It seems in Canada and in the US there are issues, serious issues with police shootings, failure to respond during active shooter tragedies, poor training/hiring practices, lack of resources/staffing shortages, and racism. Something has to be done to improve the trust between the police and society. It won’t be a one-size-fits. It can be done with better training, education on respect, racism and trauma, mental health and de-escalation, and most importantly accountability.  We can always learn from our mistakes and failures to create new strategies that save lives.

In light of recent events and the current inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting in 2020, It appears that confidence in the police specifically RCMP is at its all-time low.

This is sad to recognize how a national Institute with worldwide recognition, the RCMP,  can fall so far in confidence and public opinion as to reliability and trust.

However, at no time did they teach us or encourage us to seek out support for mental health, or give guidance as to what to do about workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and other interpersonal issues….But that’s another blog.

My concern as a retired RCMP officer is watching an organization that I was proud to serve, fall into absolute disrepair when senior officers fail to tell the truth, fail to be accountable for their behaviour and decision-making, and willingly deflect blame.

The one serious problem the RCMP organization continues to have in their leadership senior officers are NOT accepting accountability, learning effective communication and listening skills, and understanding that getting promoted doesn’t make you smarter or have all the answers. Clearly, we have seen this on many occasions where leadership has failed miserably in their command and control, and top-down communication abilities. If we will learn anything from the Nova Scotia mass casualty inquiry it is the importance of effective leadership, a workplace culture that allows people to make independent decisions when the senior officers are not around, and most importantly to always tell the truth. To at least try to do the right thing.

Speaking of the truth, here’s an example of where I had to tell the truth on the stand even though I ended up looking less than perfect. Years ago, I had issued a speeding ticket, the person pled not guilty, a year we were in court giving testimony as to the event. Over the year I had issued hundreds, and hundreds of tickets and arrested many people. I had no idea who this person was, didn’t recognize him at all, and only had my notes to confirm his identity. As I was testifying the judge asked me if I recognized the suspect, I said “no I don’t, I have no memory of him at all. Based on the description of the ticket I remember that day but not the person.”  You see I could’ve lied, and said yes I recognize him. The truth was I didn’t and the judge dismissed the ticket.

Later after the court session had ended, standing in the hallway with other officers, the judge approached me and said “Officer Benson you will always have credibility in my court because I knew you told the truth. And I have seen too many officers lie in my court to protect themselves, to make themselves look good and not tell the truth”.  Well, I nearly cried. After my testimony and the ticket charges were dropped,  I felt so dumb and incompetent not being able to recognize this person from a year ago. Of course, I wouldn’t remember this particular event among hundreds.

That was a powerful lesson. Always tell the truth even if we are not shining in the best positive light. The truth is the truth it cannot be denied or changed. Remember we don’t know everything or have all the answers, we make mistakes.

We may not like it, it may show our faults and frailties, and it may result in serious consequences. However, the important part of the truth is we take the lessons from the mistakes and failures made during the shooting rampage in Nova Scotia and learn.

It’s important that the truth opens the door for learning conversations, creates opportunities for new policies and regulations at each detachment at all ranks/levels of officers, and that the truth starts training and enforcing active shooting scenarios to prevent any failures like what happened in Nova Scotia in 2020.

Nothing will bring the victims back and withholding the truth, giving little teaspoons of the truth, to deflect responsibility for mistakes made, adds to the victim’s pain and confusion. This deflective line of leadership certainly erodes trust in the police.

I severely doubt the motives, I am curious, behind the senior officers in the RCMP involved in the Nova Scotia inquiry as to honesty. As difficult as that is to say, I don’t trust people who deflect responsibility. It’s OK to say ‘yeah I did this and that, didn’t do this or that, this is why or why not, yes I  fucked up.’   This is a sign of taking accountability for your actions and willingness to learn.

The people who are ultimately suffering are the victims’ families, and the community as their sense of safety, and sense of trust has been shattered not only by one of their own in the community, the shooter but the RCMP in their lack of sending out vital information during the shooting and then deflection of responsibility and accountability for their ‘failures’.  This is not good leadership!

Remember just because you get promoted into a position of power and responsibility, does not make you smarter does not make you have all the answers, does not make you a better communicator does not make you honest. Those are the qualities that are an integral part of what makes an effective, responsible leader.

I can honestly say over my 20 years I only worked with a few leaders who had the “right stuff” in managing people. People whose integrity and honesty was beyond reproach. If you are an honest person then when you put on your uniform you will be honest. Clearly, there is a problem in the RCMP culture. If you cannot feel safe in your workplace to make mistakes, to admit mistakes then the truth becomes blurred and in some cases nonexistent.

As police officers there can only be one truth. Live it, Speak it. Society needs to trust us and know we are there to serve and protect. Everyone will have their own life experiences which affect how we interpret any situation. Don’t let fear keep you silent from the truth. We can always learn from each other and every experience. Knowing how we are different it is important to be willing to speak up to the pressure of others in deflecting responsibility.