TORONTO — The process to appoint the next provincial police commissioner should be independent and free of Premier Doug Ford's "fingerprints," Ontario's Opposition leader said Thursday, after the winning candidate — a friend of the Ford family — pulled out of the running.

Ron Taverner, a longtime Toronto police superintendent, announced late Wednesday that he would no longer take the top job given the controversy surrounding his appointment, which included lowering requirements for the job after it was posted.

A deputy commissioner was among those who challenged Taverner's appointment and was fired earlier this week. Brad Blair asked the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to investigate Taverner's appointment. The government has denied political involvement in Blair's dismissal.

'Completely independent process'

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the selection process for the job of top cop needs to be beyond reproach.

"It needs to be a completely independent process," she said. "It can't have Doug Ford's fingerprints all over it. It can't be a friend of the family. It can't be somebody who has to have the qualifications reduced just so that they can qualify."

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser praised Taverner for withdrawing and said the Progressive Conservative government should acknowledge that his hiring "eroded trust" in the premier's office and the OPP.

"We must have a separation between police and the premier's office and our politicians," he said.

Green party Leader Mike Schreiner echoed that call.

It can't have Doug Ford's fingerprints all over it. It can't be a friend of the family. It can't be somebody who has to have the qualifications reduced just so that they can qualify.Andrea Horwath

"The premier needs to commit that nobody who's part of his personal circle is going to even consider applying for the job as OPP commissioner," he said.

Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones defended the process by which Taverner was selected and said the government did nothing wrong. She would not comment on the process to select the next commissioner or what that person's qualifications would have to be.

"I'm not going to presuppose who the next commissioner is," she said.