That spectre that comes for you as your life flashes before you in death is your doppelganger. It seems totally fitting that the wraith Toronto Mayor Rob Ford should see is Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair. And remember, your doppelganger does not appear as others see you but as you see yourself.
So why cannot Rob Ford see himself as tall, fit, sophisticated and well turned-out as Chief Blair? Or maybe it is because they might be brothers under the skin. And would not Rob Ford look better in a well tailored chief’s uniform? They both have much to answer for as they stand in wait for the ferryman at the River Styx.
When Bill Blair calls a news conference to malign and denigrate Toronto’s Mayor without charging him with any crimes, is that an honourable act? And if the mayor sometimes seems drunk and boorish while using crack cocaine, does he take this act to work with him? The guy has told you before that he is not perfect and you can certainly believe him.
But it is the Mayor’s twin, Chief Blair we should question more stridently. Where was the chief when his troops abused and disrespected the citizens of Toronto back during the G8 troubles? What ever happened to “Serve and protect” at that time? Since then, the man has brazened his way. He fails to understand that he has destroyed his effectiveness as chief and thrown his force into disrepute.
With Mayor Ford, what you see is what you get. The man was just as much a slob when elected in 2010. What has changed? He told you what he hoped to do. He might not have told you how. And note that he leaves it to his brother to attack Chief Blair before he confesses to using crack cocaine.
The Mayor of the city has no control over the Chief of Police. All he can do is speak out on items in the soon to be debated police budget. Is it to the Chief’s advantage to isolate the Mayor? Maybe it is if he believes the Mayor is going to attack his budget.
There seems to be little question that in recent years, the heads of our police departments have got their jobs more because of their political skills than their knowledge and skill at running an effective police force. Part of the problem might be some of the spineless, political appointees we get on the police services boards. This needs fixing.
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Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
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