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Friday, November 16, 2007
Mounties in ruin
Maclean's magazine's excellent new cover story, "What's really killing the Mounties," makes a strong case to support the proposition that the RCMP is in ruins
Although the story seems to have been written before the Dziekanski case blew up this week (and, moreover, makes no mention of the airport Tasering death), it nevertheless serves to place into a broader context the airport Mounties' questionable actions, and in so doing helps me, at least, understand how the four officers in question could be so bereft of professionalism and humanity.
As I noted in a response to Yoshi's entry, below, writer Paul Palango told CBC radio today that he considers the RCMP to be the worst-trained police force in the country, and that the worst of the worst are routinely stationed in airport detachments.
With all this in mind, it's a wonder the RCMP didn't Taser videographer Paul Pritchard as well.
Here is a link to a cover story, on possible corruption problems within the RCMP, that I wrote in June 2005 for the Western Standard .
Posted by Terry O'Neill on November 16, 2007 in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Yes, a proper review of the RCMP, especially their policies, would be most welcome, and one could begin by removing the politics coming from the top. Due to affirmative action/diversity their recruitment policy has been in sorry shape for many years along with being burdened with too many bureaucrats at the top knowing very little, if anything, of law enforcement.
Still we have a serious problem with everyone and his dog jumping to conclusions that the RCMP are at fault in just about every incident. This is without anyone of us possessing all the facts. Sorry but videos do not always reflect the facts, especially all the facts. I am aware of too many cases of the MSM using such footage that we later discovered to be anything but the truth. With this kind of mind set is it any wonder that any thinking person would think twice before entering law enforcement to-day?
A proper investigation may very well reveal that the RCMP did not follow proper procedure or lacked training or whatever in the Vancouver incident, but until then I refuse to join the mad crowd rushing to condemn them without evidence.
Posted by: Alain | 2007-11-16 2:46:56 PM
...why stop with the Mounties?
The whole @$#%#$% judicial system needs to be housecleaned.
Fat chance.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-16 2:50:21 PM
First--there were the post war years--where people were just so happy to have a normal life, and have a family--and we were all blessed with the baby-boomers.
Then of course, the baby-boomers grew up, and we were blessed with the hippy era, with all those young people, growing up, under the yoke of their parent's experiences in regards to WWII--and just how evil war is. Yes, war is evil, and yes, it ought to be avoided.
Then came Mary-Jane, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, followed by The Me Generation. And what a generation that was.
Why, the world could not have been more blessed with the Hippies, when along came the generation that was raised at the centre of the Universe, where flowers were not cool, block boots were, lots of mascara, skin tite jeans, and the black leather jackets--where the uglier the frown the cooler the look--especially all those piercings.
Well, it seemed to me that the Me Generation (generation X too) had to suddenly grow up--because no matter which way they looked, there were few jobs--thanks to the Liberal losers--and lots of boomers waiting for retirement.
So, The Me Generation--blessed as they were--just had to come up with something better to Bless the World--AKA they spawned the Millenials (all those gifted pieces of the centre of the Universe, who were raised on NDP principles--you know, where there are no losers, we are all winners).
Sure, these folks are the Blessings, of the Blessings, of the Blessings of the Blessings. You don't have to only like them, but you have to love them--and if you don't love them in the manner to which they are occustomed--you are wrong and they are right. I mean how wrong could a Blessing of a Blessing of a Blessing of a Blessing be, right?
Which is why, when they fail--even when they fail so badly that they sit on the side of the street, sticking heroine into their veins, they still think we have to treat them as though butter would not, could not, and should never melt in their mouths.
Well--they can stick it...can't say that...sheer rudeness of course.
I'm waiting for the Ladies and Gentlemen generation to come around again.
It's time.
I'm tired of the selfishness--the hippies, the me-generation/generationx'ers, and especially the millenials. They do what the hippies did except the hippies knew it was against the law. The me-generation knew they were against the law. The generation x'ers--if that really is a generation at all and not the me-generation growing up, just had to be out done.
yes, calm down--remove the capitals, and get with the new writing styles--post modernism aka just how the enemy would prefer you to live--without rules long enough so they can impose theirs
While hippies had draft dodgers, we have volunteers who join for the fringe benefits, take the pay, and then scream when they have to do the work they signed up for.
