Good Cops, Bad Cops and Stockwell Day

With their credibility stretched to the point of tragic farce, the RCMP has decided they need to "set the record straight" about the treatment of Robert Dziekanski. It now seems that the officers that killed Mr. Dziekanski were monitoring him for vital signs, or so they say. And again we are left to choose, who are we going to trust, our lying eyes and the video record or the RCMP brass that has tried to lie and cover up the details of this incident? Hmmm...

"RCMP Corporal Dale Carr, speaking for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team that has eight detectives investigating the incident, said the impression the video created is a concern to police.
"What we're doing is an attempt to set the record straight," Cpl. Carr said."

Get the fuck out Cpl. Carr, you don't say. How about rather than "setting the record straight" you investigate the actions of four officers that led to the unnecessary death of an innocent man. Is this the same sort of internal investigative team that can determine that shooting a guy in the back of the head is self defense? 'Cos I sort of have the impression that that's a big pile of hog shite too. In fact it seems to me that when you blow someone's brains out of their head from behind, it's usually called an execution or a gangland style slaying, but hey, why quibble over words, there's turds to giftwrap.

"On Oct. 29, 2005, Ian Bush, a 22-year-old mill worker, was arrested outside a local hockey rink for having an open beer and giving a false name to officers. Twenty minutes later he was shot by Koester, who says the man was choking him from behind.
In a report released Thursday, Commissioner Paul Kennedy cleared Koester of any wrongdoing when he shot Bush while in the process of releasing him from custody."

So, where were we...oh yeah. Cpl. Carr was laying out the nightsoil with a perfectly straight face,

"There's this wide response and constant theme that police officers did nothing, and people are forming opinions based on what they're seeing and thinking they're seeing in a video that is, at times, not totally recorded and, at times, blocked by people," he said"

Yeah. 'Cos, like every time someone stepped between the camera and the guy dying at the feet of four RCMP officers, they'd like, check his pulse and respiration fer sure dude. Like come on, the RCMP aren't just guys that blast you with mega-voltage and crush you to the ground for no reason, they're like care givers too. Like, ohmigod, this is so bogus, I can't believe you don't believe me, I mean whatever, this is so lame.

"But yesterday's account - and a comment from the Richmond Fire Department - also said that the police rejected a request from firefighters, who arrived on the scene within minutes, to remove Mr. Dziekanski's handcuffs.
"Initially the firefighters asked for the cuffs to be removed. The police response was no. They were not going to take the handcuffs off because the individual had been previously violent," said Geoff Lake, deputy chief of administration for the fire department."

Oh gosh. That's a little inconvenient. But hey, there were only four RCMP officers, with TASER brand not-always-lethal weapons and nightsticks. They were clearly out numbered and in great peril from the unconscious man dying on the floor, who only moments before had knocked a few things over and tossed a few things around. I mean, you just can't trust the unconscious, they're a wily foe. Lull you into a false sense of security, they will. Damn firefighters are lucky they didn't get a TASER blast for their trouble too, freakin' commies.

I think it's about time the RCMP stopped policing itself. I'd like to see Stockwell Day take a moment away from condoning the state sanctioned murder of Canadian citizens abroad and clean house at the RCMP. They clearly present a danger to the public safety at this point in time. And since the force appears to be estranged from the truth, it behooves the minister to take action, that is unless he's busy.

"Several of Canada's major law enforcement agencies, including the Canadian Police Association, allege that Day has quietly shelved plans that require gun importers to put identifying marks on all firearms coming into the country.
The rules, which were supposed to be enacted on Dec. 1, were shelved for more consultations, said the association's executive officer, Dave Griffin.
"It's unfortunate that Canada in a quiet and almost hidden fashion has decided to abandon those commitments," Griffin told CBC News on Friday.
The regulations were created three years ago and are part of several international agreements Canada has signed, Griffin said.
He said he found the decision buried in an obscure part of the Privy Council Office website."

Gosh. On the one hand, we have a national police force mired in scandal after scandal and on the other hand, you have responsible members of the policing community wondering why they are being put in peril and having their efforts to control and investigate weapons crimes hampered. Despite the caustic tone of much of the commentary generated since Mr. Dziekanski's death, the majority of our police are doing their best to enforce the law for the public good. Stockwell Day, not so much. But hey, who should Stockwell be listening to, the cops or gun lobby shills? Remember, this is Stockwell Day we're talking about, not the sharpest spoon in any drawer.

So who does Mr. Day consult? Well he has a firearms advisory council it seems, what do they have to say about this?

"Tony Bernardo, a member of Day's firearms advisory council, said there's no evidence to suggest that import marks on firearms will help trace illegal guns.
"I'm a person who's an expert in this type of thing — they are not," he said.
Bernardo said it does not appear that the gun industry has been consulted about the cost and technical challenge of marking firearms."

That's right kids, Tony Bernardo is a fucking expert, the Canadian Police Association and Canada's chiefs of police, what the hell do they know. I mean cripes, they didn't even bother to find out how much it was going to cost the poor, frightened arms traders and gun makers. Next thing you know the government is going to want more crazy stuff like seat belts in cars. And if you can't trust Stockwell Day's hand (and nose) picked advisors, then who can you trust?

"The Conservative government's firearms advisory committee, appointed and operating in virtual secrecy, is made up almost entirely of pro-gun advocates opposed to the firearms registry...
The Public Safety Minister's office recruited the panel members but did not, as has been the practice in previous governments, issue any public announcement about the appointments. Nor does it seem to have included any panel members with expertise on suicide or sociological factors behind gun crime, as previous governments have attempted to do."

And what of this Mr. Bernardo, he's been praised by the eminent president of the NRA, Sharon Froman and she wouldn't have any sort of bias. Because a fellow like Mr. Bernardo has expertise, he said so. His expertise surely makes him a calm and rational voice of restraint and thoughtful consideration in any area regarding firearms and public safety. Right?

"Froman praised Bernardo in that same speech, recalling work they have done together on the international stage. Bernardo appeared in a Canadian Press story, discussing the type of weapon used by Kimveer Gill in the Dawson College shooting.
"It's very accurate. The firearm is just one of those firearms that's just a lot of fun to spend a day at the range with."

Well there you go. Stockwell Day is taking advice from the likes of a fellow who understands that a mass killer chose a "fun" weapon for his rampage. I guess we can all stop worrying now. Nothing to see here, move along. I said move along, don't make me TASER you.