(CBC News) – RCMP Commissioner William Elliott is coming under fire for wearing a police uniform and carrying a gun even though he is a civilian, not a trained police officer.
Elliott was photographed in uniform during a recent trip to Afghanistan. The photograph was taken when he was meeting with members of the European Union Police Mission, which posted the picture on its website.
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said Elliott, a lawyer and civil servant who was appointed commissioner in 2007, doesn’t have enough training to carry a gun. He said he was told Elliott had two hours of training the day before he left for Afghanistan, but Kenny said RCMP officers are required to have 36 hours.
“My principle concern is one of safety,” Kenny said. “I don’t believe Mr. Elliott put in 36 hours, and that would make him dangerous to himself and dangerous to the people he was travelling with.
“Everyone on the force knows you have to have proper training and qualify on an annual basis if you’re going to carry a sidearm.”
But RCMP spokesman Greg Cox said that as commissioner, Elliott has peace officer status and is entitled to wear the uniform. He can carry a firearm as long as he’s had “appropriate training.”
Cox said Elliott has generally chosen not to wear the uniform, but did during his two trips to Afghanistan after being provided with firearms training adapted to his operational requirements.
“While he travelled throughout Afghanistan to meet with RCMP personnel and a wide range of government and other representatives, the commissioner wore a service pistol when the circumstances warranted being armed for personal protection. These are the same parameters in place for all police officers working in or visiting Afghanistan,” Cox said in a statement.
‘Afghanistan is a war zone’
Bill Sweeney, the former senior deputy commissioner of the RCMP, said he advised Elliott to wear the uniform and gun while in Afghanistan.
Sweeney said he’s been to Afghanistan and knows how dangerous it is. The risk of ambushes and explosives exist even inside military and police compounds and Sweeney said in the event of a chaotic event, being in uniform would help Elliott be quickly identified by the Canadian soldiers assigned to provide security to police.
Sweeney said he also advised Elliott to get trained to carry a firearm.
“Afghanistan is a war zone,” he said. “It’s a very dangerous situation, and certainly from my personal perspective as a police officer, I would want to armed in that circumstance. You just never know when things are going to explode into a very violent, violent situation.”
But Kenny said a person of Elliott’s rank would get proper protection in Afghanistan and could have had a safe visit without being armed. He said he’s gone to Afghanistan several times and never felt the need to carry a gun.
“Nobody is going to let him get into a place that’s dangerous,” Kenny said. “I don’t care what he wears [police uniform or not] but I think carrying a gun when you’re not properly trained is dangerous, and redundant when you’re protected.”
Photo circulating among officers
He said the photo of Elliott has been circulating among RCMP officer ranks, where there have been questions about Elliott’s leadership. Elliott has faced formal complaints about his management style, with senior RCMP members accusing him of being verbally abusive, closed-minded, arrogant and insulting.
“The pictures started getting circulated in B.C. and they’ve gone up and down the coast, and are working their way east from there,” Kenny said. “Elliott looked goofy [in the photo]… He feels the need to get dressed up in his Afghan costume. I think it’s a little bizarre that a mature man feels the need to do that.”
Linda Duxbury, a Carleton University professor who studies the public service and RCMP, said the attack on Elliott’s decision to wear the uniform and gun feels like a media witch hunt.
“This guy is being advised by somebody who is very, very informed to wear a gun,” Duxbury said. “Who are we in the media or the public to second-guess that?”
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OMG – grow up – everyone knows he’s not a cop, he doesn’t pretend to be a cop in Canada – wearing a uniform to present an image abroad – no big deal – get over it.
He’s doing as fine a job as he can with the rats nest he was handed.
I don’t want to see another career cop in charge of the RCMP for a long while – at least 25 years – someone needs to get the Force out of this mess – and so far career cops have not had a really good track record – they have deepened the hole it’s gotten itself into. It will take at least a quarter of a century – I say keep the career cops out of the top job – give it to someone who is qualified to manage/lead on such a large scale. Cops are not trained for that.
Stay the course Elliot.
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Scarlet Rider- My guess is right that would make him a target…. I just hope no one decides to salute him!
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Another example of those in political authority doing what they like and providing justification as an afterthought. Quite a message this small item sends to the membership.
A couple of phrases stand out immediately if accurate: “…Elliott had two hours of training the day before he left for Afghanistan…” and “…being provided with firearms training adapted to his operational requirements.” Anyone with a modicum of firearm acumen knows that is a joke.
It would be interesting to see the policy and requirements for the average RCMP officer to be in that country. Although there may be some who question the right of the Commissioner, a former ‘civilian’, there is precedent to be found elsewhere for outsiders donning the uniform at the top police post. However, I cannot find one that was not already a police officer in their former life.
The Duxbury comment is completely offside if accurate. I am sure anyone “very very informed” would tell anyone else to wear a gun in that country. However, the fact remains he is a part of the government as a Deputy Minister and as such is entitled to protection by persons qualified to do so.
He has “chosen” not to wear the uniform to official RCMP functions such as the change of Command ceremony where a certain amount of pomp and plume is tradition. Is this because of the Red Serge? I would certainly expect a cry of outrage from regular RCMP personnel if that were to occur based on the premise he did not earn it. In my humble opinion, he does not have the inherent right to wear any of the RCMP uniform.
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Is Commissioner Elliott wearing his dress ribbons (medals) upside down? Do I detect a long service ribbon? How did he “earn” these? I notice he’s not wearing a white uniform shirt typically worn by members within the officer cadre – is this so he doesn’t stand out and is not a target?
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This is one liberal political hack attacking a conservative hack. Since we are on the topic of things that were not earned, I feel the same way about un elected senators as I do civillian commissioners…
Kenny is all worried about him wearing a side arm. He should meet some of the people who are on the street who are not even 5 feet tall that don’t have the finger strength to properly squeeze a triger and failed every qualification the first time at the academy requiring hours of remedial to barely pass.
Those are the people I would be worried about…
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(Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said Elliott, a lawyer and civil servant who was appointed commissioner in 2007, doesn’t have enough training to carry a gun.
(Article)
“This guy is being advised by somebody who is very, very informed to wear a gun,” Duxbury said. “Who are we in the media or the public to second-guess that?”)
(Article)
Let me see if I have this situation correct.
You have a lawyer (Mr. Kenny a politician) advising who should or should not wear a firearm. You have another Politician (Comm. Elliott) who probably qualified to use a firearm but has no police experience.
Does he know the use of force model? Could he explain the deadly use of force if he had to shoot someone? If he needs the gun then he may need the baton, pepper spray, taser, note book, hand cuffs, and first aid training. Is he wearing soft body armour in the photo?
I am sure that if he was attacked by someone who is unarmed; he just won’t shoot the person.
We have Ms. Duxbury (who’s report was right on) advising when a firearm should be carried. Is she qualified in that area to have an informed opinion?.
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king!
Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting
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