Provincial police overseeing probe of Mayor Rob Ford’s activities

TORONTO – Ontario’s provincial police force has agreed to oversee an investigation into the activities of Mayor Rob Ford.

Toronto police Chief Bill Blair says the step is needed to avoid recent “distractions.”

Blair says public interest demands an impartial investigation into possible criminality should continue.

Ford, who has publicly challenged the chief to arrest him, has recently been accusing Blair of wasting taxpayers’ money following him around for months — all with little result.

The investigation in question — dubbed “Project Brazen 2” — arose out of a year-long guns, gangs and drugs probe.

It was during the initial probe that Toronto police uncovered a video showing Ford apparently smoking crack cocaine and decided to investigate his activities.