RCMP Watch

Gary Dimmock, Ottawa (Victoria Times Colonist)  - An internal RCMP review has concluded the force isn’t to blame after one of its paid informants in Victoria, who duped officers with bogus crime plots, went on to commit murder under a new, protected identity.

The RCMP review, written in April for the public safety and national security committee, concludes officers had no indication that their agent, E8060, was “capable or predisposed” to committing murder.

RCMP officers had hired Richard Young in 2000 as an official agent while they were investigating a reputed Victoria heroin dealer who Young said had threatened to harm officials involved in his trial. The force later discovered that Young gave them false information, and the man was acquitted of all charges.

Yet Young was paid and given a new life under the Witness Protection Program. The case has triggered a House of Commons review of the secretive witness program, which costs Canadian taxpayers up to $3 million a year.

According to the 23-page RCMP review obtained by CanWest News Service, the force hired Young despite the fact that internal analysts questioned his motives for being an informant. The review notes that a statement analyst said Young “demonstrates a lack of commitment” and could be “legitimately trying to help and may have projected information, or he may be deliberately subverting the investigation.”

The review shows that the officer who handled Young did a background check and discovered that he had had two complaints against him, notably a sex complaint involving a teenage boy, but did not include that information in paperwork he filed to make Young an official agent.

The officers handling the agent kept limited notes and didn’t have a lot of experience in the field, the review says.

The review also raises concerns about the force’s use of Young as an official agent during meetings with the target of the drug investigation and the target’s lawyer.

“The review has confirmed there was a clear misunderstanding regarding guidance provided by [an RCMP legal adviser] in relation to solicitor/client privilege and the source/agent.”

Despite the misunderstanding, however, the review found that the RCMP acted appropriately under the circumstances.

“Based on the review of the file documentation, the seriousness of these threats, and the resources dedicated to this investigation, it is our opinion consideration of use of E8060 in an agent capacity was an appropriate course of action, and all policies and procedures where [sic] followed in obtaining required approvals,” the review notes.

The agent’s new identity is still afforded secrecy under the Witness Protection Program. All that can be reported about him is that, under his new identity, he was convicted of murder and was sentenced to life in prison.