Ontario’s integrity commissioner has found that the premier ”did not breach” any laws when the government tried to make Doug Ford’s long-time friend, Ron Taverner, the province’s top police officer.

The ethics watchdog says in his view the premier stayed ”at arm’s length” from the recruitment process and that Ford believed it to be ”independent”.

However, the integrity commissioner adds there were some ”troubling” aspects of the process he found to be ”flawed,” saying there need to be changes. 

“For a position of this importance and given the sensitivity of the relationship between the government and the police in general, and the OPP commissioner in particular, there ought to be an established appointment process in place which is independent, transparent and readily activated with predetermined criteria and membership on the selection committee,” said integrity commissioner J. David Wake in his 101-page report.

Toronto Police Superintendent Taverner withdrew his name for OPP commissioner earlier this month.

York Regional Police deputy chief Thomas Carrique was recently appointed and begins his three-year term April 8th.