Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has hit back directly at Toronto Councillor Doug Ford over his accusation that the chief had a hand in leaking news that Rob Ford is about to be subpoenaed to testify in the drug and extortion trial of the mayor’s former friend and driver Alessandro Lisi.
Chief Blair, who this week had his request to serve a third five-year term rejected by the Police Services Board, said the Etobicoke councillor is “lying” by suggesting the news of the subpoena was “payback” by the police force that came from the top.
“Doug Ford is lying and I am prepared to take legal action,” Chief Blair said Friday through his spokesman Mark Pugash after he was shown comments made by Doug Ford.
The Etobicoke councillor has repeatedly called for the chief’s resignation, saying that the ongoing investigation of the mayor is politically driven. Mr. Lisi faces drug charges and an extortion charge for allegedly attempting to retrieve a video that appeared to show the mayor smoking crack cocaine. The mayor has not been charged. Since he returned from a stint in rehab this summer, the mayor has said he has severed ties with his former associates.
On Friday, after a report in the Toronto Star that the police are poised to subpoena the mayor, Doug Ford said the leak shows the political motivation of Chief Blair and is further evidence of the need for a change in leadership at the police force.
“It’s just a little way of him saying ‘here you go,’” Councillor Ford said in an interview. “It’s unfortunate. It’s not the way any police department works in the world and it shouldn’t work that way. They want to play games at the highest level in the police department.”
“Rob’s changed his life. I just hope the top-ranking person in the police would change his life and follow the rules,” he said later. “When you tell the media there’s a subpoena and don’t tell anyone else? That alone says it all right there, right there. That says it all.”
Facing reporters outside the mayor’s office, Councillor Ford called the leak “payback,” but would not elaborate.
Mr. Pugash would not discuss the reports of the subpoena, saying. “We don’t comment on ongoing criminal investigations.”
Councillor Ford said Friday his brother had not been served and he only learned about the subpoena through the media. The Star quoted Rob Ford’s lawyer Dennis Morris saying it’s not a matter of if the mayor will get notice, but when.
“I think it is pretty disappointing that the chief and folks like that would release it to the media,” Councillor Ford said. “You wonder why there’s changes needed to be happening at the level of the police. That’s the reason.”