Truth must be told
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Editorial
A recent investigative report by CTV’s W-5 on the weekend presented some strong evidence that the justice system is making some serious mistakes when it comes to the RCMP gaining the public trust.
The CTV story described circumstances surrounding the deaths of three men by RCMP hands - Ian Bush in Houston, B.C., Kevin St. Arnaud of Vanderhoof, and Polish visitor Robert Dziekanski in the infamous tasering incident at Vancouver Airport.
All RCMP involved in the shootings were cleared of criminal charges, even though the B.C. Attorney General’s ministry had evidence - including forensic evidence - that contradicted statements made by the mounties involved.
The families of the victims wonder if the RCMP is beyond justice.
It must be said that the three men killed in these cases were not total innocents; they must take some responsibility for creating the situation that got them killed. But it is also wrong for a body (the Criminal Justice Branch) to say that they “carefully analyzed the available evidence” and then conclude that the officers acted appropriately, when so much evidence to the contrary is ignored.
B.C.’s Criminal Justice Branch has never charged an RCMP officer involved in a shooting death of a civilian. Does that indicate that the police are perfect when using lethal force? Or does it mean that the criminal justice system is flawed?
We understand the need to protect the rights that an officer has to protect himself through the use of lethal force on the job, if necessary. The public would have more tolerance for the use of force in error, especially through inexperience, if the investigations disclosed all aspects of evidence. The short of it is that if mistakes are made, we have a right to know the truth.
To say that no one ever makes mistakes flies in the face of credibility - something that the Criminal Justice Branch must realize is in short supply with the public with respect to the RCMP these days.
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