Four high-level drug figures have walked because RCMP officers misled the court when they got their initial warrants and lied again when the matter came up in court.
Mr. Justice Peter Leask, a very sharp legal mind, ordered wiretap evidence obtained via the warrants inadmissible and, with that, the Crown folded its case. Leask didn't mince words. He found the officers misled the judge who granted the wiretap warrants and then lied to his court as they tried to explain away the false statements in their wiretap affidavits.
So the mounties got caught lying their asses off under oath, so what else is new? Sadly, here's something else that's getting old. Responding to the judge's ruling, an RCMP spokesman said the force is very concerned about Justice Leask's findings, so concerned that they're going to close ranks as usual and see if they can appeal. Not a word about taking a hard look at fellow officers who have broken the law, sullied the force and breached their duty to the Canadian public. I mean it's not as though they shot some unarmed kid in the back of the head in self-defence or Tasered some unfortunate to death in an airport.
Cleaning up the RCMP is Harper's responsibility. Seems that neither the prime minister nor the Tory apparatchik he appointed RCMP commissioner has much interest in doing that. Sad, really.
7 comments:
Has Harper commented at all about this and the Dziekanski case!
No, he's steered well clear of the RCMP scandals and the opposition has pretty much let him get away with it.
Every time one of these incidents happens it adds to the disconnect between the public and the force. In the long run, public disrespect for a police service can carry a real cost.
As said before, the RCMP could give lessons to the FBI on violating rights.
And, where's Harper's leadership on this one?
I actually can't blame Harper for not commenting on an ongoing court case, though he's picked a funny time to start!
In the long run, public disrespect for a police service can carry a real cost.
The RCMP has a long history of stretching the truth and other not so savoury activities...
Yet, the public still trust them overall...
I'd like to see a cleanup because they really are a joke that deserve scorn and mockery. Certainly not respect.
I can't recall the last time any MP mentioned the RCMP, let alone Harper. No doubt it was an NDP, however many years ago it was.
No, it's been a good long time since anyone stood up in the House and demanded a wholesale cleaning of the RCMP stables. That, I believe, is long overdue.
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