The RCMP is in the midst of conducting a criminal investigation of the country’s deadliest mass shooting, which began in Portapique, Nova Scotia April 18, 2020.
Several questions have been raised about the force’s handling of the 13-hour rampage but also whether police acted appropriately on previous serious complaints about the gunman, including domestic abuse allegations and that he had illegal firearms in his possession.
Nothing ever gets resolved when it’s not taken seriously by any level of government party, and right now federal, provincial and municipal governments are passing the buck on an inquiry or responsibility.
There needs to be a restructuring of the RCMP department. The application process to apply for a career as an RCMP officer needs to be addressed and revised before recruiting students from high school. To apply to the police academy the new recruit must have a Grade 12 certificate, and a clean criminal record. Once accepted the recruit has to pass 26 weeks of physical training, and to be able to push or pull 75 pounds, run an obstacle course and pass a liver and kidney test. Then, they’re given an RCMP uniform and a badge—and the right to arrest you under whatever grounds they see fit, whether it is justified or not.
The requirements in the application are not sufficient. The law needs to change from the bottom up. It’s imperative that the application process is reviewed and requirements are changed to look after the interests and wellbeing of the people; the public.
It should be mandatory that all new applicants prior to applying to the RCMP Academy for the 26-week physical training course have an undergraduate degree in Social Work, Sociology, Social Anthropology and Black and Native History. Or a prerequisite of working as a frontline worker for one year in community services. When dealing with the public, there’s more required than being able to run an obstacle course in record time.
It’s not in the public’s best interest to hire a person fresh out of high school to be a police officer. These young people have no experience, haven’t even set foot outside their own cultural comfort zone. Arrests are often made on the most vulnerable people in society unbeknownst to the police officers. How do you expect them to deal with a person of any other colour or race?
Justin Trudeau doesn’t even know what diversity means. It’s celebrating people’s cultural differences, but most Canadian schools left out the part about Native and Black history, so most Canadians have no idea that we even have a history. If you are going to lead the people, or have authority over those people—you should at least know the history of people.
Florestine Bird is an Ojibwe woman who completed a double major in sociology and social anthropology at Dalhousie University in 1997.
This article appears in Jun 1-30, 2020.
While a agree with some of the points the writer states, (such as some sort of practical experience), there is some very misleading statements regarding the training that RCMP Cadets must complete before graduating.
The 26-week training involves more than “running an obstacle course in record time” and for the record the obstacle course (aka: PARE test is completed three times during the 26-weeks. All Cadets must meet a minimum time to complete.)
Included in their training are defensive driving techniques; classroom studies on the Canadian Criminal Code; fitness classes; firearm usage and; many ‘scenario’ style cases. A Cadet who fails to meet the standards of any of these examples are sent home or are provided more time to train.
It would be a simplistic view to believe that anyone with a high school diploma or GED can be given a badge.
😞 sorry but no. In the 90s the RCMP made post secondary and french speaking preferred for cadets. It drastically reduced the number of successful applicants to the program.
At the same time they introduced affirmative action practices which have since been upheld and enhanced. Preference is given in the RCMP for racial, religious and linguistic minorities as well as encouragement for post secondary applicants. But it can’t be a hard and fast qualification because they won’t get enough people. As we all know Education (the ability to study effectively) does not mean you are going to get someone with the aptitude for practical police work.
Also this author seems to want to put out a bias that panders to popular opinion and outrage (which is justified right now, though not fully informed), but obviously has no knowledge of what the RCMP Depot Division does. It is not merely a 26 week physical training course. A close family member of mine taught at Depot for 3 years. Having sat in his Applied Police Sciences classes and witnessed what goes on there first hand this article offends me. There is no perspective here beyond pandering to outrage.
Cadets learn how to interpret and apply the criminal code, how to interview witnesses and take statements, answer calls, drive police vehicles (this is hard actually because there’s so much going on), go on scenarios in a mock up town, neighbourhood and detachment, etc. They learn how to compassionately communicate to victims’ families. Marching, drill and PT are just a part but it is important. If you had to wrestle a drunk on the side of the highway wouldn’t you be glad you passed the PEAR test?
I do agree that education in social work etc would be good. But the assumption that high school grads just waltz in to the RCMP is ridiculous. Candidates have to pass psychological testing as well as numerous levels of background checks.
The media has to stop perpetuating anti-police sentiment.