When the top job with the Ontario Provincial Police was posted in October, Ron Taverner couldn’t apply, because his rank was too low.Two days later, the job requirements were changed — paving the way for the Ford family friend to apply.He got the job.The job postings were obtained exclusively by iPolitics late Monday evening.The first job description was posted to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police website in October and — according to a search of the document’s web history — was last modified on Oct. 22.That posting required all applicants to hold, at minimum, the rank of deputy chief or assistant commissioner.The candidate should have a “track record and demonstrated ability to provide executive leadership in a complex policing organization at the rank of Deputy Police Chief or higher, or Assistant Commissioner or higher in a major police service,” read the posting.Taverner, a superintendent with the Toronto Police Service, sits two ranks below that threshold.Two days later, a document entitled “OPP Commissioner Updated” was modified on the association’s site. The only difference between that posting and the first is that the minimum-rank requirements were removed.The candidate should have a “track record and demonstrated ability to provide executive leadership in a complex policing organization,” read the new posting.Read more:Integrity watchdog urged to probe Taverner’s appointment as OPP commissionerNDP questions appointment of premier’s friend to head OPPThe change made Taverner eligible to apply for the job, which he was ultimately awarded on Nov. 29.Sal Badali of Odgers Berndtson, the head hunting agency that “supported” the commissioner selection process, said “eliminating the rank requirement was done to broaden the potential pool of applicants.”“It turned out that over half the pool of applicants were not at the Deputy Chief level ...
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