How are we to determine if any progress has been made? You reference Shields, but that is only disciplinary. What about employer policies in respect of assistance and guidance?

An additional facet of interest would be the overall alcohol abuse problem of the profession in comparison to others or just the general public. That the public has issues with alcohol is not news. That the RCMP is made up of the public, albeit in a high stress occupation, and would have alcohol issues should be no surprise to anyone. The key is relativity and severity on one hand and remedial action on the other. Were there the “dry out” clinics in your day? When were they imbued into policy?

You intimate no action on the part of the RCMP with respect to the issue, and claim it is ingrained in the culture. Are you saying that it was the case Canada wide in your day, or still is? Where is your empirical data to support either.

You cannot just intimate the RCMP has this large alcohol problem without any overall context. It may be that in the final analysis that they have a higher percentage of alcohol abuse than the public or lower than dentists or some other profession.

The motherhood statements are nice but if intended to influence for support, unnecessary if your position stands alone.

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Was Dr. Dietrich’s recommendations accepted? No. Was he shunned and contained by RCMP management? Yes. Protect the RCMP image at all costs! That is not everyone’s attitude but it is ingrained in RCMP culture the same as drinking.

My role in this process was an enabler. Other members were more enabling by looking for the police vehicle when misplaced by the intoxicated NCO the night before. I was the designated driver for those members who consumed alcohol. Every member has a role. There is no escape if you are an RCMP member.

Think of a detachment and the roles that were played out:

The Alcoholic Dependent Person – perfectionist, aggressive, charming, blaming, etc.

The Chief Enabler – sickly powerless, compliant, Manipulative, etc.

The Family hero – successful, independent, seeking approval, perceptive, etc.

THe Scapegoat- sullen, defiant, acting out, blaming, etc.

The Lost Child – creative loners, solitary, withdrawn, etc.

The Mascot – hyperactive, humour, centre of attention, etc.

Each member could could take on any of the above roles. They are interchangeable at any give time. This may be a little over the top for some readers but I do not have the luxury of power point or over heads to state my position here.

I was proud to be a member of the RCMP but I also believe in tough love. I did not go along to get along because that is fraud.

We all go from the womb to the tomb. The only thing that matters is what we stand for.

Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting

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I call for recent supporting (complimenting) information, or non supporting (counterpoint) information. Hardly a defense.

You provide no statistics or studies to show the percentages today Calvin. Simply because RCMP officers are in trouble due to alcohol, it does not mean a rise or even a drop in the questionable overall statistics you quote relative to today’s situation. Thus my comment on a compliment or counterpoint to them. If you are extrapolating from single incidents listed here, you provide no explanation as such. 3043 out of 15,000 odd RCMP officers 20 years ago is hardly a representative sample based on present day models.

An accurate picture could be drawn if you could provide something other than 20 year old statistics. alone. A comparison percentage to society in general would be germane as well, and provide some context.

The fact that society has some issues with alcohol consumption is certainly not news. The fact that RCMP officers, being part of society, have some alcohol issues is also no surprise.

Your assumption of defense at all times is also inaccurate, (check previous posts) in that pointing out mitigating or contrary factors does not always constitute a defense, but merely raises questions with respect to stated analysis and purported assumptions. Qualifiers are always desirable to augment ones position and give a clearer picture free of biased conclusions.

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With respect; you would think that a person of your intellect and experience would realize that fact. I know that you try but you can’t defend the RCMP organization at all times. Some truths just have to be acknowledged and dealt with.

The dots can be connected regarding abuse of alcohol in policing and the RCMP. If you want to see what progress that has been made just read the headline and response by Sgt. Shields.

After all is said and done more is said than done.

Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting

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Health care is a money making industry, far more lucrative than impaired driving, so what is your point on that issue? Law enforcement bleeds money hourly as it is not a for profit enterprise. The ancillary “industries” of lawyering, body shops, etc., are just that. They are for profit and would survive without impaired driving. Health care has the same.

As far as taking the vehicles upon conviction, there is already laws on the forfeiture of offense related property, in the case of impaired it is the vehicle, however the Crown is reluctant to proceed. The reason for this is the case law surrounding the forfeiture in relation to the offense. The courts view any seizures as punitive and after meting out their adjudication, find forfeiture of assets onerous in addition to the sentencing they do.

You would find, even if this would become the norm, that people would be using 3rd party vehicles, as well as inexpensive transportation to avoid large monetary loss. People will always adapt.

As far as “root causes” there is a great deal of hyperbole surrounding the debate. There will always be people with addiction issues, be they the internet, pharmaceuticals. illegal drugs, or alcohol. To think that we can eliminate that is sheer folly. Society must deal with it in which ever way the majority of the population wants to, because it is a democracy. Warehousing of borderline and full blown mentally ill persons was standard in the past decades, and now we as a society have deemed they may live on the streets regardless of their condition, because it is their “right”. Violent mentally ill persons can refuse to take medication as is their right, regardless of the impact to the local citizenry. This is our level of permissiveness today.

So I am not entirely supportive of your last statement.

