Friday, March 13, 2009

NECESSARY CHANGE


The Davies commission of Inquiry into the death of Frank Paul has rendered, among others, two very important recommendations.

The first is something that many of us have been hollering about for ages - a civilian office to investigate all police-related deaths.

The police investigating the police is stupid and unproductive. It must go.

The police must be answerable to the people who pay them to serve and protect.

The second recommendation calls for a civilian "sobering centre."

The police pick up a drunk for whatever reason, fine. Step One: the drunk goes to a civilian detox, where he or she is first "cared for" and the risk of dying mysteriously in the hands of hostile or indifferent people in uniform is minimized or eliminated.

Why does it take inquiries such as this to raise the obvious?

And when, if ever, can we hope to see tfese imminently sensible changes come to life?

1 comment:

David in North Burnaby BC said...

"And when, if ever, can we hope to see these imminently sensible changes come to life?"

Don't hold your breath. This has been an obvious need from forever and I highly doubt one more soon forgotten report's recommendations will change anything.
We'll continue to be told that only police are capable of investigations (ever heard of PIs?) and governments, especially of the Liberal variety will go along to get along; can't anger the constabulary or who knows where they might poke their noses into.