Having heard what many have said about his initial words following Sunday’s acquittal of Umar Zameer in the death of Detective Constable Jeffrey Northrup, the chief wanted to set the record straight.

Shortly after the verdict, Myron Demkiw said that day police respect the judicial process but ”were hoping for a different outcome.”

 

 

During reporters’ questions after an unrelated news conference Tuesday, the chief said those words were made in the context of the service grieving and trying to find closure, ”as elusive as closure can be.”

”Let me be crystal clear: I support and accept the verdict of the jury,” said Demkiw.

”I have always been a supporter of the justice process, including all elements of the system that leads us towards justice.”

The comments come the day after he announced that the OPP had been asked to conduct an independent review after ”adverse comments” made by the presiding judge.

He’s also ordered a full internal review of all aspects of plainclothes policing.