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“The OPP’s wish to pursue a go-slow approach contrasted with the (Harris) government’s desire for a quick end to the occupation,” says the report’s conclusion. “The allegation of political interference in OPP operations and decision-making was one of most significant concerns about Ipperwash.”

Among its recommendations: “There should be a buffer between the Incident Commander (the officer in charge of operations on scene) and politicians whether from the federal, provincial or local orders of government.”

Photo by Chris Helgren / Reuters

Bruce Chapman, who heads the Police Association of Ontario, said police have learned and evolved in the wake of Ipperwash. The proper way to approach such issues, he said, is to “ensure everyone is heard and understood.”

While his association does not represent the OPP officers on the scene at Tyendinaga, he does represent police officer monitoring protests elsewhere in Ontario. His association represents 47 local police associations and some 18,000 officers.

Broadly speaking, said Stamatakis, police take direction from politicians because they enforce the law politicians create. But politicians should not get involved in the specifics of an operation, he said.

“Once an injunction’s granted or an offence occurs, it’s really to the discretion of the police to determine when or if enforcement action is appropriate,” Stamatakis said. “The last thing you want to do is take immediate enforcement action which then could perhaps have an aggravating effect.”

Photo by Jesse Winter / Reuters

Chapman also called on politicians to intervene. If police have to enforce an injunction, he said, “there’s always the fear of people getting hurt,” whether police or protesters.

“My preference would be that there be a political solution to this whole thing and we can avoid the police having to take any enforcement action, quite frankly,” said Stamatakis.

With files from The Canadian Press

• Email: tdawson@postmedia.com | Twitter: tylerrdawson

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