Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2006
Source: Valley Sentinel, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 The Valley Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.thevalleysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4237
Authors: Tina Hauch and Veronica Paupst
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG RAID WAS POORLY EXECUTED

We have many concerns about the incident that occurred on July 20th. We 
were both very angry at the way the local RCMP and the other supporting 
forces handled what was supposed to be a drug bust. We are very upset that 
the RCMP admitted to not finding what they were looking for but offered no 
sign of being sympathetic with regards to what we had to endure as innocent 
residents. We were offered no apology, no explanation, and calls that the 
RCMP received from our concerned family members were never returned.

We are still extremely confused regarding the lack of investigating that 
occurred concerning this matter. After receiving a tip, they acted with no 
investigation. We believe that no matter how convincing a "source" is there 
should always be some sort of investigation or surveillance of the 
"target." Especially when the target is a single mother with three 
children, all under the age of seven. Even 12 hours of surveillance would 
have saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars. Money that was wasted, not 
to mention the trauma endured by all the children that day.

We want to make it known that no counselling or children's services were 
offered to us at any time, although Constable Graham Wallace clearly stated 
that they "always" involve them when children are involved, in an article 
that appeared in this paper. The children we were shown no consideration. 
We were forced to walk down a street with broken glass on it with no shoes 
on. We were not allowed to get clothes for the baby. We were left to wait 
on a lawn for two hours with no concern for the children or the children's 
welfare. Some of the children hadn't eaten yet but we were not allowed to 
feed them. Any parent would have been ashamed of how we were forced to 
treat our children, but we had no choice in the matter. Even though we 
voiced our concerns about the children to the local RCMP officers.

As for the Emergency Response Team, they were very uninformed and 
unorganized. They were unaware of any children in the house, and even 
though they posed no threat to the officers, they carelessly aimed their 
weapons at the children's eye level. This was not an "awesome experience 
for everyone involved," as Sergeant Georgie Kenzie stated in an article in 
the Robson Valley Times. Her words showed a lack of intelligence and 
compassion for innocent members of her community.

In our opinion, the five children involved were abused by the police raid. 
Is this what we are to expect from our police force. A group that has sworn 
to serve and protect the taxpayers that pay their salaries.

Sure, it is important to keep drugs off of our streets, but when a mistake 
is made the right thing to do is to admit it and apologize. This was never 
done, and it is a disgrace to RCMP everywhere.

Tina Hauch and Veronica Paupst

Valemount, BC
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