Commentary
am almost without words after visiting your website "troopertotrooper".  I am reading about what appears to me to be a blatant instance of political interference of the worst kind.  I am referring to the effort mounted by the Ohio Public Safety Director and the OSP Superintendent to protect the Governor from the threat of a 'drug drop' at or near his official residence

Within the context of my political experience, my understanding of the role of police in a society that follows "the rule of law", and my almost forever respect for the OSP (long before I ever met a single member of the OSP), this is just the most disgusting example of cheap and pointless political interference I have ever witnessed.  

I am left to wonder why Major Booker and his subordinate were relieved of their command.  I can only assume they refused or resisted the order to ignore the conspiracy to deliver drugs.  Further, I can think of no circumstance where a sworn police officer could or would warn a person about to commit a crime given the circumstances as I understand them in this case having read the investigative reports.

Where I come from this sort of interference by politically appointed persons has resulted in their immediate resignation and/or their being charged with "Obstruction of Justice" or some other appropriate crime.

Given that the OSP Superintendent gave in to his Director's instruction to abandon the investigation and warn the conspirator, if I were a resident of Ohio , I would be left with little or no confidence in the leadership and senior management of the OSP.   I would continue to respect patrol members at the street level whom I certainly trust are protected by mid level managers from the stupidity of their top leadership.

Three cheers for "troopertotrooper" and congratulations to the retired  Superintendents for standing firm and speaking up in support of freeing the OSP from political meddling.

As time passes we will discover whether the political masters in Ohio continue to sacrifice the OSP to their own personal political motivations or choose to renew the strength and purpose of the Patrol by renewing it's mandate and right to manage operations without interference from above.

Colin Brittan
Superintendent (Retired (1996)
Ontario Provincial Police




















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February 27, 2010

We appreciate the many emails since our first official publication of Trooper to Trooper on February 3, 2010.  Emailings are kept confidential and reviewed daily by our editorial board.  It has been our policy not to post emails, though many of our emailers have given us permission to do so, name included. 

Today, however,  we are making our first exception to our "no posting" rule. 

Colin Brittan retired from the Ontario Provincial Police in 1996 after 30 years of varied investigative and leadership roles within his police service.  At the time of his retirement, he was Commander of the OPP Professional Standards Bureau, responsible for ensuring the maintenance of good behavior and professional delivery of police services within the OPP.

Mr. Brittan holds an under graduate degree in Political Science and has extensive experience in working at the sometimes difficult interface between the political system of Ontario, and his police service which today has over 7000 sworn and supporting members.



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