(CBC News) – Public distrust in the RCMP emerged as the main issue at a public meeting Thursday of a Yukon government review of policing services in the territory.
About 60 Yukoners attended the public meeting Thursday night in Whitehorse. Some of those people left the meeting, which had been rescheduled twice before, after organizers broke everyone into groups to interview each other.
“We recognize there was a few people that left earlier when we were starting the process,” said Kevin Barr, a local musician and counsellor who attended the meeting.
Later the floor was opened to questions, with many asking the RCMP how it had fallen out of favour with the public and what it plans to do about it.
Promises civilian oversight
Yukon RCMP Chief Supt. Peter Clark, who is co-chairing the government’s policing review, said proposed federal legislation will ensure civilian oversight, meaning no more cases of police officers investigating each other in serious cases.
“So we’ll get rid of all that ‘blue on blue’ perceptions,” Clark told the audience.
Clark also said there are good ideas coming through the policing review, adding that he is encouraging Yukoners to come forward with their concerns and suggestions.
“The RCMP is open and welcoming to those kinds of discussions,” Clark said.
“It’s the responsibility of citizens to bring them forward and to challenge us when they have questions, and we’re certainly seeing that happen.”
Some remain doubtful
But the sister of Raymond Silverfox, a Yukon First Nations man who died after spending 13 hours in Whitehorse RCMP cells in 2008, said she doubts the RCMP will change.
Silverfox’s sister, Debbie Silverfox, observed Thursday night’s public meeting with other family members. Silverfox said she will only believe changes are happening when she sees them.
“I just don’t find much trust in this process because I don’t think that there’s going to be much changes that will happen,” she said.
“Like, it seemed like they’re all talk and no action.”
A recent coroner’s inquest into Raymond Silverfox’s death heard that RCMP officers and guards did not seek medical help for Silverfox, even though he had been vomiting profusely during his time in custody.
Some officers and guards even mocked Silverfox, who was left lying in a pool of his own vomit and excrement for hours. When personnel in the cell area noticed Silverfox had stopped moving he was taken to the hospital where he died of acute pneumonia.
The government review is due to be completed this fall, with the review panel expected to submit its report to Justice Minister Marian Horne by the end of September.
FACT- Females wash out of training at a much greater rate.
FACT- Garry Breitkreuz MP for Yorktown did a report in the late nineties that said the attrition rate is nearly double for females over males.
JG
The term “Female Member” should be used and is used, to denote the above as I understand your concept? If for example, a female member saves someone’s life; and it is reported in the written press; “female” should be used for the above reason?
I respect your concept but I disagree with that approach.
“I know you would like this to stop,”
JG
Yes I think that the silliness of Special Programs and Employment Equity Programs should be eliminated in relation to Gender and Race. These programs would never had been required in the first place if road blocks were not placed in the way called sexism and racism. Does the behaviour still take place? That is a debate that will never be resolved?
You must realize that this can only happen when individual members, including commissioned officers are given real penalties for their racist and sexist behaviour.
Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting
Do you Like or Dislike the above comment:
2 
5
D,
The use of the term female for a positive or a negative description of an RCMP member is used, in my opinion, to pigeon hole or categorize the individual. Unless there is a reason to describe the gender; it should not be used. That is just my opinion. No disrespect to you.
You clearly have problems with the RCMP. I get It. I respectfully request that you make reasonable, workable, and affordable, suggestions that may rescue the RCMP organization.
My reasoning is that the RCMP is not going away.
I have opinions on hiring, training, postings, staffing, and promotions. What is required is someone in charge who is going to live up to the core values of the organization and force others to do the same.
I for one am a great believer in naming the individual RCMP members. (Starting with mine) Then conduct an accurate, timely, and open as possible investigation regarding the incidents. Then tell the truth, regardless of who it helps or who it hurts.
It is interesting and amusing to observe some members take career threatening positions now that they have one foot out the door to pension and one hand on a pension cheque. I can tell you from the position of a twenty eight year member that it was not always that way. Maybe now some of those members know what it is like to be verbally kicked to the curb.
Calvin Lawrence
CGL Consulting
Hot debate. What do you think?
3 
6
The problem with females getting hired in the RCMP is that the hiring numbers are set by the advisory council on the status of women and not on the basis of operational needs by the RCMP.
FACT- Females wash out of training at a much greater rate.
FACT- Garry Breitkreuz MP for Yorktown did a report in the late nineties that said the attrition rate is nearly double for females over males.
Describing the gender gives reference to the above conditions. Where there is a demonstrated difference in numbers in attrition rates all D did was help demonstrate an example of the increased problem’s of attrition amongst females in the ranks.
I know your opinions on categorization, but this is what is done whenever someone applies to the organization and the folders get put into different piles on the basis of sex and race. I know you would like this to stop, so I would ask the government and RCMP to take the first step and stop categorizing people on the basis of sex and race when hiring.
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
3
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated comment. Do you Like or Dislike:
8 
15
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated comment. Do you Like or Dislike:
9 
16
I guess policy makers are swiff to empliment laws to govern the people but slow to make them to govern themselves.
So I guess the blame lies on the policy makers who allow this kind of abuse of the public systems and of the people.
Hot debate. What do you think?
14 
8
“The only way you will know they are really going to do something about what has happen and are serious in up holding justice in their own ranks and file will be by keep your eye on the offender, the officer, and see if they try and wiggle themselves out of the mess and if something really happens to the officer.”
Unlike other departments, the RCMP officers placed under investigation are routinely, by policy, are disclosed to the media in the form of releases. Do not confuse the reticence of the judicial system and legal wrangling with the assertion that persons are “wriggling”. Do a time line on the average criminal case, throw in the time for the “inquiry” (about YVR) and you have the average legal time frame. The use of the system that we built and condone daily covers everyone, not just a few. The very laws that govern these situations are a result of the evolving legal system as fashioned by the “anybody’s fault except mine” people.
“….how it was investigated by their own and their findings….” and just how was that? Start with page 356 of the Braidwood report. Then read the CPC report and note finding 22.
You and I can agree on the fact somebody should lose their employment, however, the “due process” as we have it today is not as swift as it could be. Whose fault is that?
Hot debate. What do you think?
9 
15
You are probably right in your assumptions that the RCMP will not change.
All they really do, and that goes for the organizations that surround them as well, is gather or glean from the information people are complaining about but it’s really only to see what they have.
You really don’t hear from them again as they form a defense and a counter offence and when the case happens to be mentioned later they make back room off the record comments and say that the case is on going or they can’t comment because there’s an on going investigation.
The only way you will know they are really going to do something about what has happen and are serious in up holding justice in their own ranks and file will be by keep your eye on the offender, the officer, and see if they try and wiggle themselves out of the mess and if something really happens to the officer.
The rest will be a smoke screen only.
Just look at the four officers that responded to the B.C. Airport and what they said happen to the media, how it was investigated by their own and their findings, the Inquiry testimonies and today after causing all this problem and the death of a Polish Tourist they remain where and doing what?
I think anyone else would have been charged by now.
Hot debate. What do you think?
15 
10