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B.C. Premier says he voiced sympathy, not support

RHÉAL SÉGUIN

From Saturday's Globe and mail

Latest comment posted at 12:57 PM EST 19/07/08

In conversation with an RCMP official, Campbell says he didn't back the actions of the Mounties involved in taser death ...Read the full article

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  1. sherry smith from Canada writes: Interesting, as I saw that video over and over and anyone having sympathy for those officers are nuts. They should not be in the force as they acted like a pack of dogs, quite frankly.
  2. Percy from NL from Canada writes: I know people who work in homes for troubled youth. Some of these teenages are physically very imposing, yet these workers have no weapons. They are trained in conflict resolution and physical retraint methods only, and have used it at times while they await the arrival of police. They put these four police officers to shame.
  3. joseph picard from Ottawa, Canada writes: It's nice to see that people are still reacting to this senseless and utterless devastating "Riding the lightning" episode by bored officers stationned at the airports across this counry. Sadly, this will not be the last and Politicians as well as the Judiciary need to be reminded that the next time they are out drinking and driving that the same people they so desperately want to pass judgement on will be just waiting to "exercise" THEIR discretiannary rights,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on whether to apply the law,,,,hahahahahahahahahahaha And if you have any intelligence, you see the future.
  4. edward prior from montreal, Canada writes: Bullsheet...from a man who rushed back to BC to cover up his own - how shall we say - drunk driving charge - in order to do damage control before all hell broke loose, why should anyone believe this sucker?
  5. Perry S from Mississauga, Canada writes: Campbell is an idiot! Did he not watch the video? They couldn't wait to use thier shiney new tazers on someone!

    The man died a horrible death by the hands of these thugs. I'll give them something, but it's not my sympathy.
  6. Taser Saves Lives from Hoyle, Aruba writes: What's this bunch gonna do when the Govt tells them the Polish citizen was responsible for his own death? When he grabbed a stapler and reared back to strike, RCMP used the Taser. He screamed, rolled and fell disconnecting the wires and only receiving a brief shock. He was Tasered a second time and brought under control. The only problem is I believe they kneeled on his neck a little hard but they were in a fight with a big man.
    Taser Saves Lives Everyday
  7. Perry S from Mississauga, Canada writes: Tasers Kill People Everyday.
  8. Tinfoil Hatt from Canada writes:
    Ya, and I feel sympathy all those poor felons rotting behind bars in our country. They must have had such unhappy childhoods to cause them to do what they did. For this, they have my sympathy ... but not my support.

    I'm sure the officers do feel bad about the whole incident. But contrition does not change the fact that (judging from the video evidence) they committed a crime. Will they do the time? My guess is no.
    ...
  9. Entitledto Entitlements from Canada writes: The man has lost his way. Without a vision, this Premier has created a sinking ship. The only problem is, who do you vote for? The NDP? There has to be a better option than electing the best people at spending other people's money. You would think that the ICBC scandal would wake people up to the fact that the state should not be in business. period. But I fear that BC voters will vote in the NDP, kill one of the only economies keeping Canada's economy afloat and ruin the Olympics while all the world watches.
  10. Free The West from Free the West, Canada writes: CAMPBELL HAS BETRAYED BOTH HIS PARTY AND THE PROVINCE. hE HAS DEVELOPED A PERSONAL AMBITION TO LEAD THE FEDERAL LIBERAL PARTY AND HAS TAKEN A AGENDA THAT FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED HIM AND THE MP'S THAT WORK FOR HIM. He was elected on a right wing campaign and then suddenly switched to a Central Canadian political philosophy. Time to bring back the Social Credit party.
  11. Tinfoil Hatt from Canada writes:
    Free the West, maybe you voted for Campbell on the promise of a right wing government, but everybody else voted for him on the promise of an 'anything but the NDP' government. BC needs an electable third political party.