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Impaired driving is a problem in society. Police officers are recruited from society therefore it is not surprising that drinking and driving touches police organizations generally and the RCMP specifically. It is time that the root causes of the problem are examined rather than just the actions of the individual drinking members.

Joseph F. Dietrich Dr.P.H., C.A.C. started the Members Assistance Program in the RCMP. He is one of the foremost authorities in the world on Police and Alcohol.
He conducted a survey of RCMP members in 1989. The Clarke Institute in Toronto was used as the mailing point. 3500 questionnaires were sent out to the members across Canada. 3043 members answered the questions.

The results were:

11% of members were having 7 or more drinks a day.
17% of members were having 5 or more drinks a day.
35% of members were having 3 or more drinks a day.
26% of members needed psychological intervention.

I was also privileged to have him present to members on our training days while posted in the Prime Minister’s Protection Detail. A few statements that he made comes to mind.

Most members would have had an alcoholic supervisor in the first five years of their service. (I did)

Make the members aware of the statistics. (They may reduce their drinking)

Raise the mess prices to commercial prices. (They may reduce their drinking)

The drinking culture starts early. There are several drinking locations at Depot.

My opinion on Impaired driving and society:

Removing impaired drivers from our roads is an ongoing process. The courts have implemented cars with breathalyzers, and educational courses, and now we as a society want to hold others responsible. (Hosts of functions where alcohol is served.)
Society expects us to drink and drive. Why else would there be parking lots built for drinking establishments?

Society my get more answers as to why we continue to have the problem of impaired driving by following the money trail. The police officer is in court testifying and receives overtime pay, society through the courts imposing fines, the increase insurance costs incurred by the accused, the auto body repair shops, defence lawyer’s fees, installing apparatus in vehicles to detect if the driver is impaired, business advertising in MADD magazine and more; all make money from the impaired driver. If someone is killed even the funeral home makes money. (Don’t forget to include the tax.)

Impair driving is a money making industry.
A major solution to the drinking and driving problem is forfeiting the driven vehicle to the crown upon conviction. There would have to be a faint hope close where application could be made to have the vehicle returned. (EG: rental or commercial vehicle.) The incidents of multiple convictions of an individual would be reduced. How many impaired drivers would be in a position to have three or four cars seized? No one would lend or rent a vehicle, or employ that person as a driver, after the first offence. I doubt that an impaired driver could afford to purchase three or four cars after each conviction and the vehicle was seized.

We as a society are now entering an age where other drugs as well as alcohol are being consumed and people are driving high. The case law in the criminal code demonstrates overwhelmingly that there is a good chance that an impaired driver using alcohol will be acquitted. The use of other drugs is not even detectable in most cases.

If a deer or moose is shot out of season or without a permit there is a possibility that the vehicle would be forfeited to the crown upon conviction. The least we can do is apply the same law to a human being.

Until real solutions are found and real issues are addressed; the loss of life due to impaired driving is just the cost of doing business to make money.

Calvin Lawrence
C.G.L Consulting

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By the way, you didn’t mention it, but what happened at that New Glasgow Walmart store, when the town police were called?

Wearing your old red serge when you no longer serve with the organization? Are this for real? As far as I have ever known the only people that can wear a red serge are retired members (in good standing) with a letter of permission from the brass. Though a ceremonial uniform, in my opinion what you did was impersonating a police officer.

If it were me and I truly felt I had been railroaded by the system, I would’t want to wear the red serge. I would have burned it, not worn it.

Regarding the gas can. Ever hear the accronym CYA- Cover Your Ass?? Did you ever get permission from your section Cpl or detachement commander to carry a can in the ca?. I understand that in rural area’s gas stations sometimes close early, but couldn’t you have gotten a can and kept it in the garage at the detachement? Personally, I don’t like the the idea of several gallons of flammable/combustable liquid flying around in my trunk. Kinda makes me uneasy if you know what I mean…

I will be the first to agree that the RCMP is full of Old Boys Clubs an is very political. I will also agree that there are alot of double standards in regard to who stays and who gets shown the door. I am also the first to acknowledge that harassment can be rife in the orgainzation and high flyers can get hounded out for being a threat. But, my problem with what you are telling me is that I am seeing a pattern of poor judgement being exercised. I also don’t mean to pick on your style of writing, but after 15 years in the force how in the world did you ever pass in reports to the crown to go before the courts?

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“The RCMP state they want to promote minorities will most of the Minorities/Native/Females promoted in the Maritime have rec’d their promotions outside the Maritime and transfer back in or are what we call oreo’s/apples, balck/red on the outside and white on the in.” (sic)

This statement would be an example of you being racist if you are putting the “we” in as an inclusion of yourself. It seems that “they” do get promotions so what is the point? They have to go to other offices for a particular job, against their wishes? And this differs from major companies in what way?

“Maybe I’ll write a book but then I would proably disappear.” (sic)

You have all the makings of a first rate thriller there excop. Intrigue, conspiracy, secret societies, racism, exclusive handshakes.

Just don’t forget to check the gas gauge once in a while.

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