Brian Medel (Chronical Herald) - Halifax Regional Police have started an investigation into the conduct of some of their officers who were in Digby last month when a young black man got into an altercation with several off-duty cops.
Allegations of racist behaviour have surfaced involving off-duty policemen from Halifax and other parts of the province who were in Digby County for a motorcycle charity event.
William Drummond, 20, said he was Tasered by a Digby RCMP officer during the early hours of June 22 after someone in a group of men hurled a racial slur at him as he and his friend, Nathaniel Fells, walked past a downtown bar.
A van that was carrying several of the off-duty officers is owned by Halifax Regional Police.
Const. Jeff Carr said a group of Halifax officers did have permission to take a full-sized police van with them to carry supplies like backpacks and sandwiches.
“It’s a van that belongs to our training section,” he said Tuesday. “The van was authorized to be taken to transport supplies.”
Mr. Drummond said some men got out of the van and one threw a punch. The man missed and Mr. Drummond said he punched him in the face, knocking him out.
The off-duty Halifax cop spent the remainder of the night in hospital.
“We were aware that one of our off-duty members had been injured as a result of an incident in Digby,” said Const. Carr.
He said a number of off-duty officers from the city were there. He would not elaborate.
“We’ve received no complaint in relation to inappropriate conduct by any of our members,” Const. Carr said.
The Halifax Regional Police investigation will be conducted under the Police Act. It is not a criminal investigation.
“What we’re looking into is the conduct of our members,” said Const. Carr.
If the probe reveals inappropriate conduct on the part of a Halifax officer, a reprimand or some other punishment up to dismissal is possible, he said.
Cops from all over were in the region, taking part in a motorcycle charity ride to raise money for the Nova Scotia Peace Officers Memorial, soon to be erected in front of Halifax city hall, said Const. Carr.
“Last year, they went to P.E.I. and they raised over $4,000.”
The charity event this year went through the Digby area.
Mr. Drummond said he was backing away from the group of angry off-duty cops when he was zapped by Digby Mounties.
“They hit me four times. In the side of the leg, the back (and) the stomach,” Mr. Drummond said earlier.
He said he never heard anyone tell him he was under arrest.
And he said he was detained by local Mounties, but the off-duty officers were left alone and continued to come toward him.
While he was being arrested, the off-duty officers continued to use racial slurs, said Mr. Drummond.
Digby RCMP have not charged Mr. Drummond with any offence, but he has been given an order to appear in court next month.
8 responses so far ↓
1 RCMP Watch // Jul 9, 2008 at 17:29
N.S. RCMP have video of alleged racially charged brawl
Canwest News Service - The RCMP has obtained a surveillance video capturing an alleged racially charged brawl between a group of off-duty police officers and two black men late last month in Digby, N.S.
The surveillance video reportedly shows the group of off-duty Halifax and RCMP officers clearly heckling the two and throwing the first punch at the men.
Halifax police spokesman Const. Jeff Carr said Wednesday his force is aware of the video, but could not comment on its contents.
The tape is currently in the possession of the RCMP, which is investigating the incident.
Const. Carr said an internal probe has also been launched by the Halifax Regional Police.
“We’re going to determine if any of our members behaved inappropriately,” he said. “We don’t know how many exactly were present. A handful were there.”
On June 21, Nathaniel Fells, 19, and William Drummond, 20, claim they were heckled by a group of men, who yelled racial slurs at them.
The situation escalated and Mr. Drummond, who says the two didn’t know they were facing police officers, punched one of the men.
Local RCMP officers were called and Mr. Drummond was shocked by a Taser.
The RCMP’s Digby detachment could not be reached for comment.
2 tracker07 // Jul 9, 2008 at 23:24
I guess we’ll have to wait for the RCMP to investigate this one too.
•First question, how Guilty do you plead
Mr. Drummond
3 Calvin Lawrence // Jul 10, 2008 at 09:11
I, being a 7th Generation Black Canadian from Nova Scotia; eight year Halifax City Police Officer; and Retired RCMP officer; can bring a unique approach to this incident.
Most people will have an opinion on this incident after reading the media’s accounts. The best situation to be in to form an opinion is to have been there and observed the incident. The second best situation is to read the statements and talk to the witnesses and the third (and worst) situation is to make a judgment based on media reports.
A timely, accurate, and open as possible investigation MUST be conducted and then tell the truth no matter who it helps or who it hurts.
As is often said, justice must not only be done, but must appear to be done.
Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting
4 Deepthroat // Jul 10, 2008 at 14:39
There are those who will not believe in the results because of the police investigating the police, unless it supports their view and the media slant.
First question should be: who is guilty?
5 Calvin Lawrence // Jul 13, 2008 at 12:11
Who is guilty? Where to we start?
Are the police officers guilty of violating their oath, or criminal offences?
Are the black men involved guilty of criminal charges or were they defending themselves?
Were there racial slurs directed at the black men?
The unfortunate situation is that resources, money, and possibly court hours, and law suits have to be considered in the mix. In other words, time, money and stress.
When ever situations like this take place the first reaction of most black young men is not who is right or wrong. The first reaction is “This Could Be Me!”
You are right that the police investigating the police is becoming more unacceptable. I predict that the RCMP will eventually go the way of the Toronto Police and the SIU.
I know RCMP officers who would do an excellent investigation and I also know RCMP officers who would not be strong enough to tell the truth no matter who it helps or who it hurts.
Sometimes people try and put our minds in a bag and take it where ever they want.
Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting
6 Deepthroat // Jul 13, 2008 at 15:26
The “independent” investigators also have drawbacks and are not perfect either. I am afraid that as long as you have people involved there are going to be issues.
Even judges who spent many years on the bench show truer colors when retired. The LEAP group are an example. Paradis was a provincial court judge for many years and was always thought to be soft on drug traffickers and the like. Now retired he is an advocate for drug legalization, etc. The question is how did this color his decisions all the way along? He is proud of his record of only being overturned on appeal once, but a read of his decisions shows that that is smoke and mirrors in that he was always at the bottom end of the Appeal Court guidelines for sentencing. The fact that he had a drug addled member of his family is another.
We cannot guarantee that the people we hire or appoint into these positions, be they judges or appointees to an SIU do not have personal agendas.
The police are subject to internal pressures with the present system, especially the RCMP with no union, but can invoke all the protections of the law with an SIU.
Not an easy decision. I guess it all comes down to personal integrity no matter where you are. And you cannot please everybody.
7 tracker07 // Jul 14, 2008 at 01:49
I believe we have a break through
in this ONE example.. First question should be:
WHO is guilty.
That’s right “Who is Guilty” not “how Guilty do you plead”
The shoot first cover your assets later isn’t acceptable.
8 Deepthroat // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:31
[edit] Line removed. Open discussions are permitted and encouraged but there is no need to be insulting or demeaning.[/edit]
As it was directed to Mr. Drummond, I was perplexed at your question on how guilty he plead seeing as how there was so much activity afoot at the time by all involved. You were not assuming he was guilty were you?
But I must ask, are you referring to Drummond or the cop with the taser when you submit your last line of “…shoot first…” The punch thrown or the taser zap? Or did it refer to your first post (shoot from the lip) on the topic?
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