Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner has rescinded his resignation as superintendent of three Etobicoke divisions and will return to his duties, the police force confirmed Monday. On Saturday, Taverner, a friend of Premier Doug Ford, had asked his controversial appointment by the Ford government as OPP commissioner be “postponed” until a review of his hiring process can be conducted. The process included a lowering of qualifications that cleared the way for the 72-year-old superintendent from the Ford family’s Etobicoke stomping grounds to apply for the $275,000-a-year post.Read more:Concern over conflicts of interest would taverner in OPP job, policing experts sayTaverner was considered for other top jobs with province, sources sayTaverner said Saturday he was temporarily stepping aside “out of the greatest respect for the brave men and women of the Ontario Provincial Police.” The government agreed to the request and noted it retains “full confidence” in him.Career police officers with higher rank than Taverner were rejected in favour of him, including a former Ontario head of the RCMP with more experience in managing a large staff, confirmed one source from the OPP, the country’s second largest police force.Both Ford and Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones have accused critics of slinging mud at Taverner, who had officially resigned from the Toronto force on Friday.MORE TO COME
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