Deputy Eric Girt Appointed New Hamilton Police Chief
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A CHRONICLE OF NEWS FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY | May 12, 2016 – Vol. 21 No. 20 Deputy Eric Girt appointed new Hamilton police chief May 06 2016 OTTAWA - Ontario’s premier says the federal government must clarify the law around the recrea- tional use of marijuana because of complications involving shops selling pot. Page 3 May 09 2016 OTTAWA - With the clock tick- ing down to a tight deadline im- posed by the Supreme Court of Canada, CBC News has learned the Official Opposition is pulling support for a bill that would give Mounties the right to collective bargaining. Page 4 May 10 2016 Police-reported data in Canada show that young adults aged 18 to 24 have the highest rates Former Chief Glenn De Caire with incoming Chief Eric Girt of criminal offending of any age group. In 2014, there were over May 11 2016 Caire, who abruptly announced his retire- 183,000 young adults accused HAMILTON - Hamilton’s new police ment in December. of police-reported crimes, a rate chief named two priorities during His fellow deputy chief, Ken Weatherill, of 5,428 individuals accused per his official introduction to the city had also hoped to fill the vacancy, which the 100,000 young adults. Wednesday. police services board decided to fill internal- Page 7 May 11 2016 “Our priorities are building relation- ly, rather than search externally. ships, maintaining the public trust,” Chief Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, chair of the Hundreds of auxiliary Mounties Eric Girt told reporters at the Central Sta- board, said both candidates “hit home runs” are ready to hit the front lines of tion forecourt. during interviews, but it was Girt’s 10 years the devastating northern Alberta Girt, 54, steps into the top job after serv- of experience as deputy that gave him the wildfires - but no one’s calling. ing as deputy chief for 10 years. He has a edge. five-year contract. Girt also offers a different style from Page 8 May 12 2016 Girt replaces former chief Glenn De De Caire, Ferguson said, describing the new MONCTON, N.B. - The RCMP has pleaded not guilty to four charges of Labour Code viola- tions stemming from the force’s response to a 2014 shooting ram- page in Moncton, N.B. Page 9 chief of Ontario’s six-largest police force as ers broke into the wrong home during a drug Officers found many examples of im- “shy,” something his predecessor was not. raid; the shooting death of Steve Mesic, a properly-stored firearms, according to the At the time, the police service needed De 45-year-old who struggled with mental ill- release. Many had also been passed on from Caire’s tougher approach to crack down on ness and allegations ACTION team officers deceased family members to individuals with discipline, Ferguson said. faked tickets. little to no knowledge about their status. Girt has a lighter touch, the councillor Girt, who spoke highly of De Caire, said (Vancouver Metro) suggested. he’s “cognizant that we stand on the shoul- “I think we’re ready for that after Glenn. ders of those who precede us.” Glenn was needed at the time. But now we He’s facing increasing pressure to ad- need someone with a little softer style.” dress random street checks. (Hamilton Spectator) FRIDAY During his speech, Girt spoke of innova- MAY 6, 2016 tion, compassion and adaptation. He also referenced the importance of working with those who suffer from mental THURSDAY May 06 2016 illness, addiction and poverty. MAY 5, 2016 TORONTO - Toronto has unseated “We want people to get the help. We want Vancouver as Canada’s de facto can- to reduce use of force if we can.” May 05 2016 nabis capital due to an ongoing ex- Ferguson said the internal search was plosion in illegal dispensaries, while FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - RCMP in Al- meant to show the board had confidence in officials begin shutting down dozens berta have brought in special tactical the service’s existing leadership. of shops in the West Coast city to en- teams to root out people who refuse The board recruited De Caire from To- force a landmark new bylaw. ronto in December 2009. to leave fire-ravaged Fort McMurray. The owner of a cannabis consulting firm “We still have some people hanging The police association is pleased a new who has been tracking the meteoric growth around and we are trying to ensure everyone’s chief was found internally, president Clint of the illicit sector following last fall’s elec- safety,’’ Sgt. Jack Poitras said Thursday. Twolan said. tion win by the federal Liberals, who have “Right now we have special tactical op- It’s encouraging for members to see one promised to legalize the drug, says Toronto’s erations inside the city looking to make sure of their own rise through the ranks over a 30- wide-open market is now supporting more that there is nobody left behind.’’ year commitment to the service, Twolan said. than 100 pot shops. Poitras said police found two stragglers “It gives the members that confidence. This expansion comes as Vancouver has Wednesday night and there have been others. Remain committed to your organization and shut down 22 dispensaries out of its roughly They were sent out of the city on a bus. you’ll be rewarded.” 100 locations in the past week, and city staff They won’t face charges. Last year, a police association survey - say they will continue their crackdown over There were no details about why they which involved 695 of the service’s 1,205 the coming weeks. About two dozen are ex- refused to leave after days of fires that have members - found morale was low with 83 per pected to remain open while they clear regu- torched more than 1,600 structures. cent of sworn officers saying they worked in latory hurdles to obtain a coveted new class “They are not giving us a reason,’’ said a “culture of fear.” of business licence. Poitras. “They are just refusing to go.’’ Twolan described the former chief as Harrison Jordan, a second-year student The tactical teams will be checking “much more autocratic” than Girt, whom he at Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School and homes and yards for people, he said. said has a more collaborative approach. owner of The Big Toke, said he has mapped Some members of the RCMP from Fort “(Girt’s) a stable person. He’s a level- 114 dispensaries now operating - or open- McMurray have remained on the job despite headed, calm, cool and collected approach.” ing very soon - across a region where only losing their homes to fire. Hamilton’s 35th police chief takes the a handful of tucked-away businesses were Cpl. George Cameron said he wasn’t sure helm after a turbulent stretch. operating a year ago. if his house is still standing. Under De Caire, the police service was “In the next month or two, we might “It makes a tough job harder,’’ he said. scrutinized for beating up a man after offic- have as many dispensaries as Pizza Pizzas May 05 2016 in Toronto,” said Mr. Jordan, who built his database by cross-referencing the dispensa- SURREY - Hundreds of firearms and ries’ own websites with various social media thousands of rounds of ammunition platforms and several online listing services. were recently turned over to the Sur- This is the most comprehensive tally to date rey RCMP. of Toronto’s shops, which, like all dispensa- Between April 4 and April 22, Mounties ISSN 1704-3913 ries, procure and sell their products outside of visited the owners of restricted and prohib- Copyright 2015 the federal government’s mail-order medical Blue Line Magazine Inc. & The Canadian Press ited firearms whose registrations had expired, Permission to reprint may be obtained in advance from marijuana system. as part of their Safety City project. The goal Access Copyright Toronto Mayor John Tory expressed ex- Phone 1-800-893-5777 [email protected] of the program, according to police, was not asperation last month at the ongoing boom, Published weekly by Blue Line Magazine, Inc. as an executive news to penalize gun owners, but to educate. but said he is awaiting direction from Ottawa briefing service to Canada’s top level law enforcement personnel. “The Surrey RCMP recognizes there are on how to proceed before federal legislation Most information supplied in this publication is from newswire many reasons why gun owners may have let services. As such Blue Line Magazine does not accept responsibility is introduced next spring legalizing mari- for the accuracy of articles as supplied. their firearms registration lapse, including juana. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, not even realizing they are expired,” said as- “The one thing you can’t afford to have stored in an electronic database or transmitted in any form or by any sistant commissioner Bill Fordy in a press means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without happen is a broad-scale mockery of the the prior permission of the publishers. One Year Subscriptions are release. “The vast majority of firearm owners $10500 (GST Included). Paid subscribers may make up to four (4) laws,” Mr. Tory said at a news conference copies of this publication for distribution within their organization. in our city are compliant with the laws.” on April 20 - the day marijuana enthusiasts During those two-and-a-half weeks, around the world celebrate the drug. GROUP PUBLISHER: Morley S. Lymburner more than 500 firearms and 3,000 rounds The city’s top medical officer is due to PUBLISHER: Kathryn M.