Letters from the Program Feb/2008
Raf Souccar
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, Ontario Dear Sir or Madam: “In short, the integrity of the RCMP Witness Protection Program is not in question. It is a vital instrument in the fight against organized crime. And we as a police organization have a responsibility to protect those whose lives are endangered as a result of assisting us in that fight.” (RCMP Assistant Commissioner Raf Souccar) I find it interesting that you have on occasion chosen to use an open letter to correct what you believe to be misinformation in the media regarding the RCMP and its many bad reviews. Intrigued enough I thought I might attempt the same. I am guessing it will take many a letter to correct the misinformation that your agency feeds the public; however let us start somewhere.
As a former RCMP agent and a source that is now living in Canada’s Witness Protection Program, I find the statement above hard to stomach let alone believe. Words like integrity and responsibility do not seem appropriate to me when you talk about the relationship between the Mounties and their sources. - Do you believe that it is integral to cultivate an informant under the age of eighteen?
- Do you believe it is integral to entice young people with cash without warning them of the dangers they are entering into?
- Do you believe it is integral to allow police agents to commit crimes?
- Do you believe it is integral to exploit the dysfunctions of the weak in society rather than build up the strong to meet the goal of serving and protecting?
- Do you believe it is integral to lie to people in order to get them to trust you?
- Do you believe it is integral to watch as informants die and then not accept any responsibility?
I am interested in your answers. I am pretty sure I know what the communications experts would say, but I would certainly be interested in your answers. I have probably been lied to more by the RCMP than I have the criminals I helped to put away. I have watched the criminals time and again, after their arrest, stand up and plead guilty, take responsibility for their actions, and face their consequences. I have watched the RCMP do quite the opposite; It is no wonder gang membership goes up while police recruitment suffers. If I could use an analogy of what its like to be a source for the RCMP, I would have to compare it to an abusive marriage. One partner has all the control, exercises it often and does not care about the pain or hurt that the rest of the family suffers; especially the pain of the abused. After my divorce from the RCMP I entered into a relationship with the Halifax Regional Police. This in comparison was a healthy and cooperative relationship in which both sides benefited and parted amicably. I would suggest to you Mr. Souccar that maybe your agency could learn a lot about integrity and responsibility in dealing with sources by taking some lessons from Halifax Regional Police. I do not think merging with them is the right way to go as pride tends to corrupt. I do believe though that your agency could be mentored by them in regards to some humility and other skills needed when dealing with both the public and sources; neither of who like to be lied to. Sincerely, Paul Derry
Canada’s Witness Protection Program
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