QPP officers could be charged for assaulting indigenous women

[rubecube]

Absolutely disgusting. How does this go on for 10+ years without anyone doing anything about it?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle26934766/

Quebec provincial police have nearly completed a five-month internal investigation into eight officers accused of abuses against indigenous people, and say they will soon send the files to the Crown for possible criminal charges.

The Sûreté du Québec launched a probe into officers at its Val-d’Or detachment in May, after 12 aboriginals – mostly women – came forward with allegations of abuse of power as well as sexual and physical abuse dating between 2002 and 2015, spokeswoman Sergeant Martine Asselin said. All of the officers, including at least one woman, have been questioned and remain on duty, she said. In the coming weeks, the files will be provided to the Crown for potential prosecution.

Several of the aboriginal women gave their accounts to CBC’s French service, Radio-Canada, and some went on to file formal complaints. According to the program Enquête, the women alleged a long-standing pattern of officers picking up women, driving them to remote areas and then leaving them there to walk back. Some women alleged physical assault and sexual abuse, with one saying she was paid to perform sex acts – at times in exchange for cocaine.

“We went to a road in the woods and that’s where they would ask me to perform fellatio,” Bianca Moushoun told the program. The officers, whom she said offered her beer from their trunk, would allegedly pay her $100 for the sex act and $100 in hush money. “They were in uniform, with their guns,” she said. “They have the power. They have the badge.”

And this is why I don't believe it's on aboriginals to "move forward" or to "forgive the past." When this type of crap is as systemic and widespread as it is, and still ongoing, it's ridiculous to expect people to just get over it.

Allegations about aboriginal women being abused and mistreated by police have surfaced across the country over the years. Human Rights Watch released a scathing 2013 report detailing allegations against the RCMP in northern B.C. regarding the abuse of aboriginal women, including rape and an unwarranted attack by a police dog.

These kinds of accusations, indigenous leaders say, feed into the historic mistrust of law enforcement and underscore the need for a national inquiry into Canada’s more than 1,181 missing and murdered aboriginal women. Prime-minister-designate Justin Trudeau said earlier this week his Liberal government would move forward “quickly” with an inquiry.

[taco.vidal]

The authorities are doing a proper investigation. That is good.

Remember, this hasn't been in court and there is no conviction.

Its not like there has ever been false accusations against police.


http://globalnews.ca/news/395673/win...ce-officers-2/

WINNIPEG – A young aboriginal man has apologized for falsely accusing two police officers of taking him on a so-called starlight tour.

Winnipeg police and native leaders hope the apology will help improve the sometimes-bitter relationship between officers on the beat and aboriginal residents in the inner city.

“I’m sorry for jeopardizing the reputation of the Winnipeg Police Service. I want to say sorry to the police officers for putting them in that situation,” Evan Maud, 22, said Thursday in his apology.

The public show of remorse was part of a restorative justice program that allowed Maud to avoid trial on a public mischief charge.

“I’m also deeply sorry to their families, friends and colleagues for causing them to doubt, mistrust and question the two police officers.”

On Dec. 3, 2010, Maud claimed that he had been walking down a street when he was stopped by two officers in a patrol car who accused him of being drunk. He said the officers drove him outside city limits, took his coat and left him alone in freezing weather.

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

The authorities are doing a proper investigation. That is good.

Remember, this hasn't been in court and there is no conviction.

Its not like there has ever been false accusations against police.


http://globalnews.ca/news/395673/win...ce-officers-2/

Not quite the same situations, are they? For one things it's a large group of accusers over a period of 13 years compared to your link from an event alleged by one guy, one time.

[rubecube]

There's this today as well.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/canada/brit...hdog-1.3284029

Transportation ministry staffer George Gretes could be facing charges after a report by B.C. Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham that reveals he lied under oath when he denied that he intentionally deleted Highway of Tears emails and records.

