 In return, they said, the Liberals agreed to field weak candidates against Sudbury-area Progressive Conservatives in the 1981 provincial election.Tappenden was subsequently charged with discreditable conduct under the Ontario Police Act, which prohibits police officers from becoming involved in politics.An OPP spokesman said that Tappenden had been denied a leave of absence to run for office (using his vacation days instead), and that the Police Act took precedence over the Public Service Act in police matters.