A Chronicle of News for the Law Enforcement Community October 7, 2016 – Vol. 21 No. 41 RCMP announces harassment suit Sep 29 2016 settlement OTTAWA - Canada’s spy agency sifted through large troves of data for information of value until a fed- eral watchdog raised questions about a lack of guidelines for such searches, a new report reveals. Page 2 Sep 30 2016 VANCOUVER - When it comes to crafting Canada's plans to legalize marijuana, there's one group that seems to have a lot to say: young men who use pot. Page 4 Oct 01 2016 PEACE RIVER - Two quick-thinking RCMP officers rescued a man from the Peace River Saturday morning using the backseat of their police cruiser, which is designed to float. Page 5 Oct 02 2016 MONTREAL - The Mohawk band Oct 06 2016 council of Akwesasne has intro- OTTAWA - RCMP Commissioner Bob “To all the women, I stand humbly before duced what is considered the first Paulson delivered an abject apology you today and solemnly offer our sincere indigenous legal system in Canada Thursday to hundreds of current and apology,’’ an emotional Paulson told a news outside a federal framework. former female officers and employees conference in Ottawa. Page 6 who were subjected to alleged inci- “You came to the RCMP wanting to dents of bullying, discrimination and Oct 03 2016 personally contribute to your community and harassment dating back 42 years. we failed you. We hurt you. For that, I am HAMILTON - Dan Kinsella has been Paulson made the apology as he truly sorry.’’ named as Hamilton's new deputy announced a $100 million settlement of two Paulson said the settlements would police chief. class-action lawsuits stemming from the Page 7 provide financial compensation for the women harassment allegations, some of which date and pave the way to end potential class-action Oct 04 2016 back to September 1974. lawsuits brought forward by former RCMP Lacombe police Chief Steve Murray -- a 16-year veteran of the force on administrative leave for more than a month -- is retiring to address "health issues." Page 10 members Janet Merlo and Linda Gillis history, one that has haunted Paulson’s tenure data,’’ the review committee report says. Davidson. as commissioner. Overall, the review committee was satis- He said the government has provided a “Today’s announcement ... closes the door fied that CSIS acted in accordance with the total of $100 million to cover the cost of on a deeply troubling and unfortunate period law in 2015-16. But it issued several recom- payouts. in the history of our national police force,” mendations to make the spy service more ac- Paulson was joined at the news conference Goodale said. countable when examining data, tracking Ca- by the plaintiffs, as well as Public Safety “It is an encouraging moment, demonstrat- nadian foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, ex- Minister Ralph Goodale and Labour Minister ing a deep desire on the part of all parties to changing information with other agencies and MaryAnn Mihychuk. move forward in a positive and constructive using new powers to disrupt suspected terror- “The impact this has had on those who manner - starting immediately.” ist plots. have experienced this shameful conduct Though neither of the two class actions CSIS argued that openly sourced and pub- cannot - must not - be solely understood as an has been certified, the settlement agreements licly available datasets were akin to the phone adverse workplace condition for which they will be submitted to the courts, paving the way book, and therefore restrictions in the CSIS must be compensated,’’ Paulson said. for approval. There will be a deadline for Act limiting collection to “strictly necessary’’ “For many of our women this harassment signing on to the actions, which means it is information did not apply. has hurt them mentally and physically. It is too early to tell how many members might be However, the review committee looked at has destroyed relationships and marriages, and compensated. the full list of datasets held by CSIS and, in even whole families have suffered as a result. Merlo, whose proposed class-action suit come cases, disagreed with the spy service’s Their very lives have been affected.’’ was filed in British Columbia, said she assessment that they were publicly available Merlo took the podium after Paulson was experienced many instances of sexual and therefore beyond the legal restriction. finished, calling it “a great day for the RCMP’’ harassment that left her with post-traumatic As a result of the committee’s interven- and thanking the commissioner on behalf of stress disorder. tion, CSIS finalized and implemented guide- the other female members represented in the Davidson said she endured unwanted lines for acquiring bulk data and agreed to lawsuits. sexual advances and repeated harassment ensure it abides by the CSIS Act in collecting “They just wanted it to be a better place during her 27-year career, which included a such information. to work,’’ Merlo said. “For them I’m really stint with the prime minister’s protective detail. thankful that today finally arrived.’’ Her lawsuit was filed in Ontario Superior Sep 29 2016 As she left the podium, she embraced Court. SASKATOON - RCMP in Saskatchewan Paulson, who wiped tears from his eyes as he The police force has streamlined the say they’re doing what they can with sat back down. process for addressing conflict, giving the resources they have when it comes “I love my flag, I love my country and I supervisors more power to deal with disputes to patrolling and responding to calls in loved my job; I left way too early,’’ added promptly, but some critics fear that has opened rural areas. Davidson, who also extended her thanks to the door to abuses. Mounties held a news conference in the commissioner. Goodale has already asked the RCMP Saskatoon to try to ease public fears about the “I will continue to stand up and right the watchdog to revisit the broad issue of bullying crime rate in rural Saskatchewan. wrongs if I can,’’ she said. “We are, we were and harassment within the force. “We know that people are frustrated, that and we always will be your greatest asset.’’ The Civilian Review and Complaints they feel vulnerable and violated when their Hundreds of former and serving female Commission for the RCMP is looking at property is stolen,’’ Supt. Mike Gibbs, com- Mounties and civilian members have said they whether recommendations it made three years mander of the central district, said Thursday. were victims of harassment, bullying and ago have been implemented. “We understand that and don’t want to mini- assault dating back to when women first joined mize it.’’ the force. “But our first priority will always be in The settlement likely marks the beginning THURSDAY responding to calls where people are in dan- of the end a difficult episode in the force’s ger of being hurt or killed. We investigate SEPEMBER 29, 2016 every complaint we receive. But between our resourcing level, the volume and priority of calls, and the vast distances our members have Sep 29 2016 to deal with, it can take some time to respond. OTTAWA - Canada’s spy agency sifted “If we’re not getting to you, it’s likely ISSN 1704-3913 through large troves of data for infor- because we’re responding to a higher priority Copyright 2015 mation of value until a federal watch- call.’’ Blue Line Magazine & The Canadian Press Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from dog raised questions about a lack of On Sept. 19, police said three masked sus- Annex Business Media guidelines for such searches, a new pects armed with handguns allegedly ap- Phone 905 713-4387 eMail: [email protected] report reveals. proached a farmhand in west-central Saskatch- Published weekly by Annex Business Media as an executive news briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement The Canadian Security Intelligence Serv- ewan. Shortly after, there were media reports personnel. ice agreed to halt its acquisition of bulk of farmers carrying firearms during harvest, Most information supplied in this publication is from newswire datasets until it had a framework in place to services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not accept and RCMP then urged people not to take the responsibility for the accuracy of articles as supplied. govern the process of mining so-called “big law into their own hands. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be data.’’ Gibbs said there has been an increase in reproduced, stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording In its annual report tabled Thursday, the complaints of property crime since last year, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers. Security Intelligence Review Committee said specifically in that west-central area. He could One Year Subscriptions are $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four (4) copies of this publication CSIS used datasets to identify previously un- not provide any numbers. for distribution within their organization. known individuals of interest by linking to- But the Mountie said “carrying guns in gether types of information that have indicated GROUP PUBLISHER: Paul Grossinger anticipation of, or in preparation for a con- EDITOR: Tom Rataj - [email protected] “threat behaviour.’’ frontation, is not safe for anyone.’’ COPY EDITOR: Mark Reesor - [email protected] “They can be used to conduct indices The RCMP said as of Sept. 15, there were SUBSCRIPTIONS: BlueLine.ca / Subscribe checks by taking information already con- 11.5 vacancies out of 924 RCMP officers.