MPPAC lauds officers involved in La Loche tragedy, heart goes out to community

OTTAWA, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - The Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada commends the heroic efforts of the RCMP members that helped avert further disaster in La Loche, Sask. on Jan. 22, 2016. 

MPPAC applauds the dedication and bravery of the officers including the many that came from outside of the province during the crisis. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and the entire community.

Violent shooting rampages like the one that just took place in La Loche as well as in Moncton N.B. in June 2014 expose officers to a litany of problems many of which are in violation of the Canada Labour Code.

Currently, RCMP management faces four charges in a New Brunswick provincial court. The charges allege the RCMP management failed to provide front line officers with appropriate equipment, information, instruction and training in an active shooter event.   A final charge alleges the force failed to ensure in general, the health and safety of its members.

The charges were recommended by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada after its investigation into the shooting deaths of the three officers and the wounding of two others in Moncton. Each of the four charges comes with a maximum fine of $1 million.

 "The RCMP has never been properly funded for equipment and training and we're severely under-resourced in terms of numbers right across the country, " said Rob Creasser, a retired 28 year veteran officer and spokesman for MPPAC. "In the case of one officer in Moncton, he saw the gunman and knew that the weapon was a 9-millimetre handgun but didn't have the range to be able to effectively deal with the gunman.  The officer had to drive closer and that enabled the gunman to subsequently fire and kill the officer," said Creasser.

"The charges against the RCMP management highlight the need for officers to have dedicated union protection as to ensure the safety of our members and avert further tragedies to our front line officers and communities," said Creasser.

The introduction of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Labour Relations bill in January 2015 gave officers the right to unionize. In January 2016 the Supreme Court has given the federal government four more months to draft new legislation that will grant collective bargaining rights to RCMP members. The legislation will be introduced no later than the end of May 2016.

Of the 227 police agencies in Canada, 226 already have collective bargaining rights – the only exception has been the RCMP.

SOURCE Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada

Rob Creasser, Media Relations, Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada, T(250) 371-1071 • E: [email protected]