Policeman resigns

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Toronto-Ontario Provincial Police Acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane announced his resignation from the police service on the day he was scheduled to appear before the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (Sept. 23).

Sept. 6 marked seven years since Anthony (Dudley) George was killed by Deane, who was convicted in 1997 of criminal negligence causing death. The officer pleaded guilty to discreditable conduct under the Police Services Act.

Deane was told to quit his job or he would be fired. He was appealing this decision, which meant that he could keep his job until the appeal was finished. Deane's resignation means he has abandoned his appeal.

In September 1995, 39-year-old George was one of about 30 protestors who occupied Ipperwash Provincial Park to protest the distruction of their burial ground taken from the Stoney Point Natives by the federal government in the 1940s.

George's family launched a civil suit for wrongful death against the OPP and the Ontario government. They have unconditionally agreed to withdraw the suit if a public inquiry is held.

Church, labor groups and journalists have joined First Nations people in pressing the government for a full accounting. Although calls for an inquiry have grown louder-extending to the United Nations human rights committee and Amnesty International-the government has refused, maintaining the position it will consider an inquiry only after the civil suit is concluded.