Police Chief Steve Tanner will stay on the job in Halton Region

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Published January 21, 2021 at 10:15 pm

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Halton Police Chief Steve Tanner is going to keep his job.

The Halton Police Board (HBP) announced its decision late this afternoon to keep Tanner at his post following several days of internal discussion.

“The Halton Police Board has full and unequivocal confidence in Chief Stephen Tanner to remain the Halton Regional Police Service Chief,” the Board said in a prepared statement. “The Board accepts Chief Tanner’s apology for his decision to travel and will take no further action.”

The moves comes after several weeks of speculation about Tanner’s job security when it was discovered he left the country during the pandemic to travel to Florida to look after a property-related issue.

When it was discovered he was out of the country, Tanner said he had been given approval by Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, then chair of the HPB.

Burton initially stated he supported the trip, but subsequently resigned as chair of the HPB saying he made an error in judgement.

Tanner has also since apologized for his actions several times.

The Board said it will now review its policies related to vacations, leave, continuity of leadership and the pandemic, especially when it relates to international travel guidelines.

“The Board expresses its disappointment in both the former chair, Mayor Rob Burton, for granting permission to Chief Tanner to travel to the United States, for not obtaining the consent of, nor notifying, the Board and in Chief Tanner for his decision to ask for permission and for travelling to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding his property-related issues in Florida,” the Board statement read.

In his own prepared message, Tanner said regardless of his rationale, he is remorseful for leaving the country and that he regrets the impact it had on Burton.

He said he appreciates the Board for allowing him to stay on as chief.

“I sincerely appreciate the full and unequivocal confidence the Halton Police Board has placed in me as Chief of Police,” Tanner said. “I will continue to lead our police service in the exemplary manner the Board has come to expect, and will always do my very best for our members, citizens and for the community that I am sworn to protect.”

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