ]

Come clean, mayor: Ootes -- Miller's influence questioned

Come clean, mayor: Ootes July 21, 2004, Rob Granatstein, Toronto Sun

A MEMBER of the Police Services Board is demanding Mayor David Miller come clean on the influence he had on the decision not to extend Chief Julian Fantino's contract. Councillor Case Ootes wrote to Miller yesterday, in a letter obtained by the Toronto Sun, asking the mayor to say when and which board members he told to defer a decision on Fantino's future until the new board was in place in the fall. [. . . . ]