It has been a long standing tradition for police officers to receive a gold badge upon retirement; that is until Sgt. Saxon retired and received a cheap silver badge.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Saxon has received differential treatment, but it is the distasteful conclusion of a long history of 28 years and 8 months, a summary of which can be found at bullyinginpolicing.com, but in a nutshell:

• he didn’t get promoted, despite being qualified
• he was excluded from a succession plan
• his personal medical information and that of his family’s was breached
• fellow officers surreptitiously followed and reported on his and his family’s activities
• i was surreptitiously investigated for an alleged criticism of the police
• procedures were not followed for medals routinely given to others
• police reported to great west life, “both him and his wife are activists and are always on about something, they have a website, etc.”
• the board dismissed my subsequent complaint about Berthiaume following a one-sided investigation
• he was denied benefits once he turned 60, contrary to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

I can understand how entrenched the local attitude is, coming from local residents who want to keep the local cops, despite the estimated extra million or million and half cost to the taxpayer every year.

However, no one will ever convince me that the local police are somehow worth keeping, a sentiment shared by others I’ve had conversations with, including ‘locals.’

To treat one of their own officers with such disdain instigates nothing but disrespect and disgust from me.

Commentary by Linda Saxon