Tag Archives: Northern District RCMP

Justice

Northern B.C. RCMP looking for patrol volunteers

Editor’s note: Up until this point, the Quadra Island RCMP detachment has served whatever need there is for police on Cortes and other remote Discovery Islands. Someday there may be a need for Citizens On Patrol to observe, document and report violations of the law and suspicious activities in our area.

By Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The District of Chetwynd has paired up with the Chetwynd RCMP and the South Peace Crime Prevention Society to start up a Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) for the Chetwynd area.

The C.O.P. program are the extra eyes, ears, and voice for the RCMP and the community. You need to be at least 19 years of age, complete an application form that can be found at the Chetwynd detachment and bring it back for a Criminal Record Check. Once completed and approved for the program, training can get underway.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

RCMP do not agree to abide by Gitxsan chiefs’ ban on ‘militarized squadron’

By Kaitlyn Bailey, Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The B.C. RCMP will not respect a ban from the Gitxsan hereditary chiefs which prohibits the police force’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) from entering their traditional territories.

In an email to Black Press Media, Sgt. Kris Clark wrote that while the B.C. RCMP will “do everything possible” to respect the ban, they have obligations and responsibilities to enforce court injunctions and maintain public safety.

The C-IRG unit is “uniquely situated” to do these tasks through specific training and resources, Clark stated.

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Indigenous Nations, Justice

Advocates question RCMP’s role in recent deaths of Indigenous peoples

By Philip McLachlan,  The Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Content warning: This story mentions self-harm and police response to a distress call, as well as content about police violence against Indigenous people. Please read with care.

Advocates are demanding a public inquiry following the death of a Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) man who died after RCMP were called to his home — the latest plea for systemic reform to a police force which one chief says has an “inherent bloodlust against people of colour.”

Rojun Alphonse’s family called officers to his apartment early in the morning on July 10 because they were concerned that he was going to harm himself — but instead of calming the man in distress, the RCMP showed up to “terrorize” Alphonse with tear gas, automatic weapons, body armour and armed vehicles, said WLFN Chief Willie Sellars.

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Energy, Indigenous Nations, Justice

Letters reveal what energy companies told RCMP before Wet’suwet’en raid

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

In late April, RCMP officers walked into the Gidimt’en Camp near the confluence of Ts’elkay Kwe (Lamprey Creek) and Wedzin Kwa (Morice River). Their visits on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory in northwest B.C. had been a daily occurrence, with members of the RCMP’s Community-Industry Response Group showing up at all hours, including in the middle of the night according to locals.

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Justice

Prince George RCMP dog handler used “unreasonable force” in arrest, complaints commission finds

By Mark Nielsen, Prince George Citizen Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A former Prince George RCMP officer currently on trial on another matter used “unreasonable force” when arresting a suspected thief, the RCMP Civilian Complaints Commission says in a final report.

The suspect, identified only as A.B., suffered skull fractures, a broken jaw, puncture wounds, and other injuries when apprehended by Cst. Joshua Grafton in September 2015, according to the report.

Continue reading Prince George RCMP dog handler used “unreasonable force” in arrest, complaints commission finds →