RCMP Watch

(Canadian Press) - The RCMP’s commissionner says recently released internal memos do not contradict the force’s publicly stated desire to investigate a controversial death related to the use of a Taser.

CBC News says that some of the RCMP e-mails it obtained through the Access to Information Act show a disdain for public scrutiny into last year’s death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski at the Vancouver Airport.

Dziekanski, who had just arrived in Canada and spoke no English, became extremely agitated after spending 10 hours in the airport and died when officers zapped him with a Taser.

A memorial for Dziekanski will be held today in Poland.

CBC quotes an e-mail from RCMP Commissionner William Elliott where he describes phoning the four officers involved in the incident while they were under investigation to offer them support and sympathy.

Elliott released a statement in response to the CBC story saying there’s nothing wrong with making such phone calls.

He says the force is dedicated to ensuring that the matter is fully investigated and supporting RCMP staff does nothing to undermine or contradict that process.

“There is no conflict between the internal communications and the RCMP’s commitment to fully support the numerous independent processes underway to ensure that the matter is fully investigated,” Elliott said in the statement.

“To suggest that there is something improper about the expression of sympathy and support for all of the individuals involved in this tragic event, including the RCMP’s support for our employees, is wrong.”

RCMP e-mail exchanges describe personal calls the commissioner made to the four officers involved while they were under investigation.

“I have just now placed calls to all four members. I spoke to three of the four,” Elliott wrote in an e-mail dated Nov. 15 to Gary Bass, the RCMP deputy commissioner for the Pacific region. “I know this is tough on you and all our folks in E Division. Please be assured of my ongoing support.”

Before a video showing Dziekanski collapsing after being hit with a Taser was released to the public, RCMP spokesman Staff Sgt. John Ward urged his superiors in B.C. to be as open as possible about what happened.

However, the CBC says the strategy adopted was to say as little as possible and provide information to journalists only when they asked specific questions. All answers were to be vetted in Ottawa, including ones described by Elliott as “tough or dirty questions.”

News stories considered to be positive — including statements from the company that makes the Taser — were distributed via the RCMP’s e-mail system.

Nothing in the e-mails released to CBC News suggests the RCMP would not co-operate fully with the investigations underway, or that there was any attempt at a coverup.

’To suggest that there is something improper about the expression of sympathy and support for all of the individuals involved in this tragic event, including the RCMP’s support for our employees, is wrong.’