(The following article is from the August 1-31, 2007 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St. Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)
People's Voice Editorial, Aug. 1-31, 2007
Time and again, the practice of allowing Canada's police and military to "investigate" themselves over allegations of serious wrongdoings has proven tragic. On rare occasions, the truth in such cases comes to light, despite - not as a result of - this self-serving process.
The latest example comes from the coroner's inquest into the shooting death of Ian Bush by an RCMP officer in Houston, BC. The officer was given several months to prepare for an RCMP interview, which consisted of a short series of bland questions supplied well in advance. In contrast, Ian Bush's friends were interrogated almost immediately, some still in shock after hearing of his death. The RCMP made no effort to conduct a forensic study of blood spatters and other physical evidence of the shooting. Bush's parents were able to hire a lawyer and to obtain such evidence, which proves that the officer's version of the shooting is completely unbelievable, and that the RCMP has covered up a homicide by one of its own. Appallingly, the inquiry report avoided any such conclusion.
In another BC case, an inexperienced RCMP officer recently pepper-sprayed aboriginal adults and children celebrating a soccer tournament victory in Sechelt. This racist incident is yet another example of police acting with the arrogant certainty of complete power over those whom they are sworn to protect. For any worker, such shocking conduct would result in immediate firing. We will see what happens in the Sechelt case; even if there is an internal investigation, the historic pattern is that the officer will get a slap on the wrist and a transfer to a new detachment.
If every such case was dealt with by an impartial outside body, police officers would think twice about abusing their authority. It's time to end the cover-ups!