BCCLA doubts fair investigation on recent RCMP assault in WL

From the Rush:

David Eby , Executive Director of the BC Civil Liberties Association, says he has little confidence the Abbotsford Police Department will conduct a fair investigation into the alleged assault of 17 year old Williams Lake teenager Jamie Haller last month.

Eby says if past investigations are taken into account, there’s little hope for fairness this time around: “Retired Judge named Josiah Wood did a review of the complaints process in BC. And what he found was the more serious the complaint gets, the worse the investigation gets. In other words, material witnesses are not interviewed, evidence is not collected, difficult questions are not asked of officers.”

Eby says he’ll continue to have low confidence in the process until the province creates a new independent body to do their investigations.
Williams Lake Staff Sergeant and Detachment Commander Warren Brown disagrees with Eby and says he considers the Abbotsford police to be an outside investigating agency.In addition to that, Brown says an independent observer will take part in the process at his detachment’s request.

He refused to name the individual but says it’s an area First Nations chief. The investigation kicked off last week.

Should bear spray/dangerous weapons be regulated locally?

Over at Welcome to Williams Lake - they report that WL RCMP Detachment Commander Warren Brown states that bear spray was used in one criminal activity and may have been used in an attempted robbery - see here

As Mr. Brown states in the article - the City of Williams Lake is looking into the mechanics of a "Dangerous Weapons" Bylaws for the City.  However, I would argue that without a provincial ban, a local "Dangerous Weapons" bylaw will have no teeth because others' will go to another community to acquire those same "dangerous weapons" to be used back home.  In addition - people have used common materials to make "home bombs".  Why don't we regulate the sale of bleach, pencils, pens, etc as they can be used in the making of weapons as well.  How far should society go to regulate what can be acquired for personal use, in the name of protecting society as a whole?

SBF

Warren Brown promoted to rank of Inspector

The City of Williams Lake is pleased to announce that Staff Sergeant
Warren Brown, Officer in Charge of the Williams Lake RCMP detachment, will be promoted to the rank of Inspector and will continue to lead the detachment.

Due to the number of staff assigned to the Williams Lake detachment it has
been upgraded to an Inspector-rank Officer in Charge. After a selection and
interview process conducted by the acting RCMP North District Officer
(Superintendent), a Superintendent from RCMP Officer Staffing, the Mayor, and the Chief Administrative Officer, Brown was selected as the candidate to lead the detachment as an Inspector.

“We have been very impressed by Staff Sergeant Brown since he arrived in
Williams Lake in 2009,” says Mayor Kerry Cook. “He has been instrumental in
helping to lead the charge in our community against crime, and his work has paid off. Since he arrived, Williams Lake has dramatically reduced crime.

“Also of critical importance is the relationship building Staff Sergeant
Brown has done in our community, and in the communities surrounding Williams
Lake. He recognizes that crime prevention and reduction involves everyone,
because everyone is a stakeholder. He has shown incredible leadership, and we are looking forward to working with Staff Sergeant Brown in the years ahead as we look to reduce crime even further and continue to build relationships.”

“We’re happy to hear of Staff Sergeant Brown’s promotion,” says Chief Ann
Louie of the Williams Lake Indian Band. “Williams Lake Indian Band has had an excellent working relationship with him, and we’re pleased that his efforts have been rewarded. We look forward to continuing our work with Staff Sergeant Brown in his new position.”

“I am honoured to have been chosen,” says Staff Sergeant Brown. “I have been very fortunate to work with a number of strong leaders in the city and First Nations communities, and together these relationships have enabled the Williams Lake RCMP to move forward in creating stronger and safer communities.”

The Williams Lake RCMP detachment service area includes the City of Williams Lake, 150 Mile House, Wildwood, McLeese Lake, Horsefly, Likely, and the First Nations communities of Sugarcane, Toosey, Alkali Lake, Dog Creek, Soda Creek, and Canoe Creek.