Angry in the Great White North

From the Irish Daily Star (transcribed by this blogger, all emphasis as per the original newspaper article):

Garda Woman's "Policing Crisis"

Michael O'Toole
Crime Correspondent

A Canadian police chief brought in by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to improve Garda efficiency has been blamed for a policing crisis back home, The Star has been told.

"There is no rule of law…the people are blaming Gwen," an elected Canadian mayor said last night of Gwen Boniface.

She is one three people appointed to the newly-created Garda Inspectorate.

But a Justice Department spokesman said last night that officials here had full confidence in Boniface, and had been aware of the Canadian issue during the recruitment process.

"She is a leading policewoman in Canada and has been a commissioner for eight years," he said.

"We have full confidence in her and we are sure she will make a strong contribution to the inspectorate."

More than 1,000 Canadian citizens signed an online petition demanding Boniface's resignation over her handling of a crisis in the Caledonia area of Ontario, where she has been chief of police for the past eight years.

Boniface also faces a class action suit by Caledonia residents who believe the force she commands has let native protesters run amok in the town during the violent six-month stand-off.

Local Mayor Marie Trainor told The Star last night: "I have respected her opinion up to the Caledonia occupation."

But she said locals were furious that land seized by native Canadians was now a no-go area for the Ontario Provincial Police - headed by 30-year police veteran Boniface.

The local police union said officers have been ordered not to wear riot gear when dealing with confrontations between natives and non-natives.

And Trainor claimed police had been ordered not to arrest natives who committed crimes.

"There is no rule of law - it is not being enforced," she said.

"We are not blaming the front line workers or our inspector. But people are blaming Gwen - someone has to be telling them to step back when it's natives."

Boniface is due to start work in October with the Garda Inspectorate - which is to carry out a root-and-branch review of how gardai operate on a day to day basis.

She and two other members of the Inspectorate - Chief Inspector Kathleen O'Toole from Boston and Robert Olsen from Minneapolis - have the power to make recommendations to McDowell on changes at all levels.