Ford says relationship with police not damaged by investigation
Posted November 4, 2013 4:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mayor Rob Ford says the fact that he was the target of an extensive criminal investigation hasn’t damaged his relationship with Toronto police, even though he thinks Chief Bill Blair should be held accountable for the costs associated with the extensive surveillance.
He also revealed during a radio interview that he was aware that he was being followed, but didn’t know who it was — or the reason for the surveillance.
“I knew (I was being trailed) there were cars behind me, there’s cars here and they’re hiding,” Ford told radio station AM 640. “So I called (police) and I said I think I have people following me and they said, ‘No, no one’s following you.’ ”
Meanwhile, Ford added that he’s been inundated with calls from taxpayers asking how much the investigation cost.
“Bill Blair has to answer those questions,” Ford told host John Oakley. “How much money was spent on it? I don’t know. I think the chief needs to come out (and explain).”
Last week police said they have several videos in their possession, including one of Ford smoking what appears to be crack cocaine. Blair said the videos were recovered from hard drives seized during a police investigation in June dubbed Project Traveller.
Ford’s friend and occasional driver has been charged with extortion for allegedly trying to obtain the video in a threatening manner.
Ford said that despite the prying eyes of police, he remains a staunch supporter of Toronto’s finest.
“I have not been charged,” he said. “I have nothing against the police. We have the best police force in the world…I never wavered on that.”
“These people (police) deserve an increase. I’m going to be hiring more police in this budget.”
Ford also said he wasn’t concerned that his political allies would jump ship.
“Anybody wants to go, go,” he stubbornly barked. “I’ll be running the ship, even if it’s by myself.”