And we wonder why terrorists are impressing on our youth that they should go and stand in front of war machines--no matter that the side they have chosen to defend would rather kill them than look them in the face. After all, it is the participation that counts--not the manners--not the behaviour, and please, if you listen to them, it does not matter whether the actions are righteous or not.
Lady, over and out.
Posted by: Lady | 2007-11-16 3:17:53 PM
Lady,
I think you covered it.
Posted by: John | 2007-11-16 3:42:49 PM
John ~
Covered? More like plastered. :)
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-16 3:47:27 PM
The traditional RCMP was since inception a very hard nosed conservative National Police Force which earned international respect over the many years and decades. Their History is well documented. There were significant political changes in the direction of the RCMP after World War One and the days of the
so called Communist threat, and again after World War Two and the commencement of the Cold War. The Force was unquestionably underminded by Lester B. Pearson and his post War government which failed to heed advice from St.Laurent and King. The last thing Canada needs in an Inquiry into the RCMP by a group of Canadian Politicians many of whom in the Socialist Horde and Liberal ranks have a inherent dislike of the semi military concept and organization of the famous Force. No PQ Member of Parliament should be allowed anywhere near an official analysis of the National Police Force because their loyality to this Country is suspect
I take with ahuge grain of salt any comment from the icon of the liberal left MacLean's Magazine is
not the journal that produced the famed Blair Fraser and Pierre Berton.MacLean's is staffed by professional malcontents and bullshitters who are not worthy to be called "journalists" New management of the RCMP which PM Harper has put in place will resolve the Force's problems as time goes by. Hopefully many of those rotund ladies wearing the formal Dress Uniforms of the Mounted Police will be sent to Ophra for reconditioning.We
expect a lot from Stephen Harper, and he will deliver, he after all sacked Zac! Macleod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-11-16 3:51:52 PM
Tasered Man's Last Words
________________________________________
By 250 News
Thursday, November 15, 2007 04:05 PM
Prince George, B.C. - According to a member of the Polish speaking community in Prince George, Robert Dziekanski did not ask bystanders to call the police. Opinion250 asked for a translation of the audible words spoken by the Polish immigrant in the 10 minute video recorded by Paul Pritchard. The video documents Dziekanski's actions in the minutes leading up to the arrival of the RCMP at the holding area at Vancouver International Airport. It then continues through to the tasering and eventual death of Dziekanski.
According to our translator, Dziekanski is mostly uttering "Common swear words'". While there have been some who have suggested Dziekanski asked for the police, our translator says he didn't hear anything like that, but admits the sound is very muffled on the 10 minute video so it is very difficult to try and pick out every word that was spoken.
Our translator says Dziekanski words were very clear when he responded to the young woman in the video who appears to be trying to comfort him. Dziekanski says to her, "Please go away."
So basically he cussed everyone and refused help. He had a stapler in his hand to attack the RCMP with and he died of Paranoid Rage
Posted by: Dave | 2007-11-16 4:25:15 PM
Worst at the airports? I guess it depends on your definition of "the worst". The LEAST capable officers are traditionally promoted. Since you cant fire them, and they cant function on the streets, they effectually promote them to positions where they have a better chance of NOT embarrassing themselves or the Government. Unfortunately what you get is a top heavy bureaucracy that care more about paperwork and presentation than they do about officer safety and functionality. So by my definition of worst, they are all stuck in house, behind a desk feeling important about their promotion and out of the way of everyone else. Front line officers are usually very competent and at airports what you would normally find is mostly seasoned officers. Most Rookies have to do their time on the streets before the get a cushy posting like that. Because come media moron spouts off about things they know nothing about, does not make it truth, especially the CBC!! I would have though most people here would have learnt that by now.
Posted by: SW | 2007-11-16 5:28:26 PM
Gee, I really don't understand how the RCMP could have deteriorated so much, so fast.
I mean, look at the much higher recruiting standards (degrees and bilingual) and precious ethnic mix the new and improved RCMP were supposed to become under the ivory tower social engineers in the Ottawa River Valley and McGill University.
Tomax is right on.
It is the entire justice system that has been created by central Canada to suit a small circle of boneheaded social engineers in Ottawa and Montreal.
You know, the guys who have lost touch with the fact that society is more concerned with actual justice, rather than being guinea pigs in the theoretical world that the ruling nomenklatura live in.
