RCMP Voyeurism Inexcusable

(Aired on September 1, 2010)

Four RCMP officers.  Three city employees.  Two women having sex in the drunk tank.  One of them apparently HIV positive.

As many times as I go over it, the math doesn't add up.  Why would seven professionals, all tasked with a role in maintaining public safety, simply watch on video as two cell block occupants put themselves at risk?  As much as these seven men may have been turned on by what they saw, or giggling like school children at what was unfolding before their eyes on closed circuit video cameras, it doesn't make sense.

If all of the multitude of investigations find the basic facts as reported are accurate, then all of the culpability should be placed on one man - the 20-year-veteran watch commander who was in charge when this was happening.  As of this recording, the corporal's identity has not been made public.  But whoever he is should have known better.  He should have known to break up the party as soon as he realized what was going on.  The RCMP have a pseudo-military structure, meaning junior members look to those who outrank them for leadership and decision-making.  The three constables involved combined don't have as much service time as the corporal.  He needed to make the call immediately, not seven minutes into the show.

RCMP E-Division says a question exists as to whether the sex was consensual.  But even if it appeared consensual, the sobriety of the participants muddies the issue.  If the sex had been halted before it started, the criminal investigation into whether one of the participants disclosed her HIV status would not be necessary.

Being a Mountie is a tough job.  Controversies surrounding excessive force in arrests, taser use, or undercover officers shooting a man all deserve careful consideration.  This case does too, but it's in another realm.  Taking a break and gathering your buddies around for a little voyeurism is completely inexcusable.