Following the RCMP’s senior public relations officer questioning the accuracy and usefulness of the BCCLA’s most recent report on the force, senior management of the RCMP have now told the BCCLA in writing that they will be taking the report seriously and investigating trends and allegations in the report.
“We understand that in a large organization initial communications might not be the intended message,” says David Eby, Executive Director of the Association. “We’re very glad to hear now, from the highest levels of the RCMP, that they will be using our report to help them meet the needs of the communities they are serving.”
In an e-mail exchange with Deputy Commissioner Peter Hourihan, the head of policing for the RCMP in British Columbia, the Deputy Commissioner advised that he would be sending out a public statement that welcomed the feedback in the report, saying: “While there are areas of the report that I would like further information before coming to a conclusion, there are opportunities in the report that we can look at to provide quality policing across British Columbia.”
“We agree with Deputy Commissioner Hourihan that this report offers opportunities for the RCMP and the province to improve policing for everyone,” says Eby. “We are heartened that the position of senior management in the force is one of openness to feedback and reform where necessary, and not what was initially communicated to the media.”
Yesterday, the RCMP detachment head in Williams Lake called the report “misleading and irresponsible”. Terrace detachment head Eric Stubbs told media that “There are a lot of inaccurate comments as well as false allegations made.” The initial media response from RCMP public relations officer Tim Shields said that the report was “disappointing”. In other interviews, Shields also said that the RCMP “could not” investigate any of the allegations or systemic concerns in the report and would not be changing any policy in response to the report.
Read Deputy Commissioner Peter Hourihan’s public statement here
Read the RCMP’s initial media response to the BCCLA report here
Read the BCCLA Report – Small Town Justice here
MEDIA CONTACTS:
David Eby, Executive Director, (778) 865-7997
Robert Holmes, President, (604) 681-1310
