What we know is that the RCMP is rotten, from the top down. The good news is that an increasing percentage of Canadians across the rest of the country is figuring out the same thing.
Perhaps British Columbians know the RCMP better because we have to put up with a lot more of them - over 10,000 in fact, about the same number as in a WWII army division. In effect, we're occupied by a gang of federal thugs with some very nasty tendencies.
From the unexplained bullet in the back of young Ian Bush's skull to the execution of Robert Dziekanski, from a litany of acts of brutality to sexual harassment and other peccadilloes, to the failure of the RCMP to track down Robert Picton, many British Columbians have had their fill of these officers and their ways.
Darryl Plecas, a criminologist at the University of the Fraser Valley, said the RCMP is still trying to change the work culture of a force with “so many bullies.”
“There seems to be this incestuous relationship in different places in the RCMP; you look at certain units and they’re filled with people who have been friends forever,” said Plecas. “People have recognized this; you dare not cross them, otherwise they’re going to come after you.”
Plecas said B.C., with several large detachments, has more RCMP officers than anywhere else in the country, which means a larger sample size and therefore more “bullies.”
The anger and distrust we have for the RCMP didn't happen overnight. The plummeting numbers reported by Ipsos Reid happened during Harper's tenure as prime minister. There were troubling signs that Harper had co-opted the force when former Commissioner Zaccardelli seemed to wade into electoral politics, with a dubious mid-campaign corruption investigation into Ralph Goodale that he refused to explain afterward. Who can forget when Harper appointed a life long Tory insider, Bill Elliott, to serve as the RCMP's first civilian Commissioner? With Harper's hands all over it, it's probably no wonder so much rot set in among the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
They're also engaged in a program of illegal surveillance and there doesn't seem to be anybody to make them follow the law.
ReplyDeleteThe BC Information and Privacy Commissioner has order-making power to force local police forces to follow the law, but the RCMP are federal and a different jurisdiction. The federal Privacy Commissioner has no order-making power and the relevant ministers don't seem to be doing anything.
No question that the ALPR VicPD/RCMP collusion is an affront to the public. The VicPD's chief's arrogance ought to have had him sacked. He plainly considers himself and his force not bound to anything with which he "respectfully disagrees." There is no place for people like him in a democratic society.
ReplyDeleteThe RCMP are Harper's Brown Shirts. The RCMP are above the law. In BC's corrupt judicial system, the RCMP even get away with murder.
ReplyDeleteOliver and Harper have called us, eco-terrorists. They had said. They are setting up, RCMP anti-terrorist squads. What ever that means? It is Oliver and Harper, who are the terrorists. I haven't heard any Canadian citizens, threatening eco-terrorism. The only threats I have heard, came from Oliver and Harper.
There are BC people who don't even want the RCMP, as icons for Canada. The RCMP are a total shameful, disgrace to their professions. They commit worse crimes, than the people they arrest. Their image is in tatters. The male RCMP Officer's conduct to the female RCMP Officers, has revolted and disgusted citizens. Of course, they are covering up for the male RCMP Officer's. They certainly don't want to pay the female RCMP Officers any financial settlements, for the crap they get put through.