RCMP Redux
Sat, 2008-08-09 10:43
#1
RCMP Redux
Sat, 2008-08-09 10:43
#2
I'd like to tackle some comments made by a police officer in the previous thread:
quote:
I think the RCMP in particular has a problem with their lack of comment about specific controversial cases. Senior management is terrified about getting sued because they might say the wrong thing, so they say nothing. The RCMP also gets hauled into court by its own staff, so the public doesn’t hear about officers being fired or severely reprimanded until years after the fact if at all.
If you call "suspension with pay" being "severely reprimanded", I have to ask what planet you live on.
The RCMP has proven repeatedly that its internal investigations are a joke. I routinely see officers get "suspended with pay", or "suspended without pay". In short, the RCMP believes these officers do not deserve to be fired, never mind criminally charged. And how many of those civil suits brought by officers against the RCMP are due to being investigated for violating police procedure?
In short, it's abundantly clear to me that there are many ways in which rogue officers can effectively institutionalize callous attitudes towards people in police custody.
Furthermore, the Vancouver PD have proven to be particularly viciously incompetent and out of control. I seem to recall a case in which an officer swore up and down that the Walkman a teenager was waving looked like a gun and got "SUSPENSION WITH PAY"... oooh, such a harsh punishment there. I have heard of police officers siccing dogs on people without provocation. I have seen whitewash after whitewash after whitewash. I do not exaggerate when I say the VPD is out of control. A police officer in Vancouver could probably be caught murdering someone on a dozen security cameras and walk scot-free with a suspension.
I purposely moved to Burnaby because I have no confidence in the Vancouver PD. Period. The RCMP at least looks professional compared to the VPD. Though recent events in Manitoba make me wonder.
Sat, 2008-08-09 11:24
#3
remind
Dr Conway, maybe paid suspensions are "harsh" for them, after all they can't get what are obviously their "kicks" literally and figuratively, if they are not on the job, eh?
Maybe we should view the suspensions, both paid and unpaid, as the only way the higher up officals can protect the general public?
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Mon, 2008-08-11 15:53
#4
I'm glad that a police officer actually had the guts to speak up to a hostile audience. I'd like to add to a few comments made in the last thread, where all the quotes come from:
quote:
I’m not naive enough to think there aren’t police who lie to the courts, however, if we get caught, we get fired. I am in court, usually 2-4 times a month and have to stand in front of the same judges and get questioned by the same defense lawyers again and again....if I lie on the stand once, I could never be able to give evidence again. Crown wouldn’t accept my submissions to them and judge likely wouldn't let me anyway.
What about when a police officer's behaviour is in question? The best example I can think of, as I've described elsewhere, is the Taman inquiry in Winnipeg, when an off-duty police officer escaped alcohol charges in a fatal collision. All the other officers "can't recall" such important details as how much drinking went on. Any one of us who did that would likely still be in jail.
quote:
"Can you tell us why it is that the police are dressed in riot gear at protests so they can easily bust heads?"In riots, which I have never been involved in on either side of the police line, the police are usually outnumbered. What they lack in numbers, they make up for in organization and protective gear. Confronting people in numbers is always dangerous as a group mentality can take over. Think about it Stargazer, if protesters are throwing rocks at the cops, shouldn’t the police have protective gear on. I’m not going dress this up, that riot outfit the riot guys wear is designed to intimidate.
Is that really necessary to keep a lid on trouble? I've seen how trouble-makers are handled at Blue Bombers games. Do you know what the police do? They walk around (usually in pairs) and if they see a trouble-maker, pull that person away. Other than that, they generally leave everyone alone. Additionally, last summer Quebec police were [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAfzUOx53Rg&feature=related]caught provoking peaceful demonstrators,[/url] and it's not the first time that police have been accused of doing this. Having said that, the issue is not so much the officers standing in the street as it is the higher-ups who make the security arrangements.
quote:
Honestly, I have yet to witness any compassion directed at the poor, or the homeless, or the drug addicted. The police tend to use these people as a means of letting off anger. How do I know? Well I have seen it. As far as me, myself, meeting any poor people, or drug addicts or homeless people, I can assure I have not only met many, but grew up poor, in Ontario Housing, and have a Masters Degree in Criminology. I have personal experience and education in these areas. I've also done research papers on theses issues. Life experience, coupled with reality does not make me naive.We're not talking about youths harassing the poor, we're talking about police harassing the poor. The neighbourhood I used to live in (right downtown TO) was filled with homeless people. I've witnessed many incidents of harassment where none need occur. It seemed to me it was just for fun.
I'd like to add to what Stargazer said. The point that was made about it being difficult to get statements from homeless people also plays into the police abuse aspect. Even accepting the premise that most police officers wouldn't abuse a homeless person for fun, it happens far to often. Additionally, people who work with the homeless are in a good position to judge whether the police are "just doing their job" or outright abusing their authority.
Tue, 2008-08-12 20:12
#5
Anecdotal but the cops I know are pretty much all corrupt. The degree though does vary a huge degree. Kids of cops get away with murder(literally, and figuratively) From small stuff like poaching, to stuff like using the cops undercover pickup to steal someones picnic table...by the way they where also suspended with pay when the got caught...oooh! Now if I had done the same thing I might have gotten a suspended sentence with reparations and maybe a bunch of community service, but I think the whole point of this is they are suppose to be the pinnacle of law abiding and they deride the citizens as all having something to hide or wrong doing in their past. This may stem from the whole "If I have done all these things wrong, then the average guy must be at least twice as bad." syndrome. But this is only anecdotal. Although the picnic table amoungst a long list have been verified.