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Agency helps police from running amok By DIANE HART Special to the Beaver Today‘s police officers may feel frustrated and overâ€"taxed but at least they‘re learning to live with their watchdog agency. Susan Watt, newlyâ€"appointed Police Complaints Commissioner of Ontario, told the Oakville Canadian Club last week, there was a difference in police attitudes. towards her office today than when it was launched as a pilot project in Toronto in 1981. From initial animosity and skeptiâ€" cism at having civilians do what police had traditionally done behind closed doors, it has altered into a grudging acceptance of the civilian policing of their jobs. "Police officers are feeling very beleaguered," said Watt., who was appointed to the post just two weeks ago. For the past four years, she had been the director of the legal branch of the Police Complaints Commission. She noted that new regulations and a barrage of government policies plus the added stresses of civilian watchâ€" dogs like her own commission and the Special Investigations Unit, have resulted in officers feeling "frustrated and overtaxed". But the tensions between her office and the police have lessened and the worst is behind them, she said. i And while there may still be some resistance, Watt believes it‘s a far cry from the past. Watt traced the origins of the Commission from the days of the ‘Biue Wall of Silence‘ when the police force was viewed as being a closed shop and selfâ€"protective and the public was not told of what disciâ€" pline, if any, had been meted out to the officer in question. «Wool duffle, melton cloth, Navajo wool 50% OFF *Yukon fleece, 180z. _ reg. 18.98â€"22.98/m Plain, printed now 13.98â€"15.98/m *Splashâ€"Plus Rainwear reg. 25.00/m now 19.98/m «Commander, Mirage reg. 13.98/m Polvester/cotton, wind now 9.98/m «Commander, Mirage Polyester/cotton, wind resistant fi]MacPhee Workshop FABRIC SALE SPRING CLEARANCE Hours Tue, Wed, Fri. 9â€"5, Thurs 9â€"8, Sat 9â€"4 Some Vacancies still available for the following workshops: * Designer duffle coat * Towel coat * Heirloom lace blouse ® Picasso Panache coat Home Design Centre 2575 Dundas Street West, Suite 16, Mississauga, Ontario LSK 2M (905) 828â€"2100 1â€"800â€"668â€"4923 PAGE 9 sEE ThE muUusic AUTHORIZED DEALER MIRAGE LOUDSPEAKERS ugnbrella frames _ $14.98â€" $$3 .98 and umbrella patterns â€" 593 Argus Rd. Oakville, Ontairo (905) 844â€"9113 "Complainants at the time suspectâ€" ed an old boys club," she said, adding the belief grew that the police were no longer accountable. With the introduction of the pilot project, tensions between the Commission and the police escalated until the "all out war" between the police union and the Commission culâ€" minated in the job action by police who refused to wear their uniform hats in 1985. However, it was the outâ€" cry from the black community followâ€" ing the shooting deaths of two black males in two separate incidents in 1988 that prompted the move to widen the Commission from Metro Toronto to across the province. Today, the Commission handles about 4,000 complaints against police officers in Ontario every year. There Tonight in the Great Hall of Hamilton Place, more than 1100 Halton stuâ€" dents from Grades 4 to OAC, will participate in Showcase ©94. Eleven secondary schools and 14 elementary schools from all parts of Halton will participate. There will be five massed groups including the Grade 7 to OAC massed choir, the Grade 4 to 6 massed choir, the Halton Junior Jazz Band, the Halton Junior Wind Ensemble and the Senior Wind Ensemble. The evening finale will feature approximately 500 singers accompanied by the Senior Wind Ensemble performing John Rutter‘s For the Beauty of the Earth. Tickets are $7 and $5 for seniors and students and are available by calling 335â€"3663. Students showeased at Hamilton Place » Birch Clump | Plant Starter A, on OO â€" foliage year round. 125 cm Reg. â€" Dwarf Alberta Spirals $ 5499 Spiral shaped spruce, lovely for foundation plantings. From... Insecticide and fungicide spray for roses || and flowers, 250 ml. Reg. $11.99 Fertilizer 5â€"15â€"5 Helps start roots. Reg. $6.99 10â€"20â€"10. Everbloomin g this sumâ€" mer Fast growing, low shrub, hardy plant with reddish berries. Reg. $15.99 Woodwardi Cedar â€" now: ‘Small compact shrub;â€"blooms all s mmer assort varieties. 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Last year, there were five comâ€" Fertilizer Spikes For fruit trees, evergreens and omamentals Save §20 yz m $5% 70° THE OAKVILLE BEAVER plaints in Halton where an officer was disciplined. Discipline can range from an admonishment to dismissal. The concept of a civilian watchdog rather than the traditional closed doors policeâ€"policingâ€"police system is absoâ€" lutely essential to ensure the confiâ€" dence of the public, said Watt. "This gives us a window into the manner in which it‘s done and proâ€" vides us with a paper trail as well," she said, adding that while the prior process may have been fair, it didn‘t appear "intrinsically fair" and it was important to address the perception of the public that police investigations are open and fair. She noted the police have enorâ€" mous discretionary powers to do with firearms, arrest and force. "They are the gatekeepers to the justice system," she said. Watt said she expects to have some "harrowing" moments in her position in such a demographicallyâ€"diverse province as Ontario. She noted the various special interest groups repreâ€" senting the community from visible minorities, women, disabled, gay and lesbian and the homeless. Watt said that it‘s often the comâ€" missioner who takes the heat for all the dissatisfaction of the parties. "You are often a human lightening rod in highlyâ€"charged issues," she said. Fiber Tubs Grosfillex Window Boxes Premium, %ud purpose, shade, now is the time to UV stabilized, excellent quality Assorted shapes sizes. Great for planting seasonal, annuals srubs Ixora $ 99'9- 3 mufiféfl r(ele%r 5%1% flowers, | Pincapple Plant $ 999 CIANEP) Own Top Soil Wonderful assorted colours 3 l Reg. $2.49 Asiatic Lilies §/¢ Super Pack of reds, whited, yellow oranges. Rich garden loam, superior quality! Reg. $2.49 Large 30L Bag with fruit, §or'nethin§ truly unique. . 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