As Lenin said, the most important characteristic of a revolution is the transfer of power from one class to another.
In Canada, the Trudeau Liberals transferred the power from our elected politicians to the unelected judges.
Even the ethnic mix and geographic mix of the Supreme Court of Canada is an absurd misrepresentation of the whole country.
But really, what more could you expect from the ethically challenged Crooked Liberals like Jean Chretien and Paul Martin?
Posted by: rockyt | 2007-11-16 10:09:09 PM
Frankly Terry I wish the shotgun would censor some of the comments being posted on this blog by those who think the RCMP acted appropriately on this matter.
They are beyond the pale, insensitive, and quite frankly ignorant.
This is a prime example of where the posters on a blog are damaging a blog's reputation.
Posted by: TJ | 2007-11-16 10:34:20 PM
And Terry if you want a good example, you only have to look at this comment posted in the other thread:
Robert Dziekanski was a terrorist and he got exactly what he deserved.
Posted by: Will Williamson | 16-Nov-07 4:28:35 PM
Why wasn't this deleted?
Posted by: TJ | 2007-11-16 10:37:34 PM
TJ,
It's good know the depth of depravity in some people. It serves as a reminder of how much work there is to do. It also let's us know that none of us are safe as long as there are people walking among us who are that mentally damaged.
I know it's ugly, but it is reality and we must not run from nor hide reality.
That particular goon has shamed himself and if he was easily traceable, I am sure there are those who want to go and have a talk with him. Sooner or later someone will. People like this Williamson are lead pipe and bat magnets.
Posted by: John | 2007-11-16 11:00:24 PM
While I am no fan of the MSM in this country, and the usual Liebral bullshit they spew, I also believe that the RCMP is an organization that has been corrupted for quite some time. The Air India investigation and subsequent cover-up along with the outrageous testimony of G.(big tuna) Zacardelli at the house of commons committee are but two examples of the level of incompetance and intransigence that exsist within that once proud organization. It was absolutely sickening to see the RCMP being used as Jean Cretins personal Gestapo at the APEC summit or when kicking down the door of the former head of the BDC because he refused to give Cretins criminal buddy a loan, later to be kicked back to Monsewer Cretin himself. As stated by others concerned with the disintigration of this institution the corruption of the RCMP began along time ago by the incompetant, half-wit Pearson and later by that A-hole Trudeaumaniac who essentially made himself the Boss of the RCMP, rendering the force to nothing more than a glorified government agency, and puppet of the PMO subject to the desires and whims of whomever is in power. As we witnessed with the disturbing torture, and vicious murder of Mr.Dziekanski at the hands of 4 of the RCMPs finest sociopaths, one is reminded of the Somalia cover-up where an innocent 14 year-old was beaten to death inside a Canadian base. The inquiry that followed, although truncated by political interference from the little thug from shawinigan, clearly showed that a complete lack of leadership was one of the main causes for the lawless behaviour of a few. Although Cretin abused the process and stopped the inquiry from questioning the political masters of the incompetant drones at DND, its clear that the social engineering of the last 40 years, such as using bi-lingualism as a tool of promotion has had a disastrous effect on all our institutions. The hiring and promotion process must be based on skill and ability, not what tribe you belong to or what colour your skin is or if you have enough females, or if you agree with a certain political ideology. Admitting that mistakes have been made and that social engineering and hiring quotas have no place in these organizations would be a good start.
Posted by: Sean | 2007-11-17 12:00:51 AM
Terry, you speak the truth.
Posted by: Cynic | 2007-11-17 12:52:24 AM
I agree with Sean's well thought out and very accurate comments which describes the absolute nonsense of the Liberal definition of Canada imposed on Canadians. Many very senior officers of the RCMP
friends of my Father and his RCMP Veteran friends would never have been promoted in Lester Pearson's
version of a bi lingual Canada. Pearson deliberately destroyed the fabric of our traditional Country
by destroying it's historic symbols like the famed
Red Ensign, which our soldiers in World War One and Two called the "Jack Flag" because of it's Union Jack in the corner. There was even talk of eliminating the famous Red Serge Dress Uniform of the RCMP, now an international symbol of Canada. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2007-11-17 5:23:24 AM
Paul Berton's SUN column today is titled "Can we trust citizen journalists?"
Like too many of his ilk, he is oblivious to the fact that many of us don't trust ANY MSM journalists.
