3 OPP union leaders benched
Suspensions follow probe of fraud and theft
Three Ontario Provincial Police union leaders under suspicion in a still-unfolding fraud, theft and money laundering investigation have been suspended from their policing duties, officials announced Sunday.
The suspensions came one day after it was announced that one of the three officials was fired from his union position.
In a brief statement Sunday, OPP spokesman Sgt. Peter Leon said that Commissioner Vince Hawkes had ordered the suspensions of Jim Christie, a detective sergeant, and Martin Bain and Karl Walsh, both constables.
The Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) had announced earlier in the weekend that its board of directors had voted to dismiss Walsh as the union’s chief administrative officer.
“Notice of termination has been delivered. Part of that notice requires the return of all OPPAowned equipment, including vehicle and any electronic equipment,” the short memo says. Michael Briscoe will continue to serve as Acting Chief Administrative Officer, members were told.
Christie and Bain previously took a voluntary leave of absence from their union duties as president and vice-president, respectively.
The shakeup in both the union and police service comes amid troubling allegations that the top union leaders were involved in the misuse of funds.
The unproven allegations include unusual condo purchases in the Caribbean, “high-risk” investments in the Cayman Islands, secret ownership in a travel company that the OPPA was instructed to use for all of its travel arrangements and other suspicious acts, including questionable expenses and vacation time claims.
Union brass are accused of trying to downplay an audit last fall that found “significant unusual transactions” and “vague” investment policies.
The RCMP carried out searches at the OPPA’s headquarters, private homes and offices on March 6.
An affidavit in support of the search warrants made public on Friday also named Andrew McKay, a Toronto lawyer who often represents police associations and officers accused of wrongdoing, and two business partners: Klara Kozak and Noel Francis Chantiam.
Repeated requests for comment from the three union officials under investigation have gone unanswered. McKay, Kozak and Chantiam have all previously declined to discuss the allegations with the Post.
The OPPA represents about 6,200 uniformed officers and 3,600 civilian employees, making it one of the largest police unions in North America.