Police Investigating Police Up for Discussion Monday

Friday, November 27, 2009 05:46 PM

The timely and transparent investigation of complaints against police will be the focus of discussion at a forum of law enforcement professionals, academics, politicians and advocates, set for Monday at Simon Fraser University.

"Our government's vision is for accountability, transparency and effectiveness to be the hallmarks of policing in British Columbia," said Solicitor General Kash Heed. "Maintaining the public's confidence in our police forces is
vital, and all the representatives participating in this discussion will bring a unique perspective based on their experience and expertise as we move forward on ensuring that the police complaints process best
serves all the citizens of this province."

The forum is co-hosted by the Province and Simon Fraser University. Opening remarks will be delivered by Solicitor General Kash Heed. Associate professor Dr. David MacAlister, Simon Fraser University
school of criminology, will also set the stage for the discussions with his presentation entitled "Investigating Complaints Against Police:Framing the Issues."

A keynote panel will be made up of Paul Kennedy, chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP; Stan Lowe, police complaint commissioner, B.C. Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner; and, Mr. Ian Scott, director, Ontario Special Investigations Unit. Panellists will speak to how their current model of investigating complaints operates and the challenges they face.

Representatives from RCMP "E" Division, the B.C. Police Association, the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association will each have an opportunity to respond to the keynote
panellists. A general discussion among participants, including representatives from the Ontario and Alberta provincial governments, the Vancouver police union, MLAs, mayors, PIVOT and others will follow.

"Ensuring police accountability is probably one of the most challenging aspects of police management across Canada," said Simon Fraser University professor of criminology Rob Gordon. "We hope this forum will stimulate a broad, informed dialogue that will help to create the most effective, balanced and transparent system of police accountability possible."

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Posted on Friday, November 27, 2009 05:46 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: zyblxteu on November 27 2009 9:23 PM

We need an independent COMMISSION like the one implemented long ago in Ontario.
The police can not police them selves.
A commission independent will make them accountable for there actions,make them think 2wice about what takes place.

Posted by: Eagleone on November 28 2009 6:23 AM

I agree and we also need to vote directly for the top boss for the police in the province at election time IMO.

Posted by: uppercandian on November 28 2009 9:05 AM

Who do you propose we hire to investigate the police??? Teachers, construction workers, doctors???? A majority of the "independent commission" in Ontario is comprised of retired police officers. You can't hire any joe blow off the street and expect him to take warned statements, write searfch warrants, production orders, understand disclosure. The early Ontario model was a disaster because they hired civilians who didn't know anything about the law or how to LEGALLY conduct an investigation. It's not nearly as simple as you guys make it sound. I am ll for it though, but it will take a long time to get up and running.

Posted by: uppercandian on November 28 2009 9:06 AM

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 28 2009 10:46 AM

The key word here is "discussion".
They will "discuss" it but in the end,nothing will change.
It would appear the Federal and Provincial governments like things the way they are, mainly because they never have anything to say about it.
The RCMP are not going to give up and allow an outsider who has never been a cop, to get in without a fight.
Cops,even ex-cops,are sympathetic to cops.
William Elliott is an shining example of how little control a civilian has over thew RCMP.
He is a token to appease the masses, appointed by Harper and has served no purpose.
It is doubtful the RCMP pay any attention to him whatsoever.
Even the Federal government cannot control the RCMP and they know it.
They created the monster by not making them accountable to an outside review body many years ago.
They have allowed the RCMP to make all their own decisions and set up their own polices and structure.
They answer to no one.
Their track record in relation to complaints against them, is pretty much perfect.
And that is why the public has no faith in either the RCMP or the Complaints Commission itself.
The RCMP ALWAYS wins.
To assume they never make mistakes and screw it up is ridiculous.

Posted by: Papermaker on November 28 2009 2:40 PM

I think what really needs to happen is for people to think twice before breaking the law!!!!

Don't want to get tasered, shot, or beat up....DON'T BREAK THE LAW!!!

Posted by: uppercandian on November 28 2009 2:54 PM

Andyfreeze what the heck are you talking about. Tell me something, who does the Vancouver Police Department answer to? Did the mayor of Vancouver write the Vancouver police policy for them. Is the VPD'S track record any different then the RCMP in regards to public complaints. You are so ignorant to the reality of police work. I can't believe you could use a term like "monster" to describe the RCMP. You should be ashamed of yourself for making a comment like that. No faith, thats funny because the surveys seem to tell a different story???? The RCMP just happen to have a very good approval rating amongst the people they serve. The RCMP assumes it never makes mistakes??? Where do you get this stuff from. Did you see William Elliot on the hour a few weeks back??? You must have got a lot of speeding tickets or something!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 28 2009 4:43 PM

It's called an "opinion" uppercanadian and it's mine!
Nobody said you have to agree with it.

Posted by: lmorge on November 28 2009 6:46 PM

Andyfreeze: The RCMP did not make up the RCMP Act, Parliament did.

The current commissioner, WIlliam Elliot, was appointed by PM Harper. Note: Elliot was a high ranking beaureaucrat for Harper priot to his appointment.

The Rank and file members of the RCMP do not like Harper and the conservative government, especially when they voted themselves pay raises and turned back the RCMP pay raises which were agreed to beforehand by the treasury board. RCMP wages were frozen back in the mid 90's for several years while municipal police forces wages kept going up. And, if you ask me, the RCMP are much better trained.

The RCMP and war veterans, pay into two pension plans, but after age 65 the RCMP pension is clawed back as the CPP kicks in. Is that fair?

Kennedy was let go because he stated he needed more money from who else, the government (the PM).

I wonder who the guys on the road get to make complaints to about all this crap? If you wonder about who is getting s*&t on by who, it all comes back to the politicians.

Posted by: uppercandian on November 29 2009 7:37 PM

Now that I can agree with Andyfreeze.

Posted by: uppercandian on November 29 2009 7:40 PM

Now that I can agree with Andyfreeze.

Posted by: heidi1555 on November 29 2009 8:46 PM

There is a man here in B.C. who helped develop an application for the L.A.P.D. to use for the same problems that we've all been discussing lately.

He sent along these two links to me:
[urlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/later/decree.html[/url]

http://www.fulldisclosure.net/Program_Details/328-29_Jeffrey_Eglash.htm

Posted by: heidi1555 on November 29 2009 8:47 PM

Sorry here's first link again:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/later/decree.html