Late warning a mistake: RCMP

Larissa Barlow (Banff Crag & Canyon) – The Banff RCMP detachment should have warned the public earlier about a sexual assault on Banff’s streets but instead waited hours after the attack to release information, according to a Southern Alberta RCMP operations officer.

“We need to be very forthright in letting the public know what’s going on,” said Insp. John Cantafio. “That’s more important than catching the guy immediately sometimes.”

Cantafio said it was disappointing information hadn’t come out sooner to alert the public a brutal sex assault had taken place. The local detachment waited over 30 hours before releasing the information.

A woman walking alone on Squirrel Street around 2:30 a.m. July 12 was beaten and sexually assaulted. It took hours for local police to release information, and then it was only referred to as a basic assault. A full day later they released details that it was a sex assault.

Cantafio said inexperience led to the breakdown in communication, but he understands that’s no excuse for a community that was unaware a suspected sex offender was on the loose.

“The error was not being timely. They should have had it out way sooner,” he said. “As the police we do know the media and the press is helpful in protecting people.

“We need to warn young ladies or anyone that there is someone out there that is going to cause you harm.”

Police had arrested a 38-year-old man and charged him with the attack, but new evidenced surfaced that exonerated him, and he was released on Monday. The man responsible for the attack is still at large.

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Cantafio said it’s well known in their policies to be open with information that will protect the public.

In Banff’s case, the detachment was waiting for a composite sketch before releasing the information, and they were also unfamiliar with the best time to release facts to the media, Cantafio said. There was also fear releasing information would jeopardize the investigation.

“I think inexperience had a big part in this one. It’s disappointing but it’s the world we live in,” he said.

Cantafio said he’s given the department guidance on how to avoid future communication delays.

“I can’t have it happen again,” he said.

Part of the blame was put on the fact that Alberta in general has a very young police force and not everyone is aware of all policies.

“When you have over 1,000 police officers that have five years or less serving in Alberta, that’s a very junior force,” he said. You may not be aware of many things. It’s not an excuse, it’s just something we deal with every day.”