'We failed,' Yukon RCMP says of in-custody death

Sue their assess. He didn't die of natural causes, he died of being denied medical care. But of course if the sue, you and I just foot the bill, it's not the RCMP's money.

The pneumonia was probably a side-effect of the fellow's drinking habit. Sad to say, but the RCMP are not responsible for what was the final act of an adult lifetime spent cuddling up to a bottle.

Most likely true. There are far too many folks like this fellow, and the RCMP see them every day. They're stacked up like dominoes on some blocks. I'm sure they had no idea this guy had pneumonia, and even if they had acted, if he was that close to passing, it's unlikely medical attention would have made any difference in the outcome. Medical issues aside, they could have been far more humane as far as his conditions were concerned.

this rcmp will live with this for the rest of his life..... BUT I doubt he really cares.......... nothing is ever really their fault

"But of course if the sue, you and I just foot the bill"

We foot the bill for everything our government does and doesn't do and I mean more than paying the bill. Their failures are our failures and their successes are our successes. We own them, vote, write letters, be involved, but please do your homework.

(Not aimed at anyone.. just saying)

Comments like Wildrose's and Bart are why we don't get change in the RCMP. Too many people don't care or make excuses for them no matter what. But even if we were all for reforming the RCMP, govt agencies will always pay their lawsuits with our money, there's never really a risk for them personally, the way there is with private enterprise.

Andy, all the RCMP have to do is follow Ontario's lead on civilian oversight of police. We have the SIU, OIPRD, Police Service's Boards as well as internal investigation.

Having robust civilian oversight is in everybodies best interest. Police should be held accountable for this stuff.

+1 Well said.

I certainly agree, and we keep having that discussion in BC. It's actually the BC govt that's against it, not the RCMP. But realistically - isn't it still cops investigating cops? Who does the actual investigation?

In Ontario the SIU is a civilian agency run by the Attorney General's office, as in lawyers.

The OIPRD is another civilian agency (with a Human Rights lawyer at the head) that investigates ALL complaints against police.

The Police Service's Boards in Ontario (dependant on size) are made up of civilians appointed by the provincial government, and members appointed by the local council, as in voted in the various city/town wards.

The internal stuff is still done under the Police Act by the services themselves, usually for minor, work related issues similar to any other employment law but with cops investigating.

Just curious, but why aren't some of the posters here more trusting of the police?

Did you follow the Dziekanski story at all? How about the Ian Bush case? (Tell me how a cop manages to shoot somebody in the of the head while that person is supposedly on top of him and strangling him?) How about the Frank Paul case - very similar to this one. The list goes on.

Sure these cops have to deal with pukey drunks every day. But 13 hours and throwing up 27 times, with no medical attention? Even if he was only drunk, we've had lots of people die from inhaling their own puke - say Bon Scott. So what policies and procedures do the cops have in place that a drunk in their custody doesn't die this way?

Did you follow the Dziekanski story at all? How about the Ian Bush case? (Tell me how a cop manages to shoot somebody in the of the head while that person is supposedly on top of him and strangling him?) How about the Frank Paul case - very similar to this one. The list goes on.

Sure these cops have to deal with pukey drunks every day. But 13 hours and throwing up 27 times, with no medical attention? Even if he was only drunk, we've had lots of people die from inhaling their own puke - say Bon Scott. So what policies and procedures do the cops have in place that a drunk in their custody doesn't die this way?

And there is a common thread on the instances you have quoted. RCMP.

They need to get with the program.

Actually the Frank Paul case was VPD, and it's not the only one. But you're right that the RCMP thinks they're above the law, and their whole structure supports that. In Dziekanski's case, to me the most worry some aspect was the lying and collusion of he officer's superiors. The officers just made a mistake and should be disciplined for that, but their superiors lied and told them to lie and should be fired.