Renee Bernard, Port Coquitlam, B.C. (NEWS1130) – A family is prepared to file a complaint over what they consider heavy handed police tactics after Mounties raided their home on Saturday.
Caerau McNabb and three family members were preparing Thanksgiving dinner when their Port Coquitlam home was suddenly surrounded by officers who told them to walk out of the house with their arms up. They were then told to lie on the ground, face down.
McNabb says it was a humiliating scenario, especially for her ailing 60-year-old mother. “She got down and being in an upset state that she was, she was crying and I was trying to comfort her, to which I was told to shut up and stop talking and had a gun pointed at me.”
She says they were forced to stay on the ground in pouring rain for a half hour, while neighbours looked on.
It turns out police had received a call of about a woman being held at gunpoint at that address, but it appears it might have been just a prank.
“It was a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Our officers at the scene offered the services of our Victim Services program, because they did appear shaken up after the incident,” says Coquitlam RCMP’s Bert Paquet, who acknowledges the situation was extremely upsetting for the family.
He explains that because the officers had to assume someone had a gun, they had to take control of the home and everyone in it, until they were sure no one was in danger.
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My apologies, I had not watched the particular interview you reference. I only commented on the above article. My note vis a vis the head likely being and exaggeration was incorrect. I will attempt to be more diligent as you ask.
“Again you try to deflect to wrongdoings of other police forces, did you forget that I don’t care about other police forces I have to deal with the RCMP. ”
How wrong you are again D. I am not deflecting the issues with the RCMP, I am informing you that they are not the only law enforcement agency with similar issues facing them. You do not care about other police forces? You should. It shows your bias for one thing. The state of the justice system in Canada is far from perfect and can only be improved upon if there is a will from the people to change it. Being blind to the broader picture is self defeating and at best unfair to others trying to improve the overall situation. It also allows other serious issues to go unnoticed while you are bleating about the RCMP. Solutions to issues facing one facet of the justice system, ie: law enforcement, affect all others as well you should know.
“The point I am always making is NOTHING changes, time and again we hear more stories, some to the point of when will it end?”
There have been “stories” and issues since the RCMP was formed. Another ‘Walter Cronkite’ I try to tell you that you ignore. There will always be “stories”. If you think there will be a perfect world where no police officer, well for you, the RCMP officers, will not make mistakes or have blunders, you are dreaming in technicolor.
I have tried to illustrate for you these various points for some time now and it falls on deaf ears, and with your statement that you do not care, it becomes quite clear you are not interested in reasonable debate on justice/law enforcement issues.
So when is your meeting with the Officer in Charge of your area? Do you form part of the Block Watch the RCMP has? Been to the police liaison committee meetings? If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.
A little light reading for you: http://www.mpcc-cppm.gc.ca/300/afghanistan/index-eng.aspx
Hot debate. What do you think?
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My apologies, I had not watched the particular interview you reference. I only commented on the above article. Your note vis a vis the head, was not an exaggeration. I will attempt to be more diligent as you ask.
“Again you try to deflect to wrongdoings of other police forces, did you forget that I don’t care about other police forces I have to deal with the RCMP. ”
How wrong you are again D. I am not deflecting the issues with the RCMP, I am informing you that they are not the only law enforcement agency with similar issues facing them. You do not care about other police forces? You should. It shows your bias. The state of the system in Canada is far from perfect and can only be improved upon if there is a will from the people to change it. Being blind to the broader picture is self defeating and at best unfair to others trying to improve the overall situation. It also allows other serious issues to go unnoticed while you are bleating about the RCMP.
Should you move to an area covered by another Police Force, you would be ignorant of their issues if you keep being closeted in your own backyard. Solutions to issues facing one facet of law enforcement affect all others as well you should know.
“The point I am always making is NOTHING changes, time and again we hear more stories, some to the point of when will it end?” There have been “stories” and issues since the RCMP was formed. Another Walter Cronkite I try to tell you that you ignore. There will always be “stories”. If you think there will be a perfect world where no police officer, well for you, the RCMP officers, will not make mistakes or have blunders, you are dreaming in technicolor.
I have tried to illustrate for you these various points for some time now and it falls on deaf ears, and with your statement that you do not care, it becomes quite clear you are not interested in reasonable debate on law enforcement issues.