    ...
  12. Tom Truth from Kelowna, Canada writes: when will we get rid of this lying snake Campbell?Soon I hope.He'll have the seniors and the sick fighting the crackheads for the last dollop of dumpster food soon.He should be ashamed for his comments.Those cops murdered the guy.Mrs Dziekanski deserve better than to have some dumbass make comments like that
  13. aniphylactic shock troops from Victoria, Canada writes: Tasers Kill People from Nazi Hideout, Argentina: If you think a stapler is a lethal threat, you are a fascist. If you think the Polish murder victim was in any way fighting back, you are a fascist. If you think being murdered by police is "a little problem" involving getting one's neck kneeled on, you are a fascist.

    Taser kills. Taser kills. Taser kills.
  14. Julie Morgan from Canada writes: According to Gary Bass, Campbell "was highly complimentary of the Force, disappointed over the degree of criticism and wants to support the members involved somehow. He asked me to think about what he could do in this regard and get back to him next week."

    http://www.cbc.ca/bc/news/bc-080717-RCMP-email-dziekanski-taser.pdf

    Now who should we believe? Bass, in his email to Elliott, or Campbell to the press?
  15. Rt. Revd. Malachy Egan from Halifax, Canada writes: So Campbell BC's drunk and driving premier [supported by MADD that has become as political as the politicos] is buying some DWI insurance withe the RCMP.

    Why is anyone surprised?

    And, yes, it took those cops 17 seconds to sispose of their problem: Hitl@rs SS would have taken twice as long!
  16. drunk wookie from TO, Canada writes: Campbell, just shut up. You're making it worse...
  17. Ken DeLuca from Arnprior, Canada writes: I don't trust the cops to police themselves and I don't trust a law enforcement / justice system that turns a blind eye to police crimes. Nor do I want to watch any more police-gone-wild videos of cops using tasers instear of their brains.

    BUT I found Premier Campbell's words to speak to having sympathy for the spot those police are in and understanding that their job requires tough decisions. To my mind, their decision was wrong and showed a lack of professionalism. It looked more like a mob.
  18. Mike Dean from Vancouver, Canada writes: OK, let me see if I have this right. Gordo makes a sympathy call to the cops one month after they kill a man in the country for less than a day? Makes me wonder if Mr. Campbell paid the same courtesy call toRobert Dziekanski's mother, Zofia Cisowki. I would guess not. As to the myth that the NDP cannot handle BC's finances, we need look no further than The BC Liberals 400 million dollar cost over run on the new convention centre. Add to that, the fact that when the NDP were ousted from offices in 2001, they left $1.5 billion budget surplus. In less than 12 months, Gordo and his BC Liberals has vaporized the surplus and put BC into a $1.6 billion defecit. Fast Ferries my heiney, Minister after Minister having to resign from the BC LIberal Cabinet for conflict of interest, Political Aides arrested, the legislature raided for alleged influence peddling in the BC Rail sale. And another Cabinet Minister slammed by the Auditor General yesterday for conflict. Don't buy the hype folks, we have reached the height of incompetence and arrogance here in BC with Mr. Cambell's Government of Lobbyists and ex-Socreds. Bring on the election! Only 9 months away BC may well have a new government.
  19. Taser Saves Lives from Hoyle, Aruba writes: I think I understand now; Canada must provide all their criminals with high speed internet as part of their rehabilitation. Apparently, it doesn't help.
  20. Toby Maloney from Canada writes: It shouldn't create any apprehension of bias if I say that I believe Dziezinski's (sp?) killers should be fired and face charges and that tasers should be banned forever, should it? Just expressing my sympathy ...

