{"id":54061,"date":"2021-07-22T18:53:22","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T22:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=54061"},"modified":"2021-07-22T18:54:32","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T22:54:32","slug":"rcmp-lack-of-training-may-have-led-to-indigenous-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/rcmp-lack-of-training-may-have-led-to-indigenous-deaths\/","title":{"rendered":"RCMP lack of training may have led to Indigenous deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Roy L Hales<\/p>\n

Chief Darren Blaney<\/a>, of the\u00a0Homalco Nation<\/a>, suggests that\u00a0six months training<\/a>\u00a0is not enough to equip the\u00a0Campbell River RCMP<\/a>\u00a0to deal with intense situations like that which led to the recent shooting of\u00a0Jared Lowndes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lack of training dealing with complex issues<\/h2>\n

\u201cThere is a lot of emphasis on physical training and physical fitness, but not policing with social problems and mental health issues. Escalation and racial bias are not really examined during the training period,\u201d said Blaney, who has relatives in the force. \u201cI think there are a lot of things we miss in the lack of training. I wonder how they handle stress? How do they handle pressure situations like what happened to Jared?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jared Lowndes fled when they attempted to serve an outstanding warrant for weapons offences, on July 8th. When the RCMP caught up to him in the Tim Hortons parking lot, they allegedly smashed into his vehicle from three sides \u2013 boxing Lowndes in. Then they sent a police dog in. Lowndes defended himself with a knife, killing the dog, and the police responded by gunning him down.<\/p>\n

The Independent Investigation Office said it cannot comment, but\u00a0 the victim\u2019s family informed CKTZ News that the warrant was old and Lowndes had already been acquitted by the court.<\/p>\n

Chief Blaney said that if the police were better trained and knew how to de-escalate, both Lowndes and the police dog would be alive today.<\/p>\n

Lowndes two daughters, Phoenix and Patience, would still have a father.<\/p>\n

\"Flowers,<\/a>

Street-side memorial to Jared Lowndes in Campbell River. Hw was killed beside the bent 'Drive Thru Exit' sign across the street \u2013 photo by Roy L Hales<\/p><\/div>\n

Too many Indigenous killings<\/h2>\n

It has been\u00a0six years since RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson admitted there are racists<\/a>\u00a0in his police force.<\/p>\n

\u201dYet nothing was done about it. All these deaths \u2026 are from the lack of action,\u201d said Blaney.<\/p>\n

Blaney mentioned the recent police shooting of\u00a0Chantelle Moore<\/a>, in New Brunswick.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a health check, health and wellness, and they shot her five times. There was some real lack of de-escalation training and it is our people that pay the price in many of those situations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Moore was one the\u00a0four Vancouver Island First Nations people that police have killed<\/a>\u00a0in a little over a year. Three of these deaths occurred on Vancouver Island.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was listening to CBC and they were talking about the training police receive. A nurse called in and said that it takes her four years of university to become a nurse. For a police officer, who has the authority to use lethal force, it only takes six months,\u201d said Blaney.<\/p>\n

Links of Interest<\/h2>\n