Fantino says goodbye at gala
`I've tried to do the right thing'
Retiring police Chief Julian Fantino's family broke a five-year silence to share the private Julian with a thousand police officers, dignitaries and other luminaries who turned out to bid goodbye to the chief at a sold-out charity function last night.
Greg Fantino, speaking to the crowd, likened his dad to "a real live action hero living in our home.
"For many years, we sat silently on the sidelines while Dad was being a lightning rod for critics," Greg Fantino said.
And, in a nod to his dad's commanding reputation, the son paid tribute to his dad's staff at police headquarters "for putting up with our dad, becase we know he could be a handful."
Fantino's wife Liviana, in a video tribute, talked about her husband's loyalty to his work and family.
"You never failed us," she said. "I can't recall a time when you let us down."
Led in by the Toronto Police Pipe Band to a gala farewell dinner at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel last night, the retiring chief was greeted with a standing ovation by the crowd, which included critics and some of the politicians who last year nixed Fantino's bid for a contract extension.
"I wish him the best of luck," Toronto Mayor David Miller said before heading in to the dinner. "He's a very principled man, and he'll do good in whatever he does."
Fantino, wearing his formal mess kit, said the evening was "an emotional roller-coaster."
At a private gathering before the dinner began, Fantino was presented with plaques, mementoes and his own personalized replica Taser from Ontario's Deputy Chief Coroner Jim Cairns.
Fantino said that, looking back on his five-year career, he has "no regrets."
"I know every day I've tried to do the right thing," he said. "Perfection is not of this world, and my life — and the life of a police chief — is not a replay. You can't replay it."
Across the street, a group of protesters, angered at Fantino's tenure as chief, gathered, wearing black face paint and waving black balloons.
"Tonight should not be a celebration. It should be an angry mourning of a time in Toronto history that is over," said one protester, Michael, who did not give his last name but said he was representing a new gay activist group called Limp Fist.
Fantino said he is proud of his record of service.
"I'm not one for writing my own report card. I just have come to work every day trying to do my best, and trying to keep meeting the challenges."
Fantino said last evening's turnout is an "affirmation of the work that is being done every day by the men and women of the service ... it's easy to be a leader in an organization of great people doing great things."
Fantino, who now becomes Ontario's commissioner of emergency management, declined to give advice to his successor, yet to be chosen by the police services board.
Mike Boyd, who retired last year as deputy chief, was recently appointed interim chief.
--
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!
`I've tried to do the right thing'
Retiring police Chief Julian Fantino's family broke a five-year silence to share the private Julian with a thousand police officers, dignitaries and other luminaries who turned out to bid goodbye to the chief at a sold-out charity function last night.
Greg Fantino, speaking to the crowd, likened his dad to "a real live action hero living in our home.
"For many years, we sat silently on the sidelines while Dad was being a lightning rod for critics," Greg Fantino said.
And, in a nod to his dad's commanding reputation, the son paid tribute to his dad's staff at police headquarters "for putting up with our dad, becase we know he could be a handful."
Fantino's wife Liviana, in a video tribute, talked about her husband's loyalty to his work and family.
"You never failed us," she said. "I can't recall a time when you let us down."
Led in by the Toronto Police Pipe Band to a gala farewell dinner at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel last night, the retiring chief was greeted with a standing ovation by the crowd, which included critics and some of the politicians who last year nixed Fantino's bid for a contract extension.
"I wish him the best of luck," Toronto Mayor David Miller said before heading in to the dinner. "He's a very principled man, and he'll do good in whatever he does."
Fantino, wearing his formal mess kit, said the evening was "an emotional roller-coaster."
At a private gathering before the dinner began, Fantino was presented with plaques, mementoes and his own personalized replica Taser from Ontario's Deputy Chief Coroner Jim Cairns.
Fantino said that, looking back on his five-year career, he has "no regrets."
"I know every day I've tried to do the right thing," he said. "Perfection is not of this world, and my life — and the life of a police chief — is not a replay. You can't replay it."
Across the street, a group of protesters, angered at Fantino's tenure as chief, gathered, wearing black face paint and waving black balloons.
"Tonight should not be a celebration. It should be an angry mourning of a time in Toronto history that is over," said one protester, Michael, who did not give his last name but said he was representing a new gay activist group called Limp Fist.
Fantino said he is proud of his record of service.
"I'm not one for writing my own report card. I just have come to work every day trying to do my best, and trying to keep meeting the challenges."
Fantino said last evening's turnout is an "affirmation of the work that is being done every day by the men and women of the service ... it's easy to be a leader in an organization of great people doing great things."
Fantino, who now becomes Ontario's commissioner of emergency management, declined to give advice to his successor, yet to be chosen by the police services board.
Mike Boyd, who retired last year as deputy chief, was recently appointed interim chief.
--
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!
Russian Roulette