  21. C K from All over the map, Canada writes: First off, thank God that there was video footage of this debacle taken by a bystander. Second, toe idiotic Premier of BC who quote"What I said was my heart went out to the four RCMP officers, who were obviously suffering personally as well. It was simply recognizing that our police officers are also people. We ask them to put themselves in harm's way every day" - riiiight. So Mr. Dziekanski was not a person? He was not "people"? Police officers are bestowed with extraordinary powers by the citizens of this country who place their trust in a select few who we believe will do us no harm and protect us from those that will. This man was disoriented, unable to communicate in a language common to all at the scene and for God's sakes what the hell ever happened to "soft touch", verbal contact - I know that the training at Depot is cranking out major wusses nowadays who don't want to get a foot within conflict and prefer to go with the "arms length" let's just taser them and not get our nails chipped approach but seriously, what the hell? 4 against one??? Back in the day that would have been a laughable situation where one would have overpowered while the other three stood around and made stupid comments. And does anybody know where these pathetic "police Officers" are right now?? I highly doubt they are in any emotional turmoil - anybody ask how his mother is after losing her only child?
  22. A Concerned Canadian from Vancouver, Canada writes: Mr. Campbell needs a dose of reality. An innocent man is killed by four big bully RCMP officers and he feels sympathy for them. I feel contempt and am furious they have not been charged with, at the very least manslaughter. Mr. Campbell..... you make me sick!!!

    The RCMP have brought shame to this country and Canadians. Somehow as cops investigate cops the findings will be that those involved in killing an innocent man will be justified.

    I see a growing trend of cops and politians not taking responsibility for their actions and put themselves above the rest of us.

    Don't start the revolution without me.
  23. More CO2 Gas from Canada writes: This is just the CBC and the press trying to make something out of nothing. When will these media companies begin hire editors for at least double the minimum wage?
  24. evelyn robinson from Canada writes: Why do they need sympathy for their aggressive actions with no effort to understand the situation.
    shoot now talk later attitude is not the Canadian way
  25. Grassroots are the wave of the future from Canada writes: This is a disgraceful piece of Canadian history. No one has accepted responsiblity, no one is accountable. There has not been one politician in this country that has the balls to actually stand up and lead by example. "All the money you have made, will never buy back your soul"
  26. Ron Pacific from Victoria, Canada writes: To give Campbell credit, at least he did publicly and quickly apologized to the victim's mother - unlike Harper and Day. I think the silence from Harper speaks volumes especially in light of his "measured response" to Israel bombing of Canadians and his statement that "justice should take its course" in Guantanamo regarding Khadr.
  27. emilio D from Canada writes: Yeah but why would anybody give sympathy to somebody who killed somebody? Shouldn't the person who got killed get the sympathy? Just answer me: yes or no.
  28. imagine there's from Canada writes: Duplicisout creep. Did I spll that wrong? Sorry I have had a few beers bu i am not driving and i own to it. TIme to ditch that bass turd.
  29. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: It is interesting to note that some people, mostly of the 'rightist' persuasion, hate very much to see anything like a 'blame the victim' response to a crime or similar event. 'Blame the victim' is something only Liberals do, apparently. If Mr. Campbell is being so gracious as to express compassion for these 4 RCMP officers who so determinedly chose one single option for dealing with Mr. Dziekansi, why then, maybe he is simply 'blaming the victim.' (He is a Liberal in name only.) But why did he give his sympathy to the RCMP officers? Was it seen as politically advantageous to do so? Was it even in his 'jurisdiction' to do so? I guess so, if the RCMP has a contract with BC to do various hit jobs, I mean, conduct law enforcement.
  30. Denis Love from Victoria BC, Canada writes: It's really quite clear to me. Gordo sees a camera and starts talking, usually spreading out his arms to encompass us all like some God like figure. He said what he said, and the top cop did say he was pleased that King Gordo was so supportive. One wonders if the support would have been there had Gordo got tazered when he was so drunk he was driving down the wrong side of the road. He produced tears to keep his job and the BC suckers backed him. Never touch another drop says Gordo and MADD were right there to suport him. He moved on and keeps making grand appearances . People wise up, the guy is not doing BC any good. The child poverty rates in BC are again the highest in the country, seniors ae getting shafted and removed from government owned residence to privatly owned places. Cheap labour for the old folks residences. The guy will say anything even contradicting himself when need be. His spin team work overtime keeping him looking good to some.
  31. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: I finally understand what I was trying to get at with my minor point about 'blaming the victim.' Here is how it normally works- a petty criminal harms someone; Liberals (according to their eternal enemies, the Conservatives) hug the criminal and turn a blind eye to the victim. But when authority itself comes under fire for harming someone, then it's the Conservatives' turn to blame the victim. This may be something of a factor in every taser incident in Canada, and every incident when someone gets hurt while in custody or under the 'care' of the authorities. Hardly earth-shaking, what I am saying. But why aren't the authorities subject to the same scrutiny as the people they have authority for?
  32. Laura Labelle from Ladysmith, Canada writes: Gordo is the lowest of the low. He has crippled this province so that he may surf on an Olympic wave of fame. Instead he will barely be able to tread water in the sewer Vancouver has become when the 2 week jock party is over.

