Ombudsman slams Ford, security detail
In a scathing, top-to-bottom indictment of Toronto City Hall’s security apparatus, Ontario ombudsman Fiona Crean says former mayor Rob Ford abused his power and privileges, and municipal security personnel lapsed in their duties.
Staff was severely undertrained and at times fearful of retribution from the then mayor if security rules were not skirted, the ombudsman’s report found.
“My findings find that there are faults on the front line, but also fault at the top in terms of management,” Crean said in an interview with the National
Post on Thursday. The 66-page report examines many policies and procedures of City Hall’s security team and lists a number of events during which security management and personnel disregarded procedure.
The report found that within a 15-month period between May 2013 and August 2014 the city received 16 complaints from the public, compared to about 10 in the previous four years.
“These complaints alleged harassment, one-sidedness and favouritism by security staff, lack of protection of the mayor, lack of enforcement and the need for an enhanced security presence on the second floor of City Hall,” the report says.
One incident cited was the infamous Nov. 18, 2013, council meeting at which Ford knocked over Coun. Pam McConnell.
The report found the incident was sparked by a special assistant to Ford, a former security guard fast-tracked into a position with the mayor’s office who was filming the public galley. Ford and another council- lor were exchanging barbs with the galley when Ford sprinted into McConnell, bruising her face and hurting her shoulder.
The report also found members of security — from the speaker to the sergeantat-arms to guards — failed to de-escalate the tense situation properly.
The report also found the security director did not interview the mayor about the incident, as is called for by investigative procedure, because Ford’s actions were “obvious” and confirmed by video.
“You can’t prejudge (an) outcome,” Crean said. “You have to interview everyone in an investigation.”
The report noted two instances in which Ford and the security team ignored safety recommendations from supervisors and the director, allowing the former mayor to leave through an unsafe exit to avoid media scrums.
A guard involved in another quick exit was also later responsible for taping over the lens of a security camera to allow a reportedly intoxicated Ford to get to his vehicle without incident.
The report also cites instances in which security personnel felt they could not question the mayor, and many times flouted rules and procedures for fear of reprisal.
On St. Patrick’s Day 2012, guards reported that an intoxicated Ford and two companions entered his office, the latter two without proper security passes. The incident was not entered into the security incident database. Instead, a guard wanted to keep the occurrence on a “need-to-know” basis and emailed a report to his superior. The former mayor later learned of this email and told security guards before a St. Patrick’s Day event in 2014 that he would “get him,” referring to the guard.