Threats against police officers: RCMP officers were unaware

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The RCMP spent 1.2 million dollars during the Coutts protests.

Radio-Canada

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Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers deployed to Coutts Dam, Alberta, were not made aware of the threats against police until late in the year. episode, an internal report reveals.

The report also describes the chaotic efforts to mobilize agents in Ottawa during anti-government protests in February 2022, lack of adequate equipment, insufficient training and poor coordination of intelligence collection.

It indicates that RCMP personnel had to work long hours and that some even had to sleep in the office.

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Several RCMP officers had been deployed to the border crossing Coutts and Milk River, Alberta.

Additionally, the report finds that the federal government's demand for hourly reporting has prevented intelligence agencies from collecting more up-to-date information.

The Canadian Press obtained this 92-page document under the Access to Information Act. The objective of this internal report is to examine the progress of police operations during the protest movements against health measures linked to COVID-19.

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The report also includes the results of a survey of RCMP personnel deployed as protesters paralyzed the nation's capital and border crossings for many weeks.

In early February 2022, the nation's capital was stormed by protesters, many of whom arrived in their trucks at the end of January.

Other demonstrators also blocked border crossings, including that of Windsor, Ontario, in addition to Coutts.

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In Coutts, the RCMP found, among other things, weapons, ammunition and evidence of a possible plot to assassinate officers. The report's survey indicates that police personnel deployed to Coutts were not aware that there were serious threats against them during the blockade and some of them indicated that they had became aware of these threats through the media.

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Royal Canadian Mounted Police seized long guns, body armor, handguns, a large quantity of ammunition and a machete from three protester trailers in Coutts, Alberta.

This situation raises numerous safety concerns for RCMP members deployed on the front lines, and these issues must be addressed, the report states.

It is imperative that RCMP members deployed on the front lines are well informed before their deployment, including possible threats to their lives, the report continues.

In Ottawa, many businesses have temporarily closed because of the demonstrators, some of whom are affiliated with far-right movements. Residents have complained about truck horns, diesel fumes and harassment.

RCMP officers gradually arrived to assist the other law enforcement officers present. The deployment of these agents to Ottawa was chaotic, because there were not enough trained personnel for this type of situation.

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On February 19, 2022, after weeks of protests, police intervened to evacuate protesters from the truckers' convoy in downtown Ottawa.

In addition, according to the report, it was difficult to recruit enough RCMP officers for this operation, because participation in the deployment was optional. It was also difficult to obtain an appropriate number of marked police cars and equipment, as the RCMP does not generally conduct front-line operations.

Survey respondents say they have requested higher quality items for cold weather, such as jackets, gloves and boots, as well as for safety, such as helmets and shields.

Furthermore, the report notes that no training on crowd control tactics was given to officers who needed it. The report adds that training needs to be improved to ensure RCMP officers are ready to be deployed to all types of events.

Nearly 40% of respondents also believe that management directives were not well communicated during events. In some cases, there was no planning and/or direction from management was inconsistent.

The RCMP, for its part, is reviewing the report's recommendations, adding that some are already being studied.

Eric Slinn, a former assistant commissioner at the RCMP, emphasizes that while law enforcement has changed its planning and communication system, it is necessary to develop good practices to be effective.

However, implementing these critically important changes cannot rely on the will of company leaders alone. RCMP. Appropriate legislative changes are needed as well as greater investment from the government, he concludes.

With information from The Canadian Press