Only a true Mountie should lead the RCMP: Poll

Sun Media ^ | 2010-08-10 | Brian Lilley

[Clive]

OTTAWA - In the midst of a mutiny that seeks to replace the only civilian ever to lead the RCMP, Canadians prefer the idea of a uniformed officer leading the force.

Two weeks ago complaints from senior Mounties about current Commissioner William Elliott were made public. Elliott is the first civilian to lead the RCMP.

Sources close to the top of the force described the complaints as part of a push to dump Elliott. If the push is successful, Canadians are telling the government, the next commissioner should already have a red serge uniform.

Asked what kind of person should lead the Mounties, 46% said that "only those who have come through the ranks should lead it," while 38% said "great police or military leaders could come from any walk of life."

"This is an organization that has traditionally held tremendous respect," said Leger Marketing vice-president Dave Scholz. "Canadians don¹t want a bureaucrat running it."

Leger Marketing surveyed 1,522 Canadians between Aug. 2 and Aug. 4. The pollster says its results are accurate to within 2.5 percentage points. Scholz said it surprised him that as they polled across the country there was little difference in viewpoints between men and women or different age groups. There were, however, differing views depending on where you live.

Albertans (61%) were most likely to say that only someone who has come through the ranks should lead the RCMP, Quebecers were evenly split (41% each side) and Ontarians sat at the national average.

Scholz said the Alberta numbers don¹t surprise him because the province often supports a tough law-and-order agenda.

"They may have a more predetermined police attitude," Scholz said.

[Clive]

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[Clive]

I am convinced that anyone bearing the rank of Chief Superintendent has become a politician, and sometimes I have my suspicions about some Superintendents.

[Ax]

Drewery’s Beer....

[Venturer]

I believe you are probably right, athough I still believe that person should come from the ranks.

[Buckeye McFrog]

while 38% said “great police or military leaders could come from any walk of life.”

That, sadly, sounds like an ideal formula for a country that is just waiting to be overrun.

[Red_Devil 232]

[Clive]

D'accord.

For one thing, only someoone who has been on the job for a number of years really understands the coppers and the people with whom they have to deal.

BTW I think that two major mistakes were made by the Canadian government in the early years:

One was merging the Dominion Police and the Royal North West Mounted Police to form the Royal Canadian Mounted police. The other was allowing Provinces to contract their policing obligations to the RCMP instead of raising their own provincial police forces. Now the only true provincial police forces are the Surete de Quebec and the Ontario Provincial Police. Even the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is restricted to a limited number of urban areas.

The result is that the RCMP has become a huge bureaucratci organization with a demand for personnel that exceeds the supply of competent and committed recruits.

Add to that the need to show "diversity" in recruitment and promotions and you now have something that no longer resembles the tight light cavalry military style police force that moved west under Col MacLeod, still celebrated by Canadians in song and story.

[Venturer]

“Diversity” has ruined many good Police and Fire Department’s

The infusion of women into jobs that require men and the strength of men has not helped eother.

[Venturer]

“Diversity” has ruined many good Police and Fire Department's

The infusion of women into jobs that require men and the strength of men has not helped either.