TORONTO

Councillor Doug Ford’s complaint against Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair is now being investigated by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

Back in November, Ford lashed out at Blair and promised to file a complaint about his conduct just a few hours before his brother the mayor admitted to smoking crack cocaine.

On Monday, the Toronto Sun obtained a copy of a letter from the OIPRD to Ford sent last week that confirms it is conducting an investigation and has forwarded a copy of the councillor’s complaint to the chief.

In the letter from OIPRD manager of investigations Kevin Cormier, Ford is advised that the Toronto Police Services Board has reviewed his complaint and “determined that the conduct alleged against Chief Blair may constitute misconduct” under the Police Services Act and have requested an investigation.

Cormier tells Ford he will be contacted in the near future for an interview.

Councillor Ford wouldn’t say much about the investigation launched in response to his complaint.

"It is what it is," Ford said Monday. "No one is above the law and they’re going to deal with it appropriately."

Toronto Police spokesman Mark Pugash declined to comment on the investigation.

Alok Mukherjee, Toronto Police Services Board chairman, also wouldn’t comment.

A spokesman for OIPRD refused to discuss the complaint.

“We won’t confirm (or) deny we’ve received complaints as a matter of privacy for complainants, witness officers, police officers,” the spokesman said.

On Oct. 31, Blair revealed that investigators were in possession of the Mayor Rob Ford crack video and confirmed police had arrested alleged drug dealer Sandro Lisi, Ford’s friend and occasional driver, for extortion. Blair went on to say he was “disappointed” by what he saw on video.

Days later, Councillor Ford slammed Blair.

“We have the most political police chief we’ve ever seen,” Ford said on Nov. 5. “The police chief believes he is the judge, jury and executioner. In my opinion, this creates a bias towards the mayor, it creates a bias towards Sandro Lisi’s case. This compromises the chief.”

Ford also objected to Toronto Police Services Board member Andy Pringle taking a fishing trip with Blair.

“We cannot have a police board member being the police chief’s fishing buddy,” Ford said at the time, adding Pringle should step down.

Blair had refused to respond to Ford’s personal attack and vowed police will keep doing their jobs “without fear and without favour.”

Following its investigation, the OIPRD will provide a written report to the police services board confirming whether the complaint against Blair is substantiated or unsubstantiated.

The board would take no action in response to an unsubstantiated complaint.

If the complaint is substantiated, the director would inform the board whether the misconduct is serious and requires a hearing or less serious and could be resolved informally or through a penalty imposed by the board.