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Not only will Ron Taverner be the next commissioner of the OPP but will be the best one that force has ever had.

So says Premier Doug Ford who came out swinging Tuesday in favour of his government’s appointment of the legendary Toronto Police superintendent whose swearing-in has been delayed while the integrity commissioner probes his hiring.

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Ford was not backing down while addressing reporters.

“Do you know what’s a real shame? Ron Taverner is a great guy. And (media) — after a 50-year career of serving the people in the community — you are chasing this gentleman down like I’ve never seen. This guy has given his life to policing. Let the review take place …Once it gets done, he will be the best commissioner the OPP has ever seen.”

Added Ford: “We look forward to having Ron Taverner as the commissioner of the OPP. His credentials speak for themselves — 50 years of policing around the province. He’s a front-line police officer — a cop’s cop. That’s what is desperately needed at the OPP right now. And he is interested in building communities.”