Where I live, a small government body made up of Indigenous locals is our first point of reference (Council of the Haida Nation). They make a lot of calls that we listen to and abide by on Haida Gwaii, but ultimately we still exist under the canadian government and their enforcers, the rcmp.
When there’s “crime” in a place so localized (like an archipelago 80 kilometres off the coast), we usually know or hear whodunnit. It’s a member of our community. This initiates a desire to help that person, and then curiosity of why the cops are writing them tickets or putting them in paddy wagons. Why does that person have to now carry around a criminal record? Do they deserve it?
I’m not saying that cops are literally unable to offer care and compassion to the “lawbreakers” of the world, I’m just saying they usually don’t.
I wonder if (some) cops are just people who love rules and order, but never had the awareness or capacity to dive down to the root of law and wonder if it can change. I hope recent years have served as an awakening that the rules must be updated.
We don’t necessarily need to change the response of “dial 911,” we just need to change what happens when those calls are made, and why exactly rcmp are dispatched at all. In what situations are their rigid reactions required? At what point do they call in mitigators, mediators, or deactivation specialists before resorting to physical violence?
We’ve seen clear as day lately that the rcmp are just bouncers for the government parties. Whatever racket our prime minister is making, the rcmp are there to let people join in or get thrown into jail and the court system. Seriously: these guys decide when and why folks go to jail, and then charge all kinds of money to make bail or hire lawyers. Of course people will try to avoid arrest, which just makes it worse.
It feels like these rules need to at least be updated, if not completely overhauled.
And in the meantime, can we broaden the 911 response teams? Why is this coveted group so protected and devoid from questioning? In a world evolving and expanding as much as ours, it’s only a matter of time before the framework of systems we follow must evolve as well.
Think about all the reasons citizens find solace in calling 911, and how frequently white men with guns and Tasers on their hips arrive. Truly, what often would be beneficial is a multi-gendered, multi-racial team gathered from many backgrounds with a diverse array of skill sets. Everyone deserves to feel seen and supported when calling the number that “sends help.”