I agree with the intense 'granular' investigation of the organization, but I fervently disagree with the name change.
The RCMP is a brand other countries would kill to have as part of their national identity. Dubbed during what some now would call a colonial period it resonates with such positive legendry that it's part of the very reason everyone is horrified at what is going on now in the organization.
Keep in mind, presently, this organization has internal morale dumping because of those past pension problems and other suppressed complaints about the upper echelons of the Force. Cleaning the RCMP barn might be a task of Hercules, but done, it would help both internal and external psychology.
Renaming the organization is like trying to hide problems by calling a cow a camel. Same kind of bovine shit still. Not to mention, the present powers that be would likely rename it Homeland Security North, or some such disgusting tripe.
Dawg: - It is hard not to agree with this:
"A comprehensive, top-to-bottom, outside organizational audit of the RCMP. This would look in detail at the present organizational structure, accountability frameworks, practices, and the over-all corporate culture of the force." as well as make concrete proposals for improvement/change.
Yet as mentioned above, where it has been done before, as in the US, the result has been wasteful and even worse than the original. The American DEA is just the FBI squared (they pay better) while that Homeland Security bunch left reality behind at their inception. (Maybe that is the problem - a political organization created by and for politicians.)
This is not an unqualified NO to the creation of a new force (as for the name - did it not start out as the RNWMP?) but a warning to be careful that the solution is not worse than the problem.
The one thing that I'd like to see is the creation of provincial police forces like the ones in Ontario and Quebec for the rest of the provinces. The RCMP may still have a role in the territories and guarding federal properties and foreign diplomats.
The new provincial forces ought to be planned with shorter lines from the field officers through their commanders to civilian overseers. There is no need to have a national police force in charge of day-to-day policing in every town from BC to Newfoundland.
Dan - "The one thing that I'd like to see is the creation of provincial police forces like the ones in Ontario and Quebec for the rest of the provinces."
I doubt that places like New Brunswick and PEI could afford the very expensive scientific detection facilities needed these days. The resources of the whole country or a large population are needed. DNA testing alone costs thousands of dollars for each test.
A collective lab is conceivable, for areas that cannot alone handle the committment, but then in come the territories - a long way from the Maritimes.
Again, this is not an unqualified NO - but an attempt to flesh out the actuality of the proposal.
There was a good discussion of this issue on CBC radio yesterday (The Current). The guests had previously called for an end to contract policing (i.e. acting as provincial police) for the RCMP. They also maintained the RCMP are one of the least trained police forces in Canada yet are given broad range of responsibilities.
I wonder if we could get a round table going on this issue--put some flesh on the bones. There does, after all, seem to be quite a convergence of opinion that the RCMP is beyond repair. But what do we replace it with? Personally, I don't think it takes rocket science, just a good grasp of institutional structure and governance.
Seems to me that more needs to be done on CRIME PREVENTION all around no matter what STRUCTURE is devised.
Unfortunately, audits are not done with a cross-discinplinary focus.
Taking a look at the Tasering incident in BC provides a precise example of how a true FORSENIC audit with psychologists, authorities on mental health, disability, medical concerns and many other things would have to be addressed, and face it! People would be waiting a very long time to see such a report, because ongoing input form citizens who have concerns about this has not been done. Authorities on povery, alcoholism, drug abuse and mental health facilities just spring to mind.
In the US, some of the worst police brutality occurs because the mental health facilities are overflowing and hapless people end up in JAILS withh jailers who have no way of knowing how to cope with the "inmates".. I've read quite a bit about that in the past year.
Planning a TRUE vision statement would be the very first step and THAT's something progressive bloggers COULD take up, just hammering it out and THEN looking at policyies that would work, just as you would set up any good charitable cause framework.
Vision: To create a policing network within Canada ensuring true public safety for all thus alleviating the suffering of Canadians and visitors.
now THAT might make a great start. Hard to argue with and would get rid of some the flotsam and jetsum the RCMP has created that eats tons of money (accusing people of being terrorists when they are NOT).
Dawg: "But what do we replace it (the RCMP) with?"
I'm not sure you have to replace it, just restructure it and give a clearly defined role. Right now it's a combination of local, provincial, territorial and national security policing. Throw into the mix modern concerns like white collar crime and terrorism and what do you have - I suggest a dog's breakfast.
Any concrete suggestions at this time would be glib, but a good start might be to listen to the interviews on The Current and read the authors' books on this topic.
What authors are you referring to, John? Do you have a critique of my specific (opening and general) proposals?
I'd keep the brand and lose the management.
The Horsemen have a long and proud tradition; but it has been stepped on by a bureaucratic imperative which has left individual officers without much in the way of guidance.
I agree that there need be an audit. And, having dealt with the Complaints Process, your suggestion of a Civilian Complaints Commission is an excellent one.
However, the RCMP should also be examined as to its role in 21st century law enforcement.
To a great degree the training is all about handing out traffic tickets in Flin Flon, the reality of law enforccement is that everyone from gang members to white collar cyber thieves can easily laugh at the ineffectiveness of the RCMP.
Uping the admission requirements, taking the training out to a four year program, requiring professional training months from members every couple of years. Creating specializations, widening the promotional ladder - all these things could bring the proud tradition of the Mounties into alignment with the new world.
That and turning the Tasers to stun.
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