Today in Vancouver, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott said yesterday there was nothing improper about his support for the four officers involved in using a Taser on a Polish man at the Vancouver airport, Robert Dziekanski, 40, died last October shortly after being hit with the stun gun and then being pinned to the ground by officers. The fact that the RCMP Commissioner failed to reveal such emotions and to support the murder of this innocent bystander by promulgating his officers as having done nothing wrong stems police corruption for the RCMP and tarnishes their image. A comment made that, "Right from the beginning we have said the RCMP should not be investigating the RCMP," said Kosteckyj yesterday. Just ridiculous, so using this logic, the RCMP are exempt from any malfeasant acts they construe and can legitimize their wrongs.
Yours Truly,
-Waterloo University: Alex.C, PSCI-260
The Star, 2008
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/462638
6 comments:
I cannot stand Harper and the way he runs things but I have to say that choosing a non-RCMP was a great decision. The position of Commissioner should require a leader who listens to advisers and makes decision on a review of the evidence - so what he brings is an unskewed version of what is best to do - not influenced by decades of police culture but can take advice from those that have served.
Well that is what SHOULD happen - I thought that was the role of the PM as well but he has a habit of not listening to anyone. = S
I am concerned about the linking of the Gov't (PMO) to these types of positions though. A competitive process of some sort would be preferable esp. given the present gov'ts claims of accountability and openness.
A more serious problem that we have in this country are the goofy, inane and stupid comments of the likes of Liberal public safety critic Sue Barnes and NDP MP David Christipherson, as per the G & M article. If their criticism cannot be constructive then shut the hell up. I for one am getting sick and tired of this opposition nonsense just for the sake of saying something stupid. Bet that the likes of Sue Barnes knowledge of public safety is that 'you look left, then right before you cross the street'. Give Mr. Elliott a chance to do what he has to do.
I wouldn't necessarily assume it was a political patronage appointment. Although I'm not a Harper fan, there is no doubt that the government considered the affect that this would have on rank and file officers.
What needs to happen is to streamline the RCMP and allow them to do their jobs. The RCMP is a huge bureaucracy and unfortunately, police officers don't make great bureaucrats. What the RCMP needs is to leave the running of the operations with the civil servants, and give whatever is needed to the police to do it's job efficiently.
-Tim Hudson
Typical Canadian Farce, the RCMP is all conspiracies, they can create faults and it's not their fault because they're not going to investigate in themselves? SO BS. Just pure crap you're right.
JW
RCMP will never learn, abuse of powers, the supreme court should have them reprimanded.
bye!
I remember reading this exact article when it first came out. I'm glad you took the time to write about it because it is a very important issue regarding police actions. Sometimes they seem very unjustified such as this scenario.
I mean, even if the man was causing a rucus, and doing acts of vandalism, was it really necessary to stun him? Especially with more than one trained police officer at the scene? Could they have not just tackled him and put cuffs on him? Was the tzer THAT necessary?
And I do agree with your logic on how the RCMP is free from investigation. That is ridiculous. They should investigate those officers on the scene, and ask them to justify their actions. Because this is a very serious matter that should not just be blown over.
The victims family should continue to hassle the RCMP and demand answers. Hopefully this will prevent any nonsensical actions that can be easily avoided if logic is applied.
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