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RCMP Commissioner Shows How Much Impartiality There Is In An RCMP Investigation

By Ben Meisner

Thursday, July 17, 2008 03:58 AM

If ever there was a reason to not have police investigating police it comes in the wake of the freedom of access of information in the Robert Dziekanski Taser death at Vancouver airport.

When the top cop of Canada phones to tell three of the four officers involved in tazering to say I know it was tough on you, but be assured of my ongoing support.

Those comments put not only the impartiality of the Dziekanski investigation into question, it raises serious concerns about the Ian Bush and Kevin St Araund deaths at the hands of police officers.

When you have the top RCMP officer in Canada phone to give the boys a little pat on the back, how then can you expect an impartial investigation? But is doesn’t end there, along comes the head cop of BC, Gary Bass who writes to tell Commissioner Elliot that Elliot was a big hit when he got in touch with the four officers who tazered the polish immigrant.

So you’re in a room and you are being called upon to conduct an "Impartial Investigation" with your immediate boss and his boss supporting the people you’re investigating and you’re to be impartial?

Why did the RCMP Commissioner take it upon himself to speak to three of the four involved in the tazering death unless it was to say in a roundabout way that what they did was okay? If in  fact it wasn’t, they both had better sit down and watch the tape again and then step up to a microphone to tell the world that what their officers did was,” Aye Okay “.

The public of Canada has long held to the belief that when you have the RCMP investigating the RCMP the result is obvious. The problem however doesn’t end there. When the RCMP Public Complaints Commission investigates the matter they are handed an investigation conducted by those very same RCMP officers. How again do you get impartiality?

The E-mails released under a freedom of information access did nothing more than confirm what the public of Canada already suspects and there are two examples of that within 300 kilometers of this city.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.  


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Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 03:58 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Comment Posted by: heidi1555 on July 17 2008 10:24 AM
Nothing shocks me anymore. I'm sending this article forward.
At what point in their career did these men tell themselves its ok to start acting like the characters off of the wizard of oz? No brains, heart or courage.
Comment Posted by: seamutt on July 17 2008 10:52 AM
Folks the RCMP are a power to themselves. It is a poorly run misguided organization that has fallen off the rails. Just shows murder by cop is okay. Its no wonder organized crime can run circles around them.
Comment Posted by: billposer on July 17 2008 11:39 AM
Not having an independent review in cases like these leads to corruption even if the organization isn't intrinsically corrupt. It is just asking for trouble. The idea of having only an internal investigation is a non-starter.
Comment Posted by: owl on July 17 2008 11:57 AM
Looking at it from a corporate point of view with respect to morale and supporting the corporations employees, I think there is nothing wrong.

However, there is a major conflict of interest and whoever felt that an internal investigation was the way to deal with such issues is totally misguided and needs to have an independant auditor recommend how to fix the situation.
Comment Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 17 2008 12:56 PM
Actually,what Elliot did was very stupid,and only confirms what many people already feel about the RCMP investigating itself!
Very BAD idea and it does put this investigation in a bad light.
Obviously, this man was not thinking very clearly...either that or he really doesn't give a damn about what the public thinks.
A major gaff that now needs to be examined!
And by the way...Gordon Campbell should have also kept his face shut,but then nothing HE says should suprise anyone!
Comment Posted by: lostfaith on July 17 2008 1:32 PM
Funny thing about all this self investigation stuff is, not to many years ago having the RCMP investigate things that happened within or by the force was viewed as a good thing. Who better to investigate than the well respected professionals that "Always get their man"

The police were very much trusted to do the right thing no matter what. Correct?

Over the past few years there have been so many very questionable incidents involving the RCMP and other police forces not only in Canada but other countries around the world, that it is time to absolutely reject any type of self investigation and demand our government institutes a completely nonbiased, unconnected civilian investigative body in Canada to take charge of these investigations.
Comment Posted by: lmorg on July 17 2008 1:38 PM
Elliot hasn't really done squat for the Force since he took the position of Commish. He's just a figure-head appointed there to just satisfy public opinion at the time that a change was needed at the commissioner level ie: anything but another Zacardelli. Look to Deputy Commish Sweeney actually running the show.....he's the "special advisor" to Elliiot. The result: buisness as usual - preserve the status quo.
Comment Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 17 2008 2:02 PM
Bang on Imorg!
Comment Posted by: mouse on July 17 2008 2:09 PM
The RCMP seem to be at odds with its members. The guy on the street is trying to do a good job. Probably enlists with ideals. But when your boss's are corrupt where can you go? When investigations take a year or more who is listening to the result? When our RCMP is deteriorated to be just another corporate with flaws that the general public accept as" normally corrupt" where are we? I think another enquiry won't help. Another government department won't help. We must hold our elected and paid officials more accountable for taking care of business. The government is supposed to be we the people,maybe we the people need to make them more accountable. Contracts for elected officials. Inquiry's by a 12 member jury of the public, not themselves, for the RCMP. Just throwing stuff out there. I don't know but this system is not working.