So when is your meeting with the Officer in Charge of your area? Do you form part of the Block Watch the RCMP has? Been to the police liaison committee meetings? If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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D. “JohnnG, I know the far greater majority of members really try to make a difference.” By Gadfree Sir William, methinks they are learning.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The interview with the daughter on national tv included the quote, “pointed a gun at my head and told me to shut up” when I tried to console her mother.
Again you try to deflect to wrongdoings of other police forces, did you forget that I don’t care about other police forces I have to deal with the RCMP.
I am sure if you take the time you will be able to find a few papers with the story or the newscast is on Liveleak and you can watch the interview with the reporter. Then of course you will admit that it was not a exaggeration. Strange you can quote the “spokesperson” but never heard about the gun at the head part of the story….please be more diligent.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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“To this day, they have never publicly apologized, nor have they set the record straight.”
Toronto Star
I think that there could be a better approach to these situations after the fact by police.
Since this article was used I am pointing out this fact.
Every situation involving these types of cases has to be assessed on the unique circumstances.
If a person is standing in front of you bleeding from his arm and complains to you; should you give an example of another person who was bleeding from his arm or should you assist that person? Perhaps the person has been extremely traumatized.
Most seasoned police officers are affected by having guns pointed at them. What would be the reaction of most citizens?
The meat of the situation here is; what information did the RCMP receive that would cause the RCMP members to act? Was the information detailed? Was the information verified as much as possible?
Since we as the readers do not know, we are not able to be for or against the RCMP actions.
Isn’t this such a classic portrayal of the RCMP?
D
All RCMP members were not involved in this incident. INDIVIDUAL RCMP members were involved. Blaming everyone for the actions of individuals results in needless conflict.
Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting
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Calvin, I know only a few RCMP officers were involved but isn’t this so typical of the never ending saga we continually hear about?
What will be the next story of ineptitude that will be reported or has already been reported?
The point I am always making is NOTHING changes, time and again we hear more stories, some to the point of when will it end?
Obviously no one verified anything as shortly after it was admitted it was a crank call, when this happened to me the first thing I did was contact all my children before I called the RCMP. I guess if I had not done that possibly they would have sent a swat team to where, the cell phone tower that relayed the call??
Show me progress and I will gladly acknowledge it, “till that time I will stick to dysfunctional.
Police officers know that during their years of duty the chances of having a gun pointed at them might happen, the average citizen thinks it will never happen to them especially when they are on the ground, face down and the person holding the gun is a cop… and it takes the RCMP 30 minutes to figure that out??
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Sorry I did not read where the gun was pointed at her head. Different info you have? More like typical exaggeration there D. Unfortunately other than the original complaint of someone being held against their will at gunpoint there isn’t enough information. Obviously the crystal ball was out for repairs.
Spokesperson: “Nothing else is more urgent than this; only a handful of types of calls hold the same priority status” as forcible confinement, he said.
“We go, we all go, we go quickly and we go now. It places a lot of people at risk and drains the resources from other calls that require our attendance as well.”
Regrettable? Yes certainly. Traumatic? Absolutely. Happened before? Yes. Happen again? Yes. Were you not the one who had a taste of this with your crank call? What priority would you have liked if you didn’t talk with your child and thought they were actually being held against their will having God knows what going on?
What are your thoughts on the York Regional Police?
Whatever should we do with that police agency after this disaster: http://www.thestar.com/article/198091
ditto the Metro Toronto boys: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontog20summit/article/829462–terrifying-police-raid-wakens-couple-at-4-a-m
By your methodology: Disband the bunch, off with their heads, they are all inept, corrupt, heavy handed, and unaccountable. Oops sorry, that was the RCMP raid.
Arranged a meeting with the local Officer in Charge yet?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Oh the famous “Turkey Takedown”, yes make a lady in her 60’s lie face down on the wet pavement for HOW LONG. This is absolutely beyond belief, hold on now I can believe it, why, because it involved the RCMP
The daughter tries to console her elderly mother and a RCMP officer points a gun to her head and tells her to “shut-up”. Wow and some wonder why the RCMP are portrayed as “Keystone Cops”?
I am sure this one will settle out of court, possibly not and that would be a even greater waste of taxpayers money.
It takes 30 minutes to search the house, what were they doing, taking time to carve the turkey.
Someone is being held in the basement? I can think of numerous ways to investigate this serious complaint without having everyone end up lying on the pavement for 30 minutes especially a 60 year old woman!
Isn’t this such a classic portrayal of the RCMP?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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