region. These days, the ego-deflating tole may well be standing stoical- ly, while a protester swears at you, knocks your hat into the mud, and perhaps even scores with a well aimed projectile of saliva or solid matter. This young man — or woman — may not feel heroic, but it takes more courage, intelligence and self-discipline to follow orders, than it does to lash out with the retaliatory force that most of us feel would be well deserved. In a conversation this week, the top police officer in British Col- umbia, Don Wilson, said: ‘‘My message to the membership of the RCMP is that it is part of the job to maintain our decorum, and not to react to these things which are really not personal: they are actu- ally attacks on a system that they feel f:15 let them down.”” One third of the Royal Cana- dian Mounted Police is based in British Columbia, under the direct command of Deputy Commis- sioner Wilson. He is one of two deputies who assist the Commis- sioner in the command of the na- tional force. This province’s dominant por- tion of the RCMP total manpower is as a result of provincial policing and the many large municipal contracts. The native blockades have ap- plied extraordinary pressures on RCMP management, in the same sense that protest sit-ins at traffic intersections, the courthouse and house demolition sites have af- flicted Vancouver City Police. In all these cases, the public and frequently their political repre- sentatives have demanded tough and aggressive police action. The police have requested court orders, and even with these in hand, they have procrastinated before taking action and physi- cally removing the offenders. Why? Are they afraid of the pro- testers? Do they sympathize with the GEORGE DEAN Gary Bannerman OPEN LINES various causes? Are they lazy? Do they like the overtime pay? Do they enjoy the media spotlight? If you put these questions to any police officer at any protest, the only hesitation might come on the overtime question. This one is a true moral dilemma. It’s a lousy job but the pay is good. Otherwise, every instinct the police have is to clobber these in- sufferable jerks and send them packing. The ‘‘jerks’’ know this won't happen. Therefore, they bravely spit into the breeze. Don Witson is a gentleman in every sense of the word. He has been a tnemter of the RCMP since graduating from university in his native Manitoba 33 years ago. During his service, he also acquired a law degree. Despite the aura of authority that invariably surrounds him, he conveys the impression of a dip- Jomat, constantly trying to navi- gate an intelligent course through waves of insanity. About the blockades, he told me: “‘Our approach to these situa- tions doesn’t receive rave reviews fron: everyone — there are many who would like to see us go in as CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FENCO LAVALIN CORP. PROJECT MANAGERS FOR THE CASSIAR CONNECTOR PROJECT On the RCMP and the art of decorum IN LESS complicated days, a young policeman’s dreams of glory began to fade when his first cloak and dagger un- dercover assignment meant standing in a beachside bathhouse, late at night, until] some aggressive gay grabbed him in the backside — or a more sensitive anatomical soon as things occur ... and bash heads, kick down barricades and clear out the area wherever it is. ‘‘And I think that’s the kind of response which invites a more volatile, a more physical and a more drastic counter response. | think there is a tendency for these things to escalate. “Our preferred procedure is to sit back. These people are making a political statement. They are making a point. Give them an opportunity to have their day in the sun. “And when we move in, finally, unaggressively, we invite them to cease and desist. And only as a last resort, do we physically and bodily take people away and remove barricades."’ The reasoned approach will not impress motorists or loggers or any other uninvolved citizens in- convenienced by these affairs, but in scores of past situations it can be demonstrably shown that police forces have more frequently been condemned for overreaction than for restraint. Not long ago, I reminded readers of the 1971 ‘“‘Gastown Riot” where city police, through a series of unfortunate misunder- standings, trampled horses through a young crowd. They ‘‘bashed the hippies’’ as the community leaders frequently demanded, and then they were castigated for doing just that. In Toronto, independent judg- ment has concluded that the Met- ropolitan Police have badly misbehaved in the treatment of black offenders, It’s too soon after Oka for ac- curate conclusions about what went wrong, but it’s widely believed that more sensitive and professional work by Quebec Provincial Police at the outset, might have averted the alarming events that followed. Accommodating protest is one price of democracy. Vil close with the words of RCMP Deputy Commissioner Don Wilson: ‘I have never yet seen a situation in this province where the agitators were repre- sentative of the community they purported to be serving. Don’t judge everyone as a result of the few you see.”’ NOTICE TO MOTORISTS /PEDESTRIANS _ CASSIAR CONNECTOR PROJECT NAPIEK STREET CLOSURES Effective the week of February 18, 1991 Napier Street and the lane to the north will be permanently closed on the west side of Cassiar Street. A temporary turnaround is being constructed at the end of the street. These closures are needed to faciliate construction of the 730 M tunnel under Hastings Street and the associated roadworks for the Cassiar Connector Project. Your cooperation and understanding rec arding this matter is appreciated. For futher information, please call the Ministry of Transportation and Highways Road Report Information System 660-9775. PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS HONOURABLE RITA M. JOHNSTON, MINISTER [be Sunday, February 17, 1991 - North Shore News - 9 A Place To Go When _ You're Pregnant And Need Support: te GIRTHRIGHT | Bec Non fl al 987-7313 » Free Pregnancy Test: | MiMiatee Eo, . 4229 Lonsdale §=—=— In Vancouver Call : i COMEDY NIGHT | EVERY SUNDAY _ ff ma FOR MORE vo BINFO caLt 985-6013 jie [ Worth Vancouver 687-7223 Support the Right to Life Sponsored by N.S. 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