The acting police chief in Windsor seems to be taking his job seriously, instead of skulking behind the blue wall. He has suspended (with pay, as the Ontario Police Act requires) a twelve-year veteran of the force, Kent Rice, for an unprovoked assault on a man lying in a corridor—a brutal attack captured on videotape.

Even by Ottawa policing standards, as dismally low as they are, the Windsor police seem to be truly a breed apart.

Chief Al Frederick replaced Gary Smith, who “retired” last December as details of a horrific case of police brutality came under the public spotlight. Detective David Van Buskirk savagely beat a local doctor, and then charged his victim with assault. He has since been found guilty of assault himself, and public mischief for attempting to mislead a subsequent investigation, and is due to serve five months in jail.

Frederick has pledged cultural change within his department, and appears to be off to a fine start. One hopes Mayor Eddie Francis and city council will confirm his appointment—you don’t get a police chief like that every day. In the meantime, needless to say, the blue mob is trying to get the reforming mayor kicked off the Windsor Police Services Board.