    I hope he goes down for influence peddling along with Rich Coleman for devasting hundreds of BC crown forest dependant communities, and the 4 cops go down for murder.
  33. Simon Karsh from Victoria, Canada writes: Where did all this tosh about Premier Campbell come from? Probably from NDP supporters who are frustrated that they can seldom find anything wrong with the BC Liberal government's excellent management of our province.

    Of course, the Premier was right to express concern for the plight of the RCMP offers who were stupid enough to Taser an innocent newcomer to our country. They appear to have committed an dreadful crime, but they did it by making a wrong decesion in the heat of the moment to employ a weapon that should not be standard issue to every police officer.

    There once lived a man who told us that it is appropriate to love one's enemy. Thus we too should express our love and concern even for those RCMP officers that have sworn to serve and protect us, yet whose lack of training led them to attack and accidently kill a disoriented and disarmed man.

    It takes a man of great courage to express concern for the welfare of RCMP officers in such a situation, yet that's what Premier Çampbell has in spades: great courage and vision. Long may he stay at the helm of British Columbia, the world's most wonderful place to live.
  34. Jesse Winger from Calgary SW, Canada writes: Premier Campbell looks pretty dumb praising the 4 RCMP officers who took out the innocent Polish man. What a disgrace.

    When are these four officers going to face justice? Is the Harper gang going to just sweep this under the rug?

    Every freedom loving Canadian should demand justice!
  35. Jesse Winger from Calgary SW, Canada writes: More CO2 Gas from Canada writes: "This is just the CBC and the press trying to make something out of nothing. When will these media companies begin hire editors for at least double the minimum wage?"

    Something out of nothing?

    If the CBC and "the media" (read: the Globe and Mail) are so awful, why are you wasting your time posting here? Go post on the National Post site. You can suck up to Harper over there, non?

    Get lost.
  36. David Jenkins from Canada writes: Why is it that the police are always seen as "putting their lives on the line" but other emergency workers are seen as "just doing their jobs"?. Seriously, just how many officers are killed or injured in the line of duty each year (Mayerthorpe was an exception brought about by incompetant leadership)?. I'm betting that more people are killed in the construction sector every year than have ever been lost in a single year of police work, yet we don't claim that construction workers are putting their lives on the line for the rest of us. The truth is the bulk of our police forces are involved in nothing more dangerous than handing out speeding tickets, that is when they are not tasering newly landed immigrants.
  37. Jim Goodwin from Canada writes: A lot of the taser use seems to be a result of laziness on the part of policement. It is supposed to be an alternative to deadly force, not for physically restraining a person. My god 4 officers and one man, could they not have restrained him. Not only that once he was unconscious they made no move to revive him. There have been other BC incidents as well, two disabled men tasered, a bedridden hospital patient and a senior citizen at a traffic stop. There are probably more. There have been over 1000 taser incidents since 2005. I am sure there have never been that many times when a pistol was drawn. Training and leadership seems to be lacking. The taser can be an excellent tool if it is used properly, as a second last resort, the last being deadly force.
  38. P B from toronto, Canada writes: OMG, this guy is so full of shitake. A perfact match for a disraced police force that shames this country. As per sympathy for the policemen - they came out alive out of this while te other guy is so very dead now. Shame on you Mr Campbell.
  39. Jo Blo from Far, far away from Toronto... but still in Ontario., Canada writes: There are plenty of cases when citizens screw up, get charged, and wind up genuously regretting what they did. They don't get any sympathy from the police, prosecutor, politicians or the public. Why should it be any different for those 4 RCMP officers? They know how the system works, and they probably applied it themselves to many people. Why should they be treated differently when faced with charges or disciplinary measures?

