Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says Rob Ford did not call police dispatchers "bitches" during three emergency 911 calls he made moments after a crew from a comedy TV show arrived unannounced at his home.
The Toronto mayor had been accused of verbally harassing 911 dispatchers in an emergency call after a crew from CBC's "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" ambushed him as he was exiting his Etobicoke home.
Police sources told CBC News that Ford became agitated while waiting for assistance and lost his temper in a subsequent phone call to the dispatchers.
In the call, Ford allegedly shouted: "You … bitches! Don't you f--king know? I'm Rob f--king Ford, the mayor of this city!"
Blair released a statement on Friday confirming that no one on the police force had issued a complaint about the calls.
"The content of those conversations has been misrepresented by what are claimed to be 'several anonymous sources,' presumably from within the TPS, in which case I have to set the record straight," Blair said.
"I have listened to the three emergency calls. The mayor did not use the word 'bitches,' attributed to him by those 'several anonymous sources.' The mayor did not describe himself as the original account claimed."
Ford, who admitted to using the F-word, says he was "frustrated" when he swore during a call with a 911 dispatcher on Monday. But the mayor stood by his outrage over the incident, which he has described as an ambush.
"Maybe I shouldn't have used the F-word" Ford told reporters on Thursday afternoon, adding that he was "accosted" by the TV crew.
The CBC reaffirmed the details they received from their sources on Thursday. While Ford said that it was up to the police to release a tape of the call, the police said that it was Ford's decision.
Blair said it was not his practice to comment on 911 calls but wanted to set the record straight because the controversy had created confusion with the public about whether to call 911 or not.
"Public safety is too important. Let me be clear. Anyone who has concerns for their safety, or the safety of their family, should call 911 without hesitation," he said.
