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ee Kettles appear The Salvation Army kettles appeared in the local malls last Friday. Above, Salvation Ar- my soldier Judy Wiseman watches Timmy and Tommy Latour make a donation to the Army's local Christmas Cheer fund. Police want equal treatment The Midland Police Association has been assured its members need not worry about a bias working against any member who applies to be the next chief of police. Police Association representatives told the public safety committee that the constables are con- cerned by reported statements by the chief of police and the mayor. Hamelin | The annual report on the Midland Police Depart- ment included the com-_ ments to the Ontario Police Commission inspector by Chief. Ernie Bates and Mayor Al Roach, that no member of the force is qualified to be chief when Chief Bates retires. Chief Bates will retire in two years. The other senior officers are also due to retire in the near future, or would not apply to be the chief of police, Chief Bates said. Police Association Presi- dent Paul Hamelin told the committee that the Police Act requires only that a police chief be a Canadian citizen or a British subject, with two years of secon- dary school education or its equivalent, good moral character and a certificate from a doctor attesting physical and mental health. The purpose of the delegation was to tell the committee that the Association members and the general public have the impression that the com- mittee believes none of the constables are qualified to be chief, and that a Midland constable would not even be considered, he said. Constable Hamelin said the Association members fear the committee which does select Chief Bates' Arts Council holds meeting December 9 The North Simcoe Arts Council has set a date for its annual meeting. All members of the arts council are invited to at- tend at the Budd Watson Gallery in Midland Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Financial statements will be given and a new board of governors will be elected. Several board members have resigned since the arts council began, in- cluding its chairman Kamran Khozan. He left after the resignation of two administrators and several staff members. Six of the current board members have indicated they will not be running for re-election. Page 4, Wednesday, December 2, 1987 successor will be prejudic- ed against a Midland con- stable applicant because of the OPC report. The committee was ask- ed to indicate the*courses it expects a successful can- didate for chief of police to have completed. The best chief for the town is an officer who is familiar with the town, some said. Const. Hamelin used Chief Bates, a member of the Midland Police Department for more than 30 years, as an example of an officer who rose through the ranks. "TI wouldn't have hired you, or you, or you, if I didn't think you could help the municipality," Chief Bates told Const. Hamelin, and Consts. Dan Gilbert and Glenn Bannon. His opinion is that three or four of the MPD's con- stables are future chief of police candidates. '"But not now, or next year." The chief pointed out that the MPD will need sergeants as well as a new chief in the next two years. As soon as the final four MPD constables complete an advanced training course at the Ontario Police College, the chief will start sending con- stables for a five-week-long management level course. Mayor Roach's reaction was that the officers are be- ing overly sensitive. He is fully in support of them. "In five years I have not said one word to a police officer," he said. But, he said, he does not feel qualified to judge ap- plicants for chief of police. The Ontario Police Com- mission report noted his request for assistance in in- terviewing chief of police candidates. Councillor Carolyn White, the committee's chairman, apologised for releasing the OPC report to the press. "I said it was a great report. I wanted to let the people know what a great police force we have." Both the mayor and the police chief praise the officers highly. "I thought the report was in your favor." A police chief does not have to rise through the ranks, but he should, White said. If the best candidate is a constable, that con- stable will be offered the chief of police position. The next chief of police will be the best qualified person available, whatever his origin, she said. » Politicians review book . Midland council members were quite will- ing to suggest im- provements to the Midland Chamber of Commerce's forthcoming economic op- portunity program book. Carol Baker attended a finance committee meeting to show a mock-up of the book and get reaction. The cover featured four photographs on top of a general, abstract background. Reeve Bev Day and others suggested to the industrial commis- sioner that a catchier background would be better. Mayor Al Roach sug- gested the photograph on the cover which represents industry should be a view of NEBS. The industrial park, a million dollar in- vestment for the town, should be highlighted, he said. ; Another suggestion from the mayor was that the book have photographs of Midland Secondary School and Georgian College. The 5,000 print run book will have both industrial and tourist information and be circulated for several years. OPEN THROUGHOUT YEAR CHRISTMAS CACTUS CHRISTMAS CRAFTS CHILDREN'S CEDAR FURNITURE CHRISTMAS GIFT CERTIFICATE *)-p-2, & 2! 4 Gift ' 7 & sot Certificate tat me Mmmm ie sea mace me . FRESH CUT... Christmas Trees $11.95 and up Holt's Greenhouses and Garden Centre Hwy. No. 27, 4 miles South of Elmvale 322-2389 overhead compartment. but, is able to stand upright. A compact carry-on bag that holds suits and long garments wrinkle-free -- while providing protected packing space for accessories and bulky items. 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