 The leaders of Ontario's Liberal and New Democratic parties defended Tappenden, and a "The Globe and Mail" editorial opined that he should be given the right to seek public office.A board dealing with civil service complaints later decided, by a vote of 2 to 1, that Tappenden had been within his rights to run for office and that the Police Act should be changed.Froese was a real estate broker at the time of the election.