On October 23rd the Fort Macleod RCMP issued a press release proclaiming that they had charged three adults and one minor with Break and Enter to Commit Mischief. The charges were issued in relation to a farm invasion 53 days earlier, in which a group of about 60 animal rights activists trespassed on the Jumbo Valley Colony, as part of a staged “Liberation Lockdown” event. Several (more than four) activists violated bio-security protocols and entered the barn and stole birds in a mock jailbreak..The four mischief charges will, at best, result in small fines. The fact that it took so long to lay these charges is baffling, considering that the police knew exactly who committed the crimes. .Even if the culprits face the maximum allowed penalties, the media attention they garnered far outstrips the flimsy deterrent they face. In short, these charges will do absolutely nothing to prevent future farm invasions. The only message being sent is to farm owners: The RCMP clearly has little interest in protecting private property..It’s the same message that was sent to rural residents following the Eddie Maurice incident, back on Feb. 25, 2018. In that case thieves trespassed on the Maurice property, prompting him to defend his home by firing off a warning shot with his .22. The shot missed and hit one thief in the arm. Rather than just charge the thieves, the RCMP decided to make a statement to all other rural residents who may choose to defend their homes, and charged Maurice with aggravated assault as well as two lesser crimes. .Following an appearance in Okotoks court the charges were eventually dropped, but the message from the RCMP remains clear: the police have little interest in defending private property, but certainly don’t want people defending their own property either.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .It’s a ridiculously tone-deaf message to send, considering the events of the so-called “High River gun grab.” During the flood of 2013, more than 100,000 Albertans were forced from their homes, including more than 10,000 in High River. In the wake of the flood, RCMP-led search teams entered more than 4,600 homes, forcing entry as they saw fit with crowbars and sledgehammers. As part of these sweeps, police caused more than $2.4 million in damages and seized more than 600 firearms. .The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP would criticize the force for carrying out overly broad searches for firearms, and improperly seizing a number of guns that had been lawfully secured. The matter is now slated for an inquiry by Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner. .In recent years, a lot has been made of the distrust between police and the communities they serve in major urban centres. But it’s hard to see a more glaring disconnect than the one that exists between the RCMP and the people of Southern Alberta. It’s an already rocky relationship that has only been exacerbated by the rural crime epidemic that arose out of Alberta’s recession. With many experts expecting another recession on the horizon, and a federal government in place that has no interest in stronger prison sentences for violent or repeat offenders, it’s hard to see how things are going to improve any time soon. .In fact, with the Trudeau Liberals considering vast new gun control measures, it’s very easy to see how overzealous policing in Southern Alberta could escalate tensions further..If Albertans are serious about proceeding with Firewall options, perhaps it would be best to start with the creation of an Alberta police force. It might just provide the relationship reset that is critically needed between Southern Albertans and the police who risk so much to serve them.
On October 23rd the Fort Macleod RCMP issued a press release proclaiming that they had charged three adults and one minor with Break and Enter to Commit Mischief. The charges were issued in relation to a farm invasion 53 days earlier, in which a group of about 60 animal rights activists trespassed on the Jumbo Valley Colony, as part of a staged “Liberation Lockdown” event. Several (more than four) activists violated bio-security protocols and entered the barn and stole birds in a mock jailbreak..The four mischief charges will, at best, result in small fines. The fact that it took so long to lay these charges is baffling, considering that the police knew exactly who committed the crimes. .Even if the culprits face the maximum allowed penalties, the media attention they garnered far outstrips the flimsy deterrent they face. In short, these charges will do absolutely nothing to prevent future farm invasions. The only message being sent is to farm owners: The RCMP clearly has little interest in protecting private property..It’s the same message that was sent to rural residents following the Eddie Maurice incident, back on Feb. 25, 2018. In that case thieves trespassed on the Maurice property, prompting him to defend his home by firing off a warning shot with his .22. The shot missed and hit one thief in the arm. Rather than just charge the thieves, the RCMP decided to make a statement to all other rural residents who may choose to defend their homes, and charged Maurice with aggravated assault as well as two lesser crimes. .Following an appearance in Okotoks court the charges were eventually dropped, but the message from the RCMP remains clear: the police have little interest in defending private property, but certainly don’t want people defending their own property either.. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .It’s a ridiculously tone-deaf message to send, considering the events of the so-called “High River gun grab.” During the flood of 2013, more than 100,000 Albertans were forced from their homes, including more than 10,000 in High River. In the wake of the flood, RCMP-led search teams entered more than 4,600 homes, forcing entry as they saw fit with crowbars and sledgehammers. As part of these sweeps, police caused more than $2.4 million in damages and seized more than 600 firearms. .The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP would criticize the force for carrying out overly broad searches for firearms, and improperly seizing a number of guns that had been lawfully secured. The matter is now slated for an inquiry by Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner. .In recent years, a lot has been made of the distrust between police and the communities they serve in major urban centres. But it’s hard to see a more glaring disconnect than the one that exists between the RCMP and the people of Southern Alberta. It’s an already rocky relationship that has only been exacerbated by the rural crime epidemic that arose out of Alberta’s recession. With many experts expecting another recession on the horizon, and a federal government in place that has no interest in stronger prison sentences for violent or repeat offenders, it’s hard to see how things are going to improve any time soon. .In fact, with the Trudeau Liberals considering vast new gun control measures, it’s very easy to see how overzealous policing in Southern Alberta could escalate tensions further..If Albertans are serious about proceeding with Firewall options, perhaps it would be best to start with the creation of an Alberta police force. It might just provide the relationship reset that is critically needed between Southern Albertans and the police who risk so much to serve them.