Speakers corner for February 19, 2014
Posted by Julia Nygra
on Feb 26, 2014
Presenter: Staff Sargent Paul Wilms, RCMP - Coquitlam Detachment
Topic: Ethics in Policing
Staff Sergeant Paul Willms is in charge of the Community Policing Section of
the Coquitlam RCMP Detachment. His section focuses on Crime Reduction
Strategies and includes Youth Details, Prolific Target Team, Auxillary
Constable Program, Victim Services, Block Watch, and Speed Watch.
Strategies and includes Youth Details, Prolific Target Team, Auxillary
Constable Program, Victim Services, Block Watch, and Speed Watch.
S/Sgt Wilms noticed the Rotarian framed 4 Way Test in Julia Nygra's office and it
struck home to the basic tenants of what RCMP strives to achieve.
S/Sgt Willms said the last few years had been challenging for the RCMP as
the organization had been questioned on how RCMP behave ethically, both internallystruck home to the basic tenants of what RCMP strives to achieve.
S/Sgt Willms said the last few years had been challenging for the RCMP as
and externally. S/Sgt Willms mentioned the pension scandal and how the initial investigation
into that issue led to a task force had being created the examine the organizational
culture of the RCMP. Recommendations of that task force included the need for
increased and ongoing ethics education and the need to include ethical considerations
in everything they do.
More awareness had been brought about the RCMP's unique challenges. The
nature of the job itself in dealing with suspicious people, and negativity
on a constant basis, creates hyper-vigilance in Members extending into
law enforcement, warned of the dangers of this "us versus them" mentality.
Policing is a 'goal orientated job' and at times this may affect the rules on how things are done in
investigations and may later cause problems in court and court outcomes as
rights and fairness to the accused person have been infringed.
S/Sgt Willms had at one point left the RCMP to work at the Law Societyinvestigations and may later cause problems in court and court outcomes as
rights and fairness to the accused person have been infringed.
of British Columbia - investigating complaints against lawyers! He noticed
the Law Society and many other organizations had the same issues as the
RCMP.
As part of the RCMP's commitment to ethics, a pilot project was undertakenthe Law Society and many other organizations had the same issues as the
RCMP.
where regional positions were created to give advice and
educate on ethical issues. S/Sgt Willms returned to the RCMP at this time
and had become an Ethics Officer. S/Sgt further explained that RCMP Members
must take an oath to become officers. They voluntarily give up some of
their rights as citizens to do their job. This means Police Officers must
set personal values aside. S/Sgt Willms described an example of this when atheir rights as citizens to do their job. This means Police Officers must
Member of a municipal police service had to leave his job as he did not personally
agree on protecting an abortion clinic.
S/Sgt Willms discussed a recent article in the Globe and Mail which described
how the Hudson's Bay Company, in early days, gave employees a choice to post a bond or
take an oath to prevent them from using company resources for their personal benefit.People often chose to post a bond to avoid 'eternal damnation' if they breached their oath.
In contrast, current MBA students indicated they would choose an oath, but only because
it was cheaper than posting a bond, not that they would find it more binding.
This example speaks to the fact that an oath only works if the person taking it believes what is behind it.
The practice of police accepting coffee for free or half price meals give
the impression that rules do not apply to them and encourages the mentality
that Police Officers are special. Police officers must avoid such a sense
of entitlement.
As we any self regulatory body such as lawyers or doctors, the RCMP has a Professional Standards Unit withinThe practice of police accepting coffee for free or half price meals give
the impression that rules do not apply to them and encourages the mentality
that Police Officers are special. Police officers must avoid such a sense
of entitlement.
it to investigate officers who may have breached rules, including such things as the use of excessive force.
S/Sgt advised that Ethics will always be a work in progress and much progress is being made.
Once again, S/Sgt Willms, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Port Moody, we are very grateful to you for taking the time to share your knowledge. We found your presentation to be very interesting, enlightening, concise and engaging. Your presentation, professionalism and flexibility in meeting our unexpected time constraints, demonstrates a high level of skill that adds to public confidence in police.
Sincerely,
Julia Nygra, Community Service Chair
Rotary Club of Port Moody