Nova Scotia massacre who is to blame? Confusion and why mistakes were made?
How do we focus our pain, and to whom, after the murderous rampage on Nova Scotia? There must be someone accountable for this senseless killing/assassination/execution of 22 good people?
After the initial shock, it makes sense for us to want answers, how could this have happened?
Finding mistakes and accountability is a natural way we try to cope with intensely painful emotions. It is really important to hold onto our sense of self, acknowledging our fear and sadness. The courage is in the rebuilding to continue living.
It’s disquieting and disturbing the length of time in sending out an ‘alert’ to the public on an armed suspect in their area. Something that we may not be aware of is the internal structure of the RCMP can limit the freedoms of its members to act alone, to send that message without going through the proper channels, chain of command. The career damage of retribution in not following the layers of command is a reality. If people are afraid to make mistakes because of their workplace culture then this can inhibit creative thinking and quick action. The killer has an advantage, a plan. The police have to react and respond to what information they get and its fluid, sometimes makes no sense and is confusing. I am not saying this is what happened, merely, we need to think about what the inner makings of these decisions, who can make them and when could influence sending out the alert. It is the afterwards, during further investigation more details and facts are revealed on the unfolding events and unknowns.
It’s really important to recognize how we deal with our processing of the anger, shock, the horror, frustration and deep pain of loss.
There are going to be triggers and high anxiety for a long time and maybe a lifetime.
Everyone is going to be dealing with the intensity at different times and in different ways.
Our own opinions and life experiences often dictate and affect how we react and cope. More often than not it is our unconscious biases and opinions.
This is the time we need to be mindful, resisting the urge to blame anyone but the killer. Remember the killer had gone to great lengths in planning, remodelling a car, having an authentic RCMP police uniform, illegal weapons, establishing a list of people to target.
As we break down the timeline of the horrendous events, we can see cracks, warning signs about the killer that we were not aware at that time as significant or dangerous, second-guessing ourselves, failures in policies and human mistakes. We are human want to trust our friends and co-workers, not thinking the worst of people. Under extreme stress, the unknown danger, thoughts of getting shot, fear our decisions making process is compromised.
Layers of bureaucracy have often resulted in delays or reaction time on important decisions. It is a combination of human mistakes, policies that set up to fail, and the reality of rapidly unfolding events. No one knows what exactly they will do until they are in that situation.
The COVID 19 pandemic has shined a spotlight on the need for more help at care homes, and this shooting is shining the light on the real challenges and needs of rural policing.
We see what we want to see in the inefficiencies of the RCMP. We can let our anger out in violent destructive behaviours with destroying property, distrusting the police. We can focus on all middle-aged white guys as killers this is not helpful. Yet this happens. We can focus only on the mistakes made and let that keep us in the hate, suspicious mode.
It is up to each of us what we decide to do with this pain, intense loss and suffering. No one can take away the agony, no one. The shock and grief overwhelming making it difficult to breathe. Focusing on what can we do, now, so this never happens again, never happens to another community, never happens to another innocent victim, never happens to another RCMP officer.
Focus on getting the truth, accountability, justice, this rebuilds trust and sense of community. Focus on what the families of the victims need as emotional support today and in their tomorrows. Focus on the changes for the RCMP in sending out timely alerts, more officers in rural areas to allow for two-person patrol cars, bulletproof windscreens, more tactical training, access to other agencies to better use assets such as drones and aircraft, ceramic vests for each officer and weapons such as a Carbine.
Let us mourn together. As we try to come to terms as to why it is important to remember who decided to pull the trigger. We can find our way to cope without holding onto anger and hate. Together we can define our lives and those killed in the resilience of spirit, community love and kindness.
Remember our mental health needs to find ways to cope and process. For me after this week, I needed a picnic. Packed a lunch, coffee and two chairs. Sat outside in the back of the truck enjoying the sounds of the birds, warm breeze and a mental health recharge.