Perhaps citizen journalism is the way to go, considering what we've had to tolerate up to now.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-17 6:03:01 AM
Paul Berton's SUN column today is titled "Can we trust citizen journalists?"
Like too many of his ilk, he is oblivious to the fact that many of us don't trust ANY MSM journalists.
Perhaps citizen journalism is the way to go, considering what we've had to tolerate up to now.
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-17 6:16:47 AM
It seems an aspect of that accident has not been taken care of. Since 9/11, police is much more nervous. Especially in an airport where terrorists have made a scary reputation. The guy who died should have known better and not run away.
This is not to say that police is perfect. Could it be that police reflects also the society they are in?
Let us wait for the results of the inquiry.
Posted by: Rémi Houle | 2007-11-17 6:23:43 AM
Sean hits all the bases right on.
Social engineering has ripped the guts, the heart and soul right out of Organizations like the once proud and world renowned RCMP.
It's been a gradual bastardization of all things pertaining to our British heritage since Pearson and his frag, er, flag.
Posted by: Liz J | 2007-11-17 6:43:22 AM
...just to give the local RCMP help, the whole organization isn't bad, just seems the leadership is.
- and as the old saying goes: fish start to rot from the head down.
At the same time, being the devil's advocate, maybe these instances are foot solider's frustration surfacing from having one's hand tied behind their back in the daily dealing with a politically correct public and inept justice system.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-17 10:51:05 AM
"There was even talk of eliminating the famous Red Serge Dress Uniform of the RCMP,"
Yes, yes, I totally agree! Too much closeness to blood and red after all is a dynamic forceful solid colour at the same time too British.
Remember there are no absolutes!
I think the should wear fuchsia coloured flowing garments it would attract more of our effeminate brother/sisters to join...
/crap off
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-17 10:57:31 AM
The venerable RCMP was created by a Conservative Government as the North West Mounted Police -the
new Conservative Government led by PM Stephen Harper
will resolve the internal problems which have undermined the RCMP for several decades.The Red Serge will remain and our British Heritage will remain, especially in Atlantic Canada essentially
created by families who remained loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2007-11-17 12:06:00 PM
"The Red Serge will remain and our British Heritage will remain, especially in Atlantic Canada"
...don't underestimate the power of Bilingualism and Organized Crime.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-17 3:10:42 PM
I love the uniforms of the RCMP. I do not favor turbans or women as active policemen. I never thought the place of a woman would be in RCMP.
What I heard is they used to be trained even harder than soldiers. I hope it is still the case.
Posted by: Rémi Houle | 2007-11-17 3:54:08 PM
Fat cops. Many
Fat soldiers. None
Epsi
Posted by: epsilon | 2007-11-17 4:00:03 PM
Fat cops. Many
Fat soldiers. None
Thank you, Tim Horton's! :)
Posted by: obc | 2007-11-17 4:16:15 PM
Fat cops. Many
Fat soldiers. None?
BS...I have been seen fat guys and gals in both organizations. Cops are people, and I bet you gang could loose some weight too...
Posted by: SW | 2007-11-17 5:59:15 PM
On the contrary, it's all I can do to gain weight!
I completely disagree with you. Soldiers are lean and strong. Unless you are talking about some desk jockey. But those are not soldiers.
I love our soldiers. My boyfriedn and I even buy them coffee when we see them at Tim Horton's. We do not do the same for our overfed and overpaid cops.
Epsi
Posted by: epsilon | 2007-11-17 10:30:34 PM
Why is it that whenever I have a day of prayer--the debate turns into something...I have no idea what you want to call it--but it sounds similar to the stuff you would expect in a pub during Happy hour on Friday afternoon--and lasts till Monday morning.
Posted by: Lady | 2007-11-17 10:58:39 PM
...some questions:
1. Why did this poor fellow have to wait 8-10 hours?
2. Did he have food, water?
3. Why was he allowed to wander around freely in that "secure" area with computers and such?
4. Why isn't there closed circuit TV to that room or entrance at least?
5. Why was there no briefing of the language he spoke to the RCMP BEFORE they arrived?
6. Why did the RCMP not call in the local EMS right away?
7. Why did the RCMP not bring a translator at least (see point 5)?
One more question.
The person(s) who escorted him to that room from off the plane have a lot of explaining to do.
Then and there they could have figured out he didn't speak English and asked the flight where he originated from.
