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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 14 ,2 02 1 | 2 SUPPORT LOCAL SAFELY LET'S SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES SAFELY BY SHOPPING ONLINE, CURBSIDE PICKUP, TAKEOUT, AND DELIVERY. DON'S MEAT MARKET, ALMONTE Returning from a trip to Florida for personal busi- ness matters earlier this week, Halton Regional Po- lice Chief Stephen Tanner said he feels deep regret for travelling during the pan- demic. "I sincerely apologize for my decision to travel out of the country," Tanner said in a prepared release prior to his scheduled re- turn Monday (Jan. 11), not- ing he will comply with quarantine requirements. "What weighs on me most is the fact that I am not there to support my 1,000 members as we grieve the loss of one of our own." Those last comments re- fer to the sudden passing of Det.-Const. Michael Tid- ball, who died on January 6 while conducting an inves- tigation as a result of an acute medical episode. It was shortly after- wards that Tanner's trip came to light. Tanner's trip was ap- proved by Oakville Mayor and Halton Police Services Board chair Rob Burton, who resigned his position on the board over the mat- ter Monday. "I regret sincerely that I focussed at the time on the ways the chief's trip quali- fied as essential travel," said Burton, whose posi- tion as board chair will be temporarily assumed by vice chair Jeff Knoll. "I should have recommended against it because it could generate public concern about me not setting a higher example than the rules and guidelines actu- ally called for." On Friday morning (Jan. 8), Halton Regional Police Association Presi- dent Clay Gillis sent a mes- sage to members inform- ing them of the chief's Flor- ida trip. "Several members have spoken to me personally and other members of our board to display their frustration and disgust for a decision to travel during a global pandemic and provincial lockdown," read the message sent to officers, and obtained by the Star. "It's somewhat tone-deaf and not in line with the 'we are all in this together' kind of messages," Gillis told the Star in an interview Fri- day. Tanner said he would not have taken the trip without seeking and ob- taining permission, which was granted shortly before Christmas. News of Tanner's trip has been met with disap- pointment by a number of local officials. Marianne Meed-Ward, Burlington's mayor, said she has not travelled out- side of country or province in more than a year, and hasn't left the City of Bur- lington since before the provincial lockdown. "I am just as troubled and frustrated as the com- munity about continued news of travel outside the country or province by elected representatives, health officials or commu- nity leaders," Meed-Ward wrote in a prepared re- lease. "This erodes public trust at a time we need to work with the community to defeat COVID-19." Said Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette, "The re- frain, 'we are all in this to- gether' is only as meaning- ful as exemplified through the actions of those who de- servedly are held to a high- er standard -- particularly those in public office and highly ranked officials serving the community." Asked by the Star if he thought it was a mistake to go to Florida, Tanner said: "I don't know if you can look at a mistake in hind- sight. "I came down here with permission. I think that's so key. And I would never have done it without per- mission. And I never would have sought that permis- sion unless it was for busi- ness purposes -- I'm not at a holiday resort on the Ma- yan Riviera somewhere." - with files from Wendy Gillis, Torstar Star POLICE CHIEF APOLOGIZES FOR FLORIDA TRIP Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner says he regrets his decision to travel to Florida during the pandemic. Graham Paine/Metroland NEWS BURTON RESIGNS AS POLICE SERVICES BOARD CHAIR FOR APPROVING TRAVEL