Police commissioner denies he authorized spying on former oversight chair

Toronto, Canada (AHN) - Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino has strenuously denied allegations that he authorized officers to spy on former Toronto Police Services Board chair Susan Eng in the early 1990s.

A report uncovered by the CBC indicated that Eng and her close friend, criminal lawyer Peter Maloney, were watched, and Maloney’s phone tapped, shortly after Eng became chair of the body charged with civilian oversight of Toronto police in 1991. The report indicates that police initiated the surveillance because they believed Maloney was a “security risk.”

Fantino denies that he knew about the surveillance, and says that allegations that he authorized the action are “false,” “ridiculous,” and “evil lies.” In fact, Fantino says that “[a]t no time did I ever authorize the eavesdropping of the board chair or any other member.”

Despite Fantino’s denial that he authorized, or knew of, the spying, NDP MPP Peter Kormos has said that Fantino should “step aside as commissioner of the Ontario provincial police” pending an investigation.

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