The independent watchdog for the RCMP says it frequently has concerns about Mounties’ “unreasonable use of force” during mental health wellness calls.
The independent watchdog for the RCMP says it frequently has concerns about Mounties’ “unreasonable use of force” during mental health wellness calls.
In response to some recent high-profile and controversial incidents involving the RCMP, the chair of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) put out a statement today highlighting some of her agency’s concerns about Mounties’ actions.
“With respect to interacting with people in crisis, the commission’s findings have consistently highlighted concerns about police adopting a ‘command and control’ approach — an authoritative style of dealing with a non‑compliant person,” said Michelaine Lahaie.
“The commission’s reports have repeatedly found that this ‘command and control’ approach has led to the RCMP’s unreasonable use of force in apprehending persons in crisis.”
The CRCC is the independent body created to review Mounties’ behaviour. It receives, on average, more than 2,000 complaints from the public every year, ranging from allegations of wrongful arrest and improper use of force to reports of bad driving.
Over the past five years, the commission has issued 14 findings which concluded the RCMP’s actions involving a wellness check or a person in crisis were “unreasonable,” said Lahaie.
The reports have not been made public for privacy reasons, says the statement, but the chair said it’s in the public interest to convey the commission’s “general pattern of concern.”