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    That there is a blatant double standard for police officers is an indication of drifting towards a police state, in which people exercising state authority are unaccountable.

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    Elliott was supposed to reform the RCMP and make it accountable. It's obvious he doesn't understand this. He should go, ASAP.

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    Campbell is just another stupid politician. The electorate should take care of him when the time comes.
  40. Fake Name from Canada writes: "D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: But when authority itself comes under fire for harming someone, then it's the Conservatives' turn to blame the victim."

    Quite correctly - would the victim have been tasered if he hadn't been throwing computers and chairs around an airport? No. He could have memorized a short english phrase like "please help me find a Polish interpreter" before coming here, or even used body language to indicate to airport staff that he didn't understand English, and held out his passport to show what interpreter he'd need. Instead, he became destructive and presented himself as appearing probably deranged and possibly dangerous. Should the police have to risk being bitten (when the subject might have AIDS or who knows what else) to physically restrain someone acting like that?
  41. Wilma De Bruyn from Toronto, Canada writes: Laura Labelle from Ladysmith, Canada writes: Gordo is the lowest of the low. He has crippled this province so that he may surf on an Olympic wave of fame. Instead he will barely be able to tread water in the sewer Vancouver has become when the 2 week jock party is over.

    I hope he goes down for influence peddling along with Rich Coleman for devasting hundreds of BC crown forest dependant communities, and the 4 cops go down for murder.
    Posted 19/07/08 at 1:09 AM EDT | Alert an Editor | Link to Comment
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    I couldn't have said it better myself. That also includes the money
    launder in Squamish town, protected by Judge or Judges. This has
    been going on since 1982 and presently going on. In stead of Mike
    Jensen being in Jail he is protected and now sitting on the council of
    Squamish town to do what?? Pillage some more??? From Seniors????
    RCMP get busy and raid this town, especially the Credit Union!!!
  42. Fake Name from Canada writes: "David Jenkins from Canada writes:
    The truth is the bulk of our police forces are involved in nothing more dangerous than handing out speeding tickets, that is when they are not tasering newly landed immigrants."

    My question to you is, if this situation had been different and the deceased were a canadian-born WASP who was raging out at airport staff in the same way, got tasered, and died as an unintended consequences, would you be so outraged? That question goes for everyone else too, by the way.

    That's what I originally asked myself when this story came out and I saw the tape, and I can't honestly say I think it would have been anywhere near the scandal this is. I think most of the outrage is over who the victim was, where he was from, and the fact that he had so recently arrived - not the officer's decision to use taser in response to his behaviour.
  43. Denis Love from Victoria BC, Canada writes: Someone mentioned the National Post. Go read their article about King Gordos stupid deals, including his conviction for drunk driving,his show of weeping and saying he won't do it again, the unprecedent. legislature raid, the removal or huge pieces of land from a TFL with nothing in return for the tax payers. His new forest minister mouthing off that the auditor general wasn't professional in his report of the forest give away. The failure to protect workers as mill after mill shuts down. Don't blame the Globe and Mail or as some foks do, the CBC. they write on what they see. Gordo and Company get a lot of money from assorted folks and by gosh in return things just sort of happen. Ministers get shuffled so the don't have to answer in the legislature, that is if Gordo bothers to stick to the schedule he brought down. Fall sessions bother hin so he cancells them. He pushed through a bill that doesn't allow anyonme to comment on his and his government practiced well prior to the next election. Same day they passed a number of bills without debate. But he sure supports some goons killing an innocent man. Bit of a hypocric one might say, Not me,I can't afford to be sued. The PR team works full time on spinning things here in Beautiful BC, best place in the world and all that jazz

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