This former cop was awarded $630K in lost wages. Now, Toronto police may try to take it away
CBC
When former police officer Ralph Thistle finally received $630,000 in lost wages, he thought his lengthy battle was finally over. But now, Toronto police are taking the first step to potentially appeal the payment, CBC News has learned.
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) maintains no decision to appeal has been made, and that it has only filed a legal notice that could lead to one. The service says it wants to review the payment further.
But Thistle says TPS is dragging out an already lengthy dispute and threatening his emotional and financial wellbeing.
"Why are they doing it? It's because they can," Thistle, 64, told CBC News in a recent interview.
"And what it's done, it's brought so many bad memories that my family wanted to put in the past. But here they are again, starting this legal action. With no care to restorative justice to me or my family. I am heartbroken. I am saddened."
CBC News first told Thistle's story last June. Soon afterward, his 14-year battle for compensation ended when Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board [WSIB] awarded Thistle hundreds of thousands of dollars after determining his work-related post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] cut his policing career short.
When the cheques arrived in the mail, Thistle said, he finally felt vindicated.