Denham has referred the matter to the RCMP, and Gretes has resigned.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by rubecube

There's this today as well.

http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/canada/brit...hdog-1.3284029

wtf??? Why isn't this bigger news???

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

wtf??? Why isn't this bigger news???

It's a pretty common theme with stories that have to do with aboriginals. They very rarely get the press coverage they should.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by rubecube

It's a pretty common theme with stories that have to do with aboriginals. They very rarely get the press coverage they should.

Which is sick. It's 2015. It shouldn't matter if they're aboriginals or not. People are people and this story is terrible no matter what.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

wtf??? Why isn't this bigger news???

It is. It's the top story of CBC British Columbia and the Vancouver Sun while on the front page of the Metro, Huffington Post BC and Global BC right now. It's a major story and was when the investigation first started back in May as well.

And while the investigation stems from a FOIP request about the Highway of Tears incident, the broader picture seems to be the poor handling (to put it it mildly) of emails, information and FOIP requests in general. The lack of transparency of the BC government seems to have extended much further than just aboriginal issues, in fact two other FOIP requests were investigated in the same report:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2293075/b-...ion-practices/

In the case of the access request made to the Ministry of Advanced Education seeking emails sent by the chief of staff to the minister from February to July 2014, the commissioner found that the ministry contravened the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act due to a negligent search for records by the chief of staff.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the access request to the Office of the Premier about all emails sent by the deputy chief of staff for certain dates in November 2014 revealed that the office contravened the same act due to the lack of documentation of the search for responsive records and the overly broad interpretation given to transitory records by the deputy chief of staff.

And the report also condemned Cadario for her record keeping in general:

The report, titled Access Denied, also found that Michele Cadario, deputy chief of staff in the premier's office, routinely contravened freedom of information laws by bulk deleting emails on a daily basis. Denham's investigation cited Cadario as having no email records, despite working in the premier's office for two years.

So while it's possible Gretes is some sort of racist trying to cover up the Highway of Tears, it seems more likely that he's just a sleazy scumbag who didn't want to deal with FOIP requests in general.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by rubecube

And this is why I don't believe it's on aboriginals to "move forward" or to "forgive the past." When this type of crap is as systemic and widespread as it is, and still ongoing, it's ridiculous to expect people to just get over it.

Yeah, I know what you mean. A lot of people look at the problems and they think it happened 200 years ago, 100 years ago, or 50 years ago. In learning what I've leaned over the last few years with the various commissions and inquiries, a lot of abuses have happened even as recent as 25 years ago. During our lifetime, on our watch. People want to shrug off responsibility, say it was their ancestors fault and natives should just get over it, but it still happens to this day. It's all of our faults and responsibilities.

And as we know from the cycle of violence, it often takes multiple generations for healing to happen. It's silly to think that those who were wrong could just get over it, when serious abuses have happened even in our lifetimes. This isn't just about treaty rights or crimes of conquest hundreds of years ago, this is about abuses and corruption in our very day.

[driveway]

Hmm a group of people who self-select to have, in many cases near-unlimited, power over others prove to be untrustworthy and systematically abuse that power.

Let's all be shocked by this.

[Northendzone]

why has this person not been terminated.

i would think that in my job, if i did not keep or properly file key emails of a period of two years, that i would be fired!!!!

as for the incidents that started this email - disgusting, i hope that some of these police officers are arrested over this. i shudder to think about the workplace culture that must be prevelant to get people thinking that this kind of stuff is ok!!!!

[GGG]

The starlight tours was common in Saskatoon until officers were finally charged. I don't get why the officers involved weren't at least suspended with pay while the investigation occurred. As soon as an accusation occurs officers should be moved to at least desk duty until cleared.

[jar_e]

Is there any source to say that charges are for sure imminent? That globe and mail article just states the file is being sent to the crown for review and possible charges.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Is there any source to say that charges are for sure imminent? That globe and mail article just states the file is being sent to the crown for review and possible charges.

Good call. Updated the thread title.