Me thinks someone forgot to tell someone as it being 10 hours means someone off shift didn't pursue this matter.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-17 11:33:04 PM
...oh for being secured, watch how many times he comes out the door.
Now there were Airport Security guys around, wonder what they all did in all this, especially the strutter who would stance like a linebacker for some reason.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-17 11:35:34 PM
"I completely disagree with you. Soldiers are lean and strong. Unless you are talking about some desk jockey. But those are not soldiers"
LOL man you can tell you never served in the armed forces...try any service battalion or band, and YES even the airborn(yes thats how long ago I was in as it was still called the airborn) now had its fair share of fat guys too...many a day can I remember a guy dropping out of a run because he was out of shape. RCMP is the same...ya just cant paint a group of people with the same brush...its like saying all blacks are ____ or whites are ____.
Posted by: SW | 2007-11-17 11:53:41 PM
Time to disband the RCMP and replace it with a national police force built from the ground up:
http://drdawgsblawg.blogspot.com/2007/08/our-national-disgrace-disband-rcmp-now.html
Posted by: Dr.Dawg | 2007-11-18 11:01:45 AM
>"4. Why isn't there closed circuit TV to that room or entrance at least?"
5Posted by: tomax7 | 17-Nov-07 11:33:04 PM
If you watched the cellphone video, you can clearly see a closed circuit camera on a ceiling mount behind the left column above where the victim picked up the computer.
There were probably other cameras covering all the angles in the area.
What I want to know is WHY WON'T the RCMP release Paul Pritchard's video stick?
Posted by: Speller | 2007-11-18 12:17:54 PM
...ah ok, will rewatch the video for them.
While leads to the next item, besides the Airport Security being there (how long who knows), what other methods were used to protect the travelling passengers on this side of the doors?
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-18 12:27:53 PM
I heard an interesting side story about the reason the RCMP tazered the guy so quickly.
Airport staff asked that he be removed immediately because there was a Cathay airliner landing with 200 to 300 passengers on it and they would be using that section of the airport.
Strange that after spending 10 hrs there, it suddenly became a rush job to take care of the situation.
Something doesn't add up in any case.
Posted by: rockyt | 2007-11-18 12:42:29 PM
Dr Dawg,
That has got to be the dumbest thing anyone has ever posted on this website.
So, who would they hire--ex RCMP?
A tazer is a sub-lethal weapon--that has been designed not to kill people--but to stop them in their tracks. You do not see the view from what the police were looking at. And, if you cared at all about front line social workers, you would have at least some empathy for them and their extremely difficult job. I doubt we will see you posting when RCMP lose their lives to some drug deranged idiot--and other MHAs.
Posted by: Lady | 2007-11-19 12:28:16 AM
...Lady, while I agree with you, this wasn't a case of some drug deranged idiot.
What I want to know is how long the security guys were standing there.
Did he get fed at least, and I find it hard to not have a Polack around in Vancouver. I grew up with them in high school. Then again my high school was 98% white, now it's 89% oriental from looking at the class pictures. Vancouver College.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-20 9:05:20 PM
...one thing I noticed was the tasers sure came out fast btw. They didn't signal to him to get down, if anything they four pointed him like a cornered animal. He didn't charge or make any violent gestures, so I missed the reason they tasered him.
While not an RCMP problem, but come on how would you act after spending 10 hours in a glass room? Talk about government incompency.
Wait till the Olympics.
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-20 9:09:27 PM
...while I'm on a roll...
I remember spending 8 hours down in Indianpolis airport because I missed a flight. Talk about bored.
You can only take watching people and planes so long, and I knew the language...
Posted by: tomax7 | 2007-11-20 9:11:59 PM
I was so outraged at the tasering of this unarmed man that I wrote a song about it. Whatever happened to "Serve and Protect" ? It is supposed to be the public as well as themselves that they are protecting.
You can hear the song at http://myspace.com/kevinsticksclifton
Sincerely,
Kevin Clifton
Ottawa
Posted by: Kevin | 2007-11-22 12:47:26 PM
TERRY :
Pls contact me - by email or (604) 921-9722. Was away when the WS closed down, alas, and didn't know of it until reading a National Post comment. Hope all is well.
Best regards,
t.
Posted by: Trevor Lautens | 2007-11-28 9:36:27 AM
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