Perceptions by Gerry Warner
It was one of those moments. We were sitting around the City Council table and everyone seemed in a congratulatory mood as the latest quarterly RCMP statistics were read. And then I noticed one of the items in the report that went unmentioned – the Cranbrook RCMP detachment was down one member. You guessed correctly. It was the member recently charged with theft for allegedly stealing a laptop computer from a local pawnshop.
I was tempted to ignore it too. The story had appeared in the local media and got some national play. And it was Cranbrook Council, and Council above all else, loves to be positive. And once again this was the case as several Council members praised the Force for the wonderful job it’s doing regardless of the fact that one of its members had just been charged criminally right here in River City.
Damn it, I thought. Even the little boy in the fairy tale had the temerity to say, “The emperor has no clothes.” But no one at this Council table was going to say anything. Is it important? You’re darn right it’s important. RCMP service is one of the most costly items in the City’s budget, which we’d just spent six weeks reviewing. Does this sort of thing happen very often? Not in Cranbrook, but now it had and no one on Council seemed to care. Wasn’t this a great opportunity to hear what the RCMP had to say about the incident? After all, there were three RCMP members in the gallery, including the inspector.
So when it was my turn to speak, I was a little hesitant. Why not just play along with the crowd? It would be the politically safe and expedient thing to do. You don’t cross the RCMP and you don’t want to be the odd one out on Council. But then I thought, what am I here for? To march in step with the band or raise concerns that I’m sure would be of interest to the public? Rightly or wrongly, I decided the public’s right to know trumps every other concern.
Know what, you ask? Well, here’s a very incomplete list of alleged RCMP transgressions over the past several years:
- Air India bombing, more than 300 lives lost in by far the biggest act of terrorism in Canadian history. On June 25, 2005, Prime Minister Harper apologized to the families of the victims for “institutional failings” by the RCMP and CSIS saying, “the protection of citizens is the first objective of government.”
- On Oct. 25, 2005, a RCMP officer claiming self-defence shot 22-year-old Houston millworker Ian Bush in the back of the head after picking him up for having an open beer outside the local hockey arena. A police inquiry later cleared the officer.
- On Oct. 14, 2007, four burly RCMP officers arrested and tasered Robert Dziekański five times at the Vancouver International Airport with the would be Polish immigrant dying a few minutes later. Amateur video of the incident resulted in a torrent of criticism from around the world. Inquiry Commissioner Justice Robert Braidwood deplored the “shameful conduct” by the officers involved.
- On Jan. 27, 2012 B.C. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Craig Callens, said the Force felt “deep regret” for not catching serial killer Robert Pickton earlier. "We could have done more." A female RCMP member of the Pickton team said she was sexually harassed by male officers during the investigation and several other female members have since leveled charges of harassment against male members.
- On Jan 11, 2012, a RCMP officer in charge of the Merritt detachment was charged with stealing cocaine from the detachment’s evidence lockup.
In response to my question, Inspector Brian Edmondson pointed out that these incidents are relatively few in a Force that numbers close to 18,000 members in Canada. Police have to make quick decisions in difficult circumstances and most of the time they do it correctly and professionally, “but that never makes the news,” Edmondson replied.
I agreed with him and even related a recent incident in which a RCMP member acted with great dispatch in locating an elderly relative of my wife’s that had dropped out of sight. But what about the list above and many other recent RCMP incidents that have resulted in the Force being seen in a negative light? Should we leave it up to the police to investigate themselves? I don’t think so and when it happens in your own back yard, I think you have every right to raise questions in any venue, including the Council table.
You may disagree.
Actually, I do disagree with you, Gerry. There is a time, a place and a level of tactfulness that people that serve need to exhibit.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, your desire to be a modern day Robin Hood embarrasses me as a citizen of this community. The members of the RCMP that live and serve in Cranbrook are good people and need to be supported by all of us. There will always be people that come up short, either in word or deed. When this occurs, we should take the appropriate measures to address the issue, while doing our best to preserve their dignity and the dignity of everyone around the issue.
Gerry, you have an opportunity to build your reputation as a courageous person representing all that is right and good in our community. In the future, please remember that you are now a council member of Cranbrook with a responsibility to guide people to a better place. Even though you may be technically correct with your comments, I do not see how embarrassing our RCMP members in public serves the public good.
I expect all of our community and business leaders to lead with dignity, grace and class. I hope that in the future, you exhibit a greater sense of decorum and tact when representing us.
AD
Very well said, Anonymous... Citizens expect council members to lead in a professional, constructive manner. And yes, indeed, "Council should, above all else, love to be positive". Gerry, at the Council table you are not paid to wear your news media hat... save that for this CLC forum. There is a difference... on Council you are accountable for everything you say. Being the odd man out will not serve you or Cranbrook well.
DeleteYou are correct in noting room for improvement in the RCMP organization; however, the local officer's error pales in comparison to the severe problems you noted. City personnel matters should always be dealt with in-camera the same as in the private sector. The officer was punished sufficiently internally and by the media. No need to bring it up again in open Council meeting.
On another note, it is time for the years of destructive political divisiveness and polarization to stop with the 3 new members on Council. Cranbrook has had enough of that... now the 3 of you will be expected to represent the majority, join the team and act in full cooperation with previous Council members and City staff.
Good luck to all in serving the common good of Cranbrook.
I agree with AD. We have heard tirelessly from the CLC and yourself how previous council showed disrespect to members of the public and now that your in the council chairs you are doing exactly that.
ReplyDeleteNot only with the lack of dignity shown to the RCMP delegation, but also at the previous council meeting. A young man shows up to council with the courage to ask for city support for a family faith night. While I understand that debate of separation of church and state I think Councillor Warner and Councillor Cross showed a lack of respect to this young man when they spoke to him. You want the youth to take part in our community...encourage them...maybe not with monies but at least encouraging words. I thought the Mayor and remaining council were generally supportive of this young mans involvement in the community.
Councillor Wardner and Cross, you certainly have your own political opinions, but please remember that you serve the whole community not just championing your own causes or your organizations.
You had every right in the world to ask the RCMP about this matter. In fact, the RCMP is the city's police force, and you have been elected to represent the taxpayers who are paying them.
ReplyDeleteYou saw fit to ask a question of the RCMP officers who were present at an open council meeting to give a report to the citizens they serve, and you note that the inspector answered it.
End of story. And before anyone concludes I am not a supporter of the RCMP, I am but that does not mean they can not be questioned on issues.
At least we know where Councillor Warner stands on issues, and he has the courage to state his views and invite comments, without being "anonymous"
I did not take advantage of the opportunity to see the interaction on Council regarding this most recent local RCMP quarterly report. However, in light of what happened on the Force recently with this one member being dismissed for his conduct, to NOT acknowledge it is like ignoring the elephant in the room. I don't see that as rude or disrespectful. Our Council was elected to represent us. I'm not suggesting they publicly get into personnel issues. However, as a citizen (who knows the officer charged and his wife - also an RCMP member)I'd be concerned about the morale in the Detachment. No question, as Warner points out in his column, that our beleaguered RCMP has had more than their share of issues mishandled. However as a citizen of Cranbrook, I want to know that the local Detachment acknowledges they have an issue to deal with. Imagine the 30+ RCMP members in our Detachment who suffer because of the actions of one. Are they getting the support they need? The first step to healing is accepting responsibility for our actions. Shouldn't the quarterly report itself have made mention of this member's poor judgment and how the Detachment and E Division is handling the matter and assuring us - the public - that local members are getting the support they need to continue to do the very important and vital work for which they are responsible and well paid? I think if the RCMP were proactive in acknowledging this issue in its quarterly report, accepted responsibility for it, and continued on with their statistics, that would have been most appropriate.
ReplyDeleteFor the Record and in response to one Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteTranscribed from the City's video at minute mark 25. Councillor Cross said: "Thank you very much for approaching this. And I personally support an event that can pull families together, and an event where people have the right to, feel free to express their religious beliefs or faiths. However, I don't really believe it's the place for the taxpayers to support an event where there is a religious based event. I sort of agree with Councillor Warner, it begins to be a bit of a slippery slope. However, I do support the concept of it and if you can find your way to find some other funding I think that would be great."
Thank you for the clarification of Councillor Cross' comments.
DeleteI can appreciate this one was a tough call for all members of the council and the mayor, but I believe council made the right decision not to approve the grant request.