STATE TROOPERS WERE ON THE JOB

RCMP Rapped For Allowing Texas Cops To Patrol In British Columbia

The RCMP should not have allowed Texas state troopers to act as
police officers in Canada, says a new report released by the body
that oversees RCMP complaints.

The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP found that the
Canadian officers who allowed the troopers to patrol B.C. highways as
part of a police exchange program were acting "in contravention of
force policy."

The report stems from a complaint filed in March 2005 by the B.C.
Civil Liberties Association after an off-duty Vancouver police
officer was stopped by one of the American officers trying to detect
motorists under the influence of drugs.

Const. David Laing received a settlement from the RCMP four years ago
after he complained to the commission about being questioned by the
foreign officers.

The BCCLA alleged RCMP members permitted direct policing by Texas
state troopers, illegally detained a motorist suspected of
transporting drugs and searched his vehicle.

The complaint also stated that a drug recognition expert conducted an
impaired driving investigation without grounds.

The commission upheld these complaints into the police exchange
program, called Operation Pipeline Convoy.

"Foreign law officers shouldn't be involved in direct policing in
Canada, period," said BCCLA executive director Murray Mollard.

"They aren't trained in Canadian law. There's no accountability."

RCMP commissioner William Elliott said in a letter to the commission
he agreed with the findings.

"The lessons learned from this incident will be incorporated into the
information provided to participants of future operations of this
kind," wrote Elliott.

An interim report was filed in 2006, but the final report was delayed
for 18 months.

The time lapse makes a "mockery" of the RCMP complaint system, said Mollard.

"The RCMP didn't respond in a timely manner," said Mollard. "Who
knows what's been going on during the past 3 1/